[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38543-38544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12596]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be 
provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial 
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, 
and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be 
properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed reinstatement of the ``ATUS Leave and 
Job Flexibilities Module''. A copy of the proposed information 
collection request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed 
below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice on or before August 14, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, Division

[[Page 38544]]

of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room G225, 2 
Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also 
may be transmitted by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, at 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) is the Nation's first federally 
administered, continuous survey on time use in the United States. It 
measures, for example, time spent with children, working, sleeping, or 
doing leisure activities. In the United States, several existing 
Federal surveys collect income and wage data for individuals and 
families, and analysts often use such measures of material prosperity 
as proxies for quality of life. Time-use data substantially augment 
these quality-of-life measures. The data also can be used in 
conjunction with wage data to evaluate the contribution of non-market 
work to national economies. This enables comparisons of production 
between nations that have different mixes of market and non-market 
activities.
    The ATUS is used to develop nationally representative estimates of 
how people spend their time. This is done by collecting a time diary 
about the activities survey respondents did over a 24-hour period 
``yesterday,'' from 4 a.m. on the day before the interview until 4 a.m. 
on the day of the interview. In the one-time interview, respondents 
also report who was with them during the activities, where they were, 
how long each activity lasted, and if they were paid. All of this 
information has numerous practical applications for sociologists, 
economists, educators, government policymakers, businesspersons, health 
researchers, and others.
    The Leave and Job Flexibilities Module supports the mission of the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics by providing relevant information on 
economic and social issues. The data from the proposed module can be 
used for research on the relationships between work schedules, job 
flexibilities, access to leave, and time use. These data enhance the 
understanding of people's overall well-being. The module surveys 
employed wage and salary workers, except those who are self-employed, 
aged 15 and up from a nationally representative sample.
    The proposed Leave and Job Flexibilities Module will collect data 
about workers' access to and use of paid and unpaid leave, job 
flexibility, and their work schedules. This includes questions about 
shift work, advance notice of work schedules, workers' control over 
their schedules, flexible start and stop times, and work at home 
arrangements. These questions will provide an additional dimension to 
analyses of workers' job flexibility data.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for a 
2024 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module of questions to follow the 
American Time Use Survey (ATUS). The proposed 2024 module will be 
included in the ATUS through December 2024.
    The data from the proposed Leave and Job Flexibilities Module will 
support the BLS mission of providing relevant information on economic 
and social issues. The data will add to the ATUS by providing a richer 
description of work, specifically workers' access to paid leave, the 
reasons for which workers are able to take leave, and information about 
the availability and use of flexible and alternative work schedules. 
The module will also provide more information on the relationships 
between work schedules, job flexibilities, and time use.
    The collection of the Leave and Job Flexibilities Module in 2024 is 
another effort to gather data on workers' access to paid and unpaid 
leave. A Leave Module similar to the one being proposed was attached to 
the ATUS in 2011 (OMB Number 1220-0175) and in 2017-18 (OMB Number 
1220-0191). The 2024 ATUS Leave and Job Flexibilities Module will 
accomplish similar objectives as the 2011 and 2017-18 modules. Although 
many questions remain the same, some have been dropped and some have 
been added to obtain better information about the availability and use 
of flexible and alternative work schedules.
    The information in the proposed Leave and Job Flexibilities Module 
is important for understanding the current nature of work and how 
people balance work and personal needs. The proposed Leave and Job 
Flexibilities questions can also be tied to previous modules to show 
any changes over time. Changes in workers' job flexibility and work 
schedules before and after the COVID-19 pandemic are of particular 
interest to many researchers and policy makers.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Title of Collection: ATUS Leave and Job Flexibilities Module.
    OMB Number: 1220-0191.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Respondents: 4,761.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Responses: 4,761.
    Average Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 397 hours.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 7, 2023.
Leslie A. Bennett,
Chief, Division of Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 2023-12596 Filed 6-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P