117 S3641 IS: Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act
U.S. Senate
2022-02-14
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act
.2.The table of contents is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title.Sec. 2. Table of contents.TITLE I—Expanding access to benefits for part-time workers Sec. 101. Elimination of hours of service requirement for FMLA leave.Sec. 102. Improving coverage for long-term part-time workers.TITLE II—Ensuring fair treatment for part-time workers Sec. 201. Definitions.Sec. 202. Elimination of discrimination on the basis of hours worked.Sec. 203. Offer of work to existing employees.Sec. 204. Prohibited acts.Sec. 205. Remedies and enforcement.Sec. 206. Regulations.<enum>I</enum><header>Expanding access to benefits for part-time workers </header><section id="id3736577d5bcc495baff1e7ccad33ded2"><enum>101.</enum><header>Elimination of hours of service requirement for FMLA leave</header><subsection id="id26b23f7ea3ae4c2796d40af1b62ff80e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendment</header><text>Section 101(2)(A) of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2611">29 U.S.C. 2611(2)(A)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id82bc2b988d7f4958ac2304da6119ee90"><subparagraph id="idf1b378bc46d74f12a4d4cceb37fa225d"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>eligible employee</term> means an employee who has been employed for at least 12 months by the employer with respect to whom leave is requested under section 102.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id14A400F370AB45529B3C4AF0B45CC2E2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><paragraph id="id29B2C21B9D184127ABBAE158859286D6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section 101(2) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2611">29 U.S.C. 2611(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id5EAC37C65B8442D39CA91782D9E006F7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDCF206736FB246E69CC780FA8F648CAE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (C).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id416DB3A5FDBE412AA20DA0B67B77D5E1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 102(a) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2612">29 U.S.C. 2612(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking paragraph (5). </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id03a9c8f740f244cb8e34c99b188a3926"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="H3D47DCA37B4D433D92C58F31D6173FD6"><enum>102.</enum><header>Improving coverage for long-term part-time workers</header><subsection id="H1D1EE760D80046C1A5226B57C8EB083C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 202 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/1052">29 U.S.C. 1052</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H548EA698AE99423284FF6143CECC6D4D"><subsection id="HD753023478C7413DA76417DD5F7ECE81"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Special rule for certain part-Time employees</header><paragraph id="H41C86C3BD72E484C9540569C72F046F4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A pension plan that includes either a qualified cash or deferred arrangement (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/401">section 401(k)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) or a salary reduction agreement (as described in section 403(b) of such Code) shall not require, as a condition of participation in the arrangement or agreement, that an employee complete a period of service with the employer (or employers) maintaining the plan extending beyond the close of the earlier of—</text><subparagraph id="H200FD46EAC7E4799A2608AD56A5F7CC5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the period permitted under subsection (a)(1) (determined without regard to subparagraph (B)(i) thereof) and section 410(a)(1) of such Code (determined without regard to subparagraph (B)(i) thereof); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA5E365DAF54646FE8CE958491193E30A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the first 24-month period—</text><clause id="H448A56A66D6D464B957FB4809691D9EA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>consisting of 2 consecutive 12-month periods during each of which the employee has at least 500 hours of service; and</text></clause><clause id="H9E347246FAF44AFFBC58EF869703D513"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by the close of which the employee has attained the age of 21.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCB0D9885F34C4A128CEF678A063138E3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to employees who are included in a unit of employees covered by an agreement which the Secretary finds to be a collective bargaining agreement between employee representatives and 1 or more employers, if there is evidence that retirement benefits were the subject of good faith bargaining between such employee representatives and such employer or employers.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDBA33AAC1EA444AF8ADCF927014A25EC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination with other rules</header><text>In the case of employees who are not highly compensated employees (within the meaning of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/414">section 414(q)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) and who are eligible to participate in the arrangement or agreement solely by reason of paragraph (1)(B):</text><subparagraph id="H76DD5C3C24EB4B10B389D0AFC76B17B4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>An employer may elect to exclude such employees from the determination of whether the plan that includes the arrangement or agreement satisfies the requirements of subsections (a)(4), (k)(3), (k)(12), (k)(13), (m)(2), (m)(11), and (m)(12) of section 401 of such Code, section 410(b) of such Code, and section 416 of such Code. If the employer so excludes such employees with respect to the requirements of any such provision, such employees shall be excluded with respect to the requirements of all such provisions. This subparagraph shall cease to apply to any employee as of the first plan year beginning after the plan year in which the employee completes 1 year of service (without regard to paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA4ADC8000CAB4A85A47BBEA0C35CAAC9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Time of participation</header><text>The rules of subsection (a)(4) and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/410">section 410(a)(4)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply to such employees.