[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 29, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING NATIONAL WORK AND FAMILY MONTH

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 29, 2013

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Work and 
Family Month. As a father of five, I understand the constant struggle 
faced by American families to balance their work and family life. 
Policies that promote work-life balance can, and have, helped to create 
healthier, more flexible work environments.
  Today's families are increasingly likely to include two working 
parents. In addition to caring for children, a number of working-age 
adults face other demands on their time such as caring for an aging 
parent. To meet the needs of a modern workforce, many companies have 
created work-life programs to assist employees in balancing their jobs 
with their personal commitments.
  Studies show that both employees and employers benefit from work-life 
flexibility programs. Benefits from such programs include increased 
productivity, recruitment, retention, and employee satisfaction. Work-
life initiatives lead to better business, higher employee morale, and 
healthier families.
  In today's economy, public and private employers, including our 
government, are finding it is not only necessary, but beneficial to 
support work-life balance. With this in mind, I have introduced the 
`Paid Vacation Act' (H.R. 2096) to provide workers one week of paid 
leave annually under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). My bill would 
provide much needed time off to the one in four Americans, working in 
the private sector, who do not receive any paid vacation.
  Today's employees work longer and harder than ever before. I strongly 
support policies, like paid vacation leave and sick leave, that allow 
workers to spend more time with their families, improve their mental 
and physical health, and ultimately be more productive. We in Congress 
must take National Work and Family Month as an opportunity to consider 
how to better promote work-life programs and policies that will benefit 
working families.
  This October, in honor of National Work and Family Month, I encourage 
my colleagues to acknowledge the positive impacts of a healthy work-
life balance on family life and the workforce.