Labor & Employment (Paid Leave) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 5, 2025

S 408: Job Protection Act

This bill expands access to job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by reducing the required employment duration from 12 months to 90 days for most workers. It also broadens coverage to apply to all employers, regardless of size (down from the previous 50+ employee threshold), affecting nearly all private and public sector workers. Key provisions include modifying FMLA eligibility rules, adjusting federal employee leave requirements, and updating congressional employee provisions to align with the new 90-day standard. The changes apply to leave taken on or after the bill's enactment date.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 5, 2025

S 437: Caring for All Families Act

The Caring for All Families Act expands family medical leave eligibility under the FMLA to include domestic partners, in-laws, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and others with a "close association equivalent to a family relationship." It adds a new provision allowing employees to take up to 24 hours per year for school activities, routine medical care for family members, or care for elderly individuals considered family. The bill specifies that this new leave can be taken intermittently, may be substituted with accrued paid leave, and requires employees to provide at least 7 days' notice for scheduled leave. This policy change directly affects private employers covered by FMLA and federal employees who qualify for leave under these expanded provisions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

in committee · United States · House Feb 18, 2025

HR 1424: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave.

HR 1424 increases the employer tax credit for providing paid family and medical leave under the Internal Revenue Code. It doubles the credit percentages - from 12.5% to 25% for smaller employers and 25% to 50% for larger employers - and makes the credit permanent by removing its temporary sunset provision. This bill directly affects employers who offer paid leave benefits, reducing their tax burden for providing such coverage. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Labor Standards Paid Leave

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 30, 2025

S 2549: Time Off to Vote Act

S 2549, the Time Off to Vote Act, requires employers with 25 or more employees to provide workers with 2 hours of paid leave during open voting hours for federal elections. This covers voting in person, returning mail ballots, or other voting activities, with employers allowed to set the specific 2-hour window (excluding lunch breaks) but not denying the leave. The law prohibits retaliation against employees who take this leave and authorizes the Department of Labor to enforce it, imposing civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation for noncompliance. It does not override stricter state voting leave laws but takes effect before the next federal election after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 7, 2025

SRES 158: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that paraprofessionals and education support staff should have fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions.

SRES 158 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing the chamber's view that paraprofessionals (like paraeducators) and education support staff (including clerical, custodial, and food service workers in schools) deserve fair treatment. It outlines specific expectations for their workplaces, such as livable wages, affordable healthcare, job security, paid leave, and meaningful input in school policies - directly affecting over 3 million frontline workers supporting 49 million students. The resolution does not create new laws but urges federal and state action to address current gaps, including ending seasonal layoffs and ensuring access to benefits. It emphasizes these staff’s critical role in school environments while clarifying that it does not override existing collective bargaining agreements.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Teachers Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Paid Leave

in committee · United States · House Aug 5, 2025

HR 4908: Time Off to Vote Act

The Time Off to Vote Act requires employers with 25 or more employees to provide two hours of paid leave for federal elections. Employees can use this leave to vote in person, return mail-in ballots, or perform other voting activities during open polling hours. Employers may set the specific two-hour window (excluding lunch breaks) but cannot deny the leave, retaliate against employees who take it, or cause loss of accrued benefits. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, enforced by the Department of Labor.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave Tags Elections

in committee · United States · House Dec 17, 2025

HR 6818: Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act

HR 6818, the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act, would expand rights for part-time workers by reducing eligibility requirements for family and medical leave from 12 months to 90 days of employment under the FMLA. The bill prohibits employers from discriminating against part-time workers based on hours worked, requiring equal treatment for benefits, promotions, and scheduling. It mandates that employers obtain written statements from employees about their desired work hours and prioritize offering available work hours to existing employees before hiring new external workers. The bill establishes enforcement mechanisms including civil penalties for violations and allows employees to file private lawsuits for damages, with the Secretary of Labor having investigative authority to ensure compliance. This legislation directly affects part-time workers and employers with more than 15 employees across both private and public sectors.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Paid Leave

in committee · United States · House May 1, 2025

HR 3155: Child Care for American Families Act

HR 3155, the Child Care for American Families Act, increases tax credits for employers providing child care by raising the credit percentage from 25% to 40% (50% for small businesses with ≤500 employees, 60% for facilities in rural areas or specific census tracts), with annual limits of $1.2 million in credits and $2 million in qualifying costs. It requires the Treasury to create a public awareness program within one year to inform eligible employers about the credit and filing procedures. The bill also mandates a GAO study on state/local licensing requirements and regulatory barriers affecting child care facilities, including recommendations to reduce multi-state compliance costs. This legislation directly impacts employers, particularly small businesses and rural providers, by making employer-sponsored child care more financially accessible.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Child Labor Labor Standards Paid Leave

in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2026

HR 2299: Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act of 2025

This bill establishes a permanent "Payroll Audit Independent Determination" (PAID) program under the Department of Labor, allowing employers to voluntarily self-audit and correct unintentional wage violations under federal law. Employers submit payroll audits identifying minimum wage or overtime errors, then pay back wages directly to affected employees through a streamlined process overseen by the Department. Employees who accept the settlement receive full payment but waive their right to sue for those specific violations, while employers gain protection from future investigations for the same issues. The program, based on a successful 2018-2019 pilot that resolved cases faster and with higher back-wage payments than traditional enforcement, includes strict safeguards like confidentiality for submitted data and requirements for employer good faith.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Paid Leave

in committee · United States · House Feb 5, 2025

HR 996: Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act

HR 996 extends and enhances a tax credit for employers that provide paid family and medical leave to employees. The bill gives eligible employers two options for claiming the credit: either a percentage of wages paid to employees on leave or a percentage of premiums paid for an insurance policy covering such leave (calculated as if leave were always available). It clarifies that state or local government-paid leave counts toward an employer’s leave provision but not toward the credit amount, and prevents double benefits by disallowing deductions for expenses used to claim the credit. The Small Business Administration and Internal Revenue Service must conduct outreach to help employers understand and access this credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Paid Leave Tags Small Business

All labor & employment bills