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF591862BAAA2422CBF7FF935C63689A5"><enum>(4)</enum><header>12-month period</header><text>For purposes of this subsection, 12-month periods shall be determined in the same manner as under the last sentence of subsection (a)(3)(A), except that 12-month periods beginning before January 1, 2022, shall not be taken into account.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H57D4284529944AD8B89E9189B864B0CC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Vesting</header><text>Section 203(b) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/1053">29 U.S.C. 1053(b)</external-xref>) is amended by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5) and by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4B17E6DB3D254980A96573C4CCA51F1D"><paragraph id="HC4E27371F7F44245AE0945281A707FA0" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Part-Time employees</header><text>For purposes of determining whether an employee who is eligible to participate in a qualified cash or deferred arrangement or a salary reduction agreement under a plan solely by reason of section 202(c)(1)(B) has a nonforfeitable right to employer contributions—</text><subparagraph id="H7C903684C2AA40D79F163F90AB1773D4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>except as provided in subparagraph (B), each 12-month period for which the employee has at least 500 hours of service shall be treated as a year of service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF4186771BD014D719FC6CE2258857414"><enum>(B)</enum><text>12-month periods occurring before the 24-month period described in section 202(c)(1)(B) shall not be treated as years of service.</text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph" indent="subsection">For purposes of this paragraph, 12-month periods shall be determined in the same manner as under the last sentence of section 202(a)(3)(A), except that 12-month periods beginning before January 1, 2022, shall not be taken into account.</continuation-text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HF3D19992730B40B2A9C0F17E0B68530E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Penalty</header><text>Section 502 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/1132">29 U.S.C. 1132</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF08113408596420AA2DA3E5C9FD10EF9"><subsection id="HC648891180014968AD45F58E5FA8745A"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Requirements relating to part-Time employees</header><text>In the case of a plan that fails to permit participation as required by section 202(c), the Secretary may assess a civil penalty against the plan sponsor in an amount equal to $10,000 per year per employee to whom such failure relates. The Secretary may, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, waive or reduce the penalty under this subsection if the Secretary determines that the plan sponsor acted reasonably and in good faith.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Ensuring fair treatment for part-time workers </header><section id="H57425249B6BF45FCB50BE1ACF6D81E16"><enum>201.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="HAC45BC8E1FE94D099771380F7EC5C0EB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Employ</header><text>The term <term>employ</term> has the meaning given the term in section 3(g) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/203">29 U.S.C. 203(g)</external-xref>). </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H35F1FD0A2D5E4854A02B6EFDEEF6365D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Employee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>employee</term> means an individual who is—</text><subparagraph id="H08323E7BD77F4A77825A001D8833A86A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an employee, as defined in section 3(e) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/203">29 U.S.C. 203(e)</external-xref>), who is not covered under any of subparagraphs (B) through (G), except that a reference in such section to an employer shall be considered to be a reference to a person in commerce described in paragraph (3)(A);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE17750F1F2AA4951B61C43769B65E179"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a State employee described in section 304(a) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16c(a));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFB74B3546C4442B6A99AB22EDF662C21"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a covered employee, as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/1301">2 U.S.C. 1301</external-xref>), except that such term shall not include an applicant for employment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC1D0EF2C54204C10AA635F99BCE0304B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a covered employee, as defined in section 411(c) of title 3, United States Code;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA9A8A15DC34F452CB2D6E62FCEF9FD7E"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a Federal officer or employee covered under subchapter V of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/63">chapter 63</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code; or </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7FCC593BE91040D6A62D43D838855D9F"><enum>(F)</enum><text>an employee of the Government Accountability Office.