[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 95 (Friday, June 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E989-E990]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE FLEXIBILITY FOR WORKING FAMILIES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2013

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, across all sectors 
and industries, flexible work arrangements are a key to meeting the 
21st century's diverse workforce needs. Such voluntary arrangements 
have been shown to boost employee satisfaction and their physical and 
mental health as well as improve businesses bottom line by helping to 
retain key talent, reduce absenteeism, and enhance employee 
productivity.
  Flexible workplace policies are a win-win for business and workers. 
To help promote these policies, I am introducing the Flexibility for 
Working Families Act. This legislation guarantees employees the right 
to request flexible work arrangements and provides employers with 
flexibility by encouraging them to review these requests, propose 
changes, and even deny them if they are not in the best interest of the 
business. Such voluntary arrangements between employees and employers 
include changing the time, amount, and/or place that work is conducted.
  Over the last 50 years the American workforce and demographics have 
shifted tremendously. Last month, Pew Research found that ``breadwinner 
moms'' are the sole or primary provider in more than four in ten 
households with children under age 18. Furthermore, more households are 
caring for older relatives as medical advances mean people are living 
longer, with studies showing that almost 60 percent of those who 
provide unpaid care to an adult or to a child with special needs are 
employed. It's important that this workforce have options such as 
flexibility to help them handle even the most basic demands of work and 
family.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Flexibility for Working Families 
Act, and I thank Senator Bob Casey for introducing Senate companion 
legislation.

[[Page E990]]



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