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Chamber Supports Efforts to Increase Workplace Flexibility |
June 2009 The Regional Chamber of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley supports a legislative proposal aimed at providing workplace flexibility. SB 187, authored by State Senator John J. Benoit, is designed to allow for employees and employers to have more flexibility in work schedules. “Workplaces that are unionized already allow workers to choose to work four 10-hour days, however, it is virtually impossible for workers of nonunionized workplaces to enjoy this benefit,” said Heidi Gallegos, Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Chamber of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley. “There should not be discrepancy in the flexibility of work schedules between unionized and nonunionized workers; both types of workers are an integral part of business and should receive the same flexibility in work schedules,” continued Gallegos. The new flexibility will accommodate employees' diverse family obligations, personal pursuits, and commuting issues by allowing employers to agree to provide scheduling options requested by an employee. The benefit would allow an employer to agree to an employee’s request to work four 10-hour days a week, or eight nine-hour days and one eight-hour day in two weeks, also known as a 9/80 schedule. This type of option would only apply businesses that are not already covered by a collective bargaining agreement. SB 187 also allows for certain employee protections and benefits such as; · A worker may not be forced to work more than eight hours in a day without receiving overtime, but, instead, he or she may request a flexible work schedule of up to four 10-hour days per week and an employer may agree to this schedule without having to pay overtime for the ninth and tenth hours worked per day in that schedule, · An employer will be required to pay overtime rates after 10 work hours in a day for workers who have chosen a flexible schedule pursuant to this act, · An employer will be required to pay double normal pay after 12 work hours in a day for a worker who has chosen a flexible schedule, · Either the employee or the employer can revoke the agreement at any time, provided they give seven days written notice, · The employer is prohibited from reducing the employee’s regular rate of pay as a result of the employee adopting an alternative work week schedule, · Working a compressed four-day workweek provides up to 50 extra non-work days each year for the average full-time employee, · Reduces traffic and the frequency of long commutes at peak hours, · Fewer trips to the workplace result in lower carbon emissions. |
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