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H89538F7464F0414794F70229E4DB878C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Employer</header><text>The term <term>employer</term>—</text><subparagraph id="id4b49d7b0c909490caf3b4ce25f4c2f8d"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id58454158412d4ecaa8d7abc09300c742"><enum>(i)</enum><text>means any person in commerce that—</text><subclause id="id850BA013B55C4F8FBF71A9E78BB4EC84" indent="up1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>employs more than 15 employees described in paragraph (2)(A), which shall be calculated by including all employees described in paragraph (2)(A) performing work for compensation on a full-time, part-time, or temporary basis, except that if the number of such employees who perform work for such a person for compensation fluctuates, the number may be determined for a calendar year based upon the average number of such employees who performed work for the person for compensation during the preceding calendar year; or</text></subclause><subclause id="id850d7be5da8e4fa6a7d5c975accecc61" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>is part of an integrated enterprise, chain of businesses, group of franchises associated with a franchisor, or network of franchises that, in the aggregate, employs more than 15 employees, calculated in accordance with subclause (I);</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H1A5B1231CFA34B5F93D1C2A88435B7C9" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>includes—</text><subclause id="H09564D118233438E986E5E97E8286FC9"><enum>(I)</enum><text>any person who acts, directly or indirectly, in the interest of such an employer to any of the employees (described in clause (i)) of such employer; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HEA6B062E5BD6471FBC74F96EAF7F0F28"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any successor in interest of such an employer; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H05BFD7067D2B405DB6525BB268256FC6" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>includes an agency described in subparagraph (A)(iii) of section 101(4) of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2611">29 U.S.C. 2611(4)</external-xref>), to which subparagraph (B) of such section shall apply;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB9C4044DCDAF4D73B07BA7DB65E8ED6A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is an entity employing a State employee described in section 304(a) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16c(a));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H07CE323157BF4597B101DBA6B65C9AD9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is an employing office, as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/1301">2 U.S.C. 1301</external-xref>);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3CE80F48EA0F46518EE5D842DD2C04E5"><enum>(D)</enum><text>is an employing office, as defined in section 411(c) of title 3, United States Code;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC274255A7E054C32A580DCE69327FFA8"><enum>(E)</enum><text>is an employing agency covered under subchapter V of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/63">chapter 63</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H63AB0EEA8E2142ECAFAFA26DA38800E8"><enum>(F)</enum><text>is the Comptroller General of the United States.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8300150792D94EBF97F1DF8D8B3D45B8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Person</header><text>The term <term>person</term>, except as used with the term <quote>person in commerce</quote>, has the meaning given the term in section 3(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/203">29 U.S.C. 203(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4EEA9EE183214155A51CAF9221B97109"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Person in commerce</header><subparagraph id="id09CB66A481FF4533A9702E5B557442F3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>person in commerce</term> means any person who is engaged in commerce, in any industry or activity affecting commerce, or in the production of goods for commerce.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEA0268E663D64F03B6CA86B6CEC60979"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Commerce</header><text>In subparagraph (A), the term <term>commerce</term> includes government.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF4E403134D024611885538680E5277AE"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Labor.</text></paragraph></section><section id="H0D0F1ED678C9445B92753BE465EBB7F2"><enum>202.</enum><header>Elimination of discrimination on the basis of hours worked</header><subsection commented="no" id="id433503ea82604f9caa8e9af10b67724f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Rule</header><paragraph commented="no" id="id68A1121D0D3B44C3A81D1531D0FC1EFB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An employer shall not discriminate against an employee on the basis that such employee is scheduled to work fewer hours per week, or is employed for a shorter expected duration, than another employee of the employer if the jobs of such employees require substantially equal skill, effort, responsibility, and duties and such jobs are performed under similar working conditions. </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idFBC17403CBE3491B910325965DCCFD01"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Examples</header><text>Discrimination described in paragraph (1) shall include differential treatment with respect to—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idA0A07C7BEB3F479AA8E05616FFC4C792"><enum>(A)</enum><text>rate of compensation; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id3ED34C47940E4B4DA26C24524CDEF40A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>notice of, and input into, work hours; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD046CEC4040D4CFAAA335F9E7353CA0D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>eligibility to accrue, on a pro rata basis, employer-provided paid and unpaid time off and other benefits; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idAA1430EF8E474E0AA0CE809EED6787C0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>promotion