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Workplace balance sought
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January 24, 1997: 3:01 p.m. ET
Proposed bills would allow workers, employees flexibility with hours
From Correspondent Kelli Arena
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WASHINGTON (CNNfn) - Bills are before the both houses of the United States Congress designed to give workers and employers more flexibility with work scheduling.
"Right now it's against the law for an employer to allow a family member to take an hour off on Friday afternoon to see his daughter get an award at the high school and make up that hour on Monday," said Republican Sen. John Ashcroft of Missouri.
Ashcroft is proposing legislation that would help workers balance jobs and family.
His bill includes three basic proposals that would be optional, not mandated for employers.
- It would allow an employee to work additional hours one week, fewer the next.
- An employee could work 80 hours over a two week period in any combination (for example, 45 hours one week, 35 the next.)
- It would allow a worker to take time and a half off, instead of time and a half pay for working overtime.
A house bill has similar goals. Government workers have had these privileges since 1978 without controversy.
Business groups applaud the move, but some union officials say they'll put up a fight. They're worried companies may intimidate workers into taking time off rather than overtime pay.
William Milton of the American Federation of Government Employees said a cooperative effort is necessary to make it work. (167K WAV) or (167K AIFF)
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