opportunities; or </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id33823775B6EE4F1FA544A7D7487517C5"><enum>(E)</enum><text>other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id719972783de1488b8708a9f60aae369b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Distinctions permitted</header><text>This section shall not be construed to prohibit differences in rate of compensation, or other conditions, terms, or privileges of employment, of employees of an employer for reasons other than the number of hours the employees are scheduled to work per week, or the expected duration of employment of the employees, including for reasons such as—</text><paragraph id="id007271A7D35D4F5E920F777966C54BA8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the date on which the employees are hired;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idDE50E94440AA4E3784A0671453A325E1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a merit system; or </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id01B3414C833C4C7B9A1AA381CD0118D3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a system that measures earnings by quantity per hour or quality of production.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H016891E7A9234C08ACAD06916C0FDB7B"><enum>203.</enum><header>Offer of work to existing employees</header><subsection id="HF005FAFE432942EB8EA33AD7073F0F24"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Written statements required</header><paragraph id="H4EA77D6FD1A34256BE98A223F0D9C0A4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Upon hiring an employee, an employer shall—</text><subparagraph id="HE00BC67EEA0C4610B7513B262C92E239"><enum>(A)</enum><text>obtain a written statement of the employee’s desired number of weekly work hours and the days and times the employee is available to work; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4DE90592787B453A86F5A4A51BB4223A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>notify the employee that this written statement may be modified in writing at any time during employment; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H06C1E8AB46E34D8A891EA3A118512B22"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">specify the process to modify the written statement.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H58BF324FE40D479884230DB2AE53ADCE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Offer of desired weekly work hours to existing employees</header><paragraph id="idC7AA00D3CC274E8B93E6CAEAFD117634"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), an employer shall schedule an employee of the employer to work the number of weekly hours identified by the employee as desired weekly hours in a written statement under subsection (a) prior to hiring any new employee from an external applicant pool, including hiring through the use of a temporary services or staffing agency, or contracting with a contractor or subcontractor, to work such hours.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB4CCA33FFECA4C04A682486E364776AD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An employer may hire an individual as a new employee, or engage a contractor or subcontractor, to perform work for the employer if— </text><subparagraph id="H63AF5B064E4F47EBB5983730E912B6D2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the employer needs to fill hours for which no employees of the employer who have provided written statements under subsection (a) are available based on such written statements; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5D58F7E3DC7346B08EC4A607050C72E7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all employees of the employer who have provided written statements under subsection (a) lack, and cannot obtain with reasonable training, the qualifications necessary to perform the work; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8CD6AAC291C1475CADB6B78AA9E69613"><enum>(C)</enum><text>scheduling any such employee to perform the work would require providing such employee overtime compensation at a rate not less than one and one half times the regular rate at which the employee is employed, in accordance with section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/207">29 U.S.C. 207</external-xref>) or any State law. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H0B28B897E8A8451F9FBBA16D49CE2816"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Compensation required</header><paragraph commented="no" id="idA3982D1A110446A69844B4C86D9AAA98"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), an employee (referred to in this subsection as an <quote>existing employee</quote>) who is not scheduled for the desired number of total weekly work hours identified by the employee in a written statement under subsection (a) shall be compensated for each hour worked by a newly hired employee, contractor, or subcontractor hired after the existing employee so identified such number of hours, during an hour that such existing employee identified in a written statement under such subsection as an hour for which the employee is available to work.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id8D7756B44C974479B4E7910A3E64C583"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>An employer shall not be required to compensate an existing employee under paragraph (1) for any hour of work for which—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idC50F7720B67445A2B94B02D2599FD48E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the employee lacks, or cannot obtain with reasonable training, the qualifications necessary to perform the work;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id153839E45D4B4D848BBBCCFBC4C29BF8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>scheduling such employee to perform the work would require providing the employee overtime compensation as described in subsection (b)(2)(C);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id35C49D939D0A47F98D040FDD40D0CC84"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the employer made a reasonable attempt to contact the employee to work such hour and was unable to reach the employee; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id9C5696D36392484899F607983A506012"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the employee was otherwise no longer available.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7B84651625DC482FB2AF18E2FE6FF82B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For purposes of this section, the terms <term>written</term>, with respect to a statement, and <term>writing</term> mean a printed or printable communication in physical or electronic form. </text></subsection></section><section id="H7840183DB0A24356A914B74F0CB16FB4"><enum>204.</enum><header>Prohibited acts</header><subsection id="H03507C4E8F0E486391B1FBFCE13A3E8A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Interference with rights</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It shall be unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise or the attempt to exercise, any rights set forth under this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="H2685ECEF8127441499219F0CD7AFC11B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Retaliation prohibited</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It shall be unlawful for any employer to discharge, threaten to discharge, demote, suspend, reduce work hours of, or otherwise discriminate (including taking any other adverse employment action) against any person because of an employee of the employer exercising the rights of the employee under this title or opposing any practice made unlawful by this title. </text></subsection><subsection id="HD222403A17944A59853FFB399850042B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Interference with proceedings or inquiries</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against an individual because such individual—</text><paragraph id="H121EE221D3E14747937A5BF77CA0FB24"><enum>(1)</enum><text>has filed any charge, or has instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this title;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H477B6AAC26664E438CE41C44569E484C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>has given, or is about to give, any information in connection with any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this title; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H101D1E8108A644E484EA4634976A89E2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>has testified, or is about to testify, in any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HEB4A92A84DC3403DBDC79B91FA908EB4"><enum>205.</enum><header>Remedies and enforcement</header><subsection id="HAAB386D81B2547D3863295AC6F79B063"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Investigative authority</header><paragraph id="H68897D88418D448D8B44761775A5A58E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To ensure compliance with this title, including any regulation or order issued under this title, the Secretary shall have, subject to paragraph (3), the investigative authority provided under section 11(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/211">29 U.S.C. 211(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDB605C8A26CE4198961ECE6A88C6B089"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Obligation to keep and preserve records</header><subparagraph id="idA27CF94F295A444B9872285FCE6990F1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each employer shall maintain for a period of not less than 3 years, or for the duration of any claim (including the duration of a related civil action or investigation) pending pursuant to this title, whichever is longer, all records necessary to demonstrate compliance with this title, including compliance with the requirements of regulations issued by the Secretary under section 206. Such records shall include documentation of offers of hours of work to employees and responses to such offers. </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB40869581BE2428192327C3EF7371281"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Copies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each employer shall, upon a reasonable request of an employee of the employer, provide the employee with a copy of the records described in subparagraph (A) relating to the employee. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC5AE0E0FA0044CACA0A6A983CFBC2882"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Required submissions generally limited to an annual basis</header><text>The Secretary shall not require, under the authority of this subsection, any employer to submit to the Secretary any books or records more than once during any 12-month period, unless the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe there may exist a violation of this title, including any regulation or order issued pursuant to this title, or is investigating a charge pursuant to subsection (c).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA47391071DF14DBB90B1D722719155E8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Subpoena powers</header><text>For the purposes of any investigation provided for in this subsection, the Secretary shall have the subpoena authority provided for under section 9 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/209">29 U.S.C. 209</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB07D4E50C5204C4998659F8AC70131DC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Civil action by employees</header><paragraph id="H458B552C979249A38EF992F3BCEECAE0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Liability</header><subparagraph id="id32613D6532A74939A118D6F07BDDC642"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any employer who violates section 202, 203, or 204 (each such provision referred to in this section as a <quote>covered provision</quote>) shall be liable to any person affected for—</text><clause id="H72084C19AFAA4DAD95AE114EDDCA4366"><enum>(i)</enum><text>damages equal to the amount of—</text><subclause id="H4B493E0190DB43F19B093DB75852E7FD"><enum>(I)</enum><text>any wages, salary, employment benefits (as defined in section 101 of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2611">29 U.S.C. 2611</external-xref>)), or other compensation denied, lost, or owed to such employee by reason of the violation; or</text></subclause><subclause id="HD6E4EA411F55443E9EDC80656D4410DA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in a case in which wages, salary, employment benefits (as so defined), or other compensation have not been denied, lost, or owed to the employee, any actual monetary losses sustained by the employee as a direct result of the violation;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H72E73A16C4474D92A79DBB2E4FE56B60"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>interest on the amount described in clause (i) calculated at the prevailing rate;</text></clause><clause id="H1D3E0026CC7C4938A567D20E2C967FF0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>except as provided in subparagraph (B), an additional amount as liquidated damages equal to the sum of the amount described in clause (i) and the interest described in clause (ii); and</text></clause><clause id="H2A33A87820E541EB8741F6FF00DA044B"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4E3CA36E12474C9A8165A473EDA9A071"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception for liquidated damages</header><text>If an employer who has violated a covered provision proves to the satisfaction of the court that the act or omission which violated the covered provision was in good faith and that the employer had reasonable grounds for believing that the act or omission was not a violation of a covered provision, such court may, in the discretion of the court, reduce the amount of liability under subparagraph (A) to the amount, interest, and equitable relief determined under clauses (i), (ii), and (iv), respectively.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF252CC34BDCA42788C89595EC8272C29"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Right of Action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An action to recover the damages, interest, or equitable relief set forth in paragraph (1) may be maintained against any employer (including a public agency) in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction by any one or more employees for and on behalf of—</text><subparagraph id="H13BA2DB6C7AD4C30ADDDA858B26FC0BE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such employees; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84806F9EB6584EF5BD243872A3C9001A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such employees and any other employees similarly situated.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H85C30C9F9929462AA5BEBA70656F6346"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Fees and Costs</header><text>The court in such an action shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff, allow a reasonable attorney’s fee, reasonable expert witness fees, and other costs of the action to be paid by the defendant.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB0B8E369A8474DA1916470339EF8671A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text>The right provided by paragraph (2) to bring an action by or on behalf of any employee shall terminate on the filing of a complaint by the Secretary in an action under subsection (c)(4) in which a recovery is sought of the damages, interest, or equitable relief described in paragraph (1)(A) owing to an employee by an employer liable under paragraph (1) unless the action is dismissed without prejudice on motion of the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H78A7F52602F94AE7A6456F80B3C61559"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Actions by the Secretary</header><paragraph id="HE7AB62A7AD824FC49E917BA2E4E2759C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administrative Action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints of violations of this title in the same manner that the Secretary receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve complaints of violations of sections 6 and 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206 and 207), and may issue an order making determinations, and assessing a civil penalty described in paragraph (3) (in accordance with paragraph (3)), with respect to such an alleged violation. </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD19D02955ED54DB1B0972F64CECBE0CE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative Review</header><text>An affected person who takes exception to an order issued under paragraph (1) may request review of and a decision regarding such an order by an administrative law judge. In reviewing the order, the administrative law judge may hold an administrative hearing concerning the order, in accordance with the requirements of sections 554, 556, and 557 of title 5, United States Code. Such hearing shall be conducted expeditiously. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H789B7F82EDCB44F58735810F856C765E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Civil penalty</header><subparagraph id="idA46820F742514CC783490DD75BFB345E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An employer who willfully and repeatedly violates—</text><clause id="HB53FA23E2FF8490483A3917AFC578993"><enum>(i)</enum><text>section 204(a) shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount to be determined by the Secretary, but not to exceed $100 per violation (subject to subparagraph (B)); or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF63EB4F8D41340D09321C474621E6A3C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>subsection (b) or (c) of section 204 shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount to be determined by the Secretary, but not to exceed $1,100 per violation (subject to subparagraph (B)).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id093BC684A8D34D0F973C6E5DFD38A83E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inflation</header><text>The Secretary shall, for each year beginning with calendar year 2024, increase the maximum amounts for the penalties described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published by the Department of Labor, between December 2022 and the December prior to the year for which the increase takes effect. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFD6B9AD442574C6BB3BE8D76F048E365"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Civil action</header><subparagraph id="id7B598DAC42A64AF3BA2BAD20DDF6EABA"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction on behalf of aggrieved employees to—</text><clause id="H5287644438A44003A3C4FF58BD6E4E83"><enum>(i)</enum><text>restrain violations of this title;</text></clause><clause id="H8043F4EEC74A4020B91D008227EFA4A2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>obtain such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion; and</text></clause><clause id="HC228908D97864A2C982BBF09682A486B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in the case of a violation of a covered provision, recover the damages, interest, and equitable relief described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subsection (b)(1)(A). </text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id458FC5715B3542ACB06D3E5026F25F53"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Recovery on behalf of employees</header><text>Any sums recovered by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) on behalf of an employee shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Secretary, directly to the employee affected. Any such sums not paid to an employee because of inability to do so within a period of three years shall be deposited in the Treasury and credited to miscellaneous receipts.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC7451E03DADF43D7A3BBE71AF0878ECD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Limitation</header><paragraph id="H34D11D52E2A84702A1978F0E362F2059"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), an action may be brought under this section not later than 2 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which the action is brought.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H541CC3666FE84CB3BC15B4538CD80824"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Willful Violation</header><text>In the case of such action brought for a willful violation of section 204, such action may be brought within 3 years of the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which such action is brought.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H107F9D6D25824B2FA781E3C1749DD6FF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Commencement</header><text>In determining when an action is commenced by the Secretary or by an employee under this section for the purposes of this subsection, it shall be considered to be commenced on the date when the complaint is filed.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H24ADC61EFDDE45EBBBBEA732862C38E2"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Other Administrative Officers</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8405466C379E42DABFFD658D8B76E110"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Employees covered by Congressional Accountability Act of 1995</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The powers and procedures provided in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/1301">2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.</external-xref>) to the Board (as defined in section 101 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/1301">2 U.S.C. 1301</external-xref>)), or any person, alleging a violation of section 202(a)(1) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/1312">2 U.S.C. 1312(a)(1)</external-xref>) shall be the powers and procedures this title provides to that Board, or any person, alleging a violation of this title against an employee described in section 201(2)(C).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2D86D8F93A89442C8CE14A9F8F11109F"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Employees covered by <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/3/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 3, United States Code</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The powers and procedures provided in <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/3/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 3, United States Code, to the President, the Merit Systems Protection Board, or any person, alleging a violation of section 412(a)(1) of that title, shall be the powers and procedures this title provides to the President, that Board, or any person, respectively, alleging a violation of this title against an employee described in section 201(2)(D).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37E613C9827E4F8AAE89C7A2A52564D4"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Employees covered by <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/63">chapter 63</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The powers and procedures provided in title 5, United States Code, to an employing agency, provided in chapter 12 of that title to the Merit Systems Protection Board, or provided in that title to any person, alleging a violation of chapter 63 of that title, shall be the powers and procedures this title provides to that agency, that Board, or any person, respectively, alleging a violation of this title against an employee described in section 201(2)(E).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H492CB61CAE46427E8819B033DA46F607"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Comptroller General</header><text>In the case of employees of the Government Accountability Office, the authority of the Secretary under this title shall be exercised by the Comptroller General of the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HBA57AA59CE5643F7B2441C7175BEE8E2"><enum>206.</enum><header>Regulations</header><subsection id="HBC2495831226459AA1A6433B467C1149"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Secretary of Labor</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in subsections (b) through (e), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to implement this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="HAA8EA6D817554EF5872EB97A268DE542"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Board</header><paragraph id="HACE6CA9A81234AADBA0C96656F4065DA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board of Directors of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to implement this title with respect to employees described in section 201(2)(C). The procedures applicable to regulations of the Board issued for the implementation of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/1301">2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.</external-xref>), prescribed in section 304 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/1384">2 U.S.C. 1384</external-xref>), shall be the procedures applicable to regulations issued under this subsection. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H327A8A13C176494E847EF3502B306DC8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>In prescribing the regulations, the Board shall take into consideration the enforcement and remedies provisions concerning the Office and applicable to rights and protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2601">29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.</external-xref>), under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/1301">2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HC84222C1BBAF4C4C9AC8893079D56455"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Modifications</header><text>The regulations issued under paragraph (1) to implement this title shall be the same as substantive regulations issued by the Secretary to implement this title, except to the extent that the Board may determine, for good cause shown and stated together with the regulations issued by the Board, that a modification of such substantive regulations would be more effective for the implementation of the rights and protections under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9959BD9A50B64AE58FE0989F82A7F9D1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>President</header><paragraph id="HB7E1141ECDEA4A7D989D8EA472862BE2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to implement this title with respect to employees described in section 201(2)(D).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7AD76DBAC2734525904C0F35394AEE46"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>In prescribing the regulations, the President shall take into consideration the enforcement and remedies provisions concerning the President and the Merit Systems Protection Board, and applicable to rights and protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/3/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 3, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H03F7B33C553E412F9D63FF4680C94E1F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Modifications</header><text>The regulations issued under paragraph (1) to implement this title shall be the same as substantive regulations issued by the Secretary to implement this title, except to the extent that the President may determine, for good cause shown and stated together with the regulations issued by the President, that a modification of such substantive regulations would be more effective for the implementation of the rights and protections under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2DF8CD754E6644D98CC9C40FBB299049"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Office of Personnel Management</header><paragraph id="H85C1D8667CE042DB99A68E40C97BBE7B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Office of Personnel Management shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to implement this title with respect to employees described in section 201(2)(E).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0C45183F321B496FA8D67624ACD89A04"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>In prescribing the regulations, the Office shall take into consideration the enforcement and remedies provisions concerning an employing agency and the Merit Systems Protection Board under subchapter V of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/63">chapter 63</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF5E1CF49579F4D6E8BA3BD6D4CFF002F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Modifications</header><text>The regulations issued under paragraph (1) to implement this title shall be the same as substantive regulations issued by the Secretary to implement this title, except to the extent that the Office may determine, for good cause shown and stated together with the regulations issued by the Office, that a modification of such substantive regulations would be more effective for the implementation of the rights and protections under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3E23FCDAB2A5471DB41699CE0D9EF334"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Comptroller General</header><paragraph id="H64EABC509233413CA421DBEF18D61663"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to implement this title with respect to employees of the Government Accountability Office.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7190EF2905A14D9BB6F29E4E45567863"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>In prescribing the regulations, the Comptroller General shall take into consideration the enforcement and remedies provisions concerning the Comptroller General under title I of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2611">29 U.S.C. 2611 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H72DFDB9361154A97980DA752D9BA1F9B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Modifications</header><text>The regulations issued under paragraph (1) to implement this title shall be the same as substantive regulations issued by the Secretary to implement this title, except to the extent that the Comptroller General may determine, for good cause shown and stated together with the regulations issued by the Comptroller General, that a modification of such substantive regulations would be more effective for the implementation of the rights and protections under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>