Thursday, May 5, 2011

Press Release - Olsen Bill to Create a Flexible Work Week

Today, Assembly Bill 830, a job creation measure authored by Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, was defeated on a party-line vote in the Assembly Labor and Employment committee. AB 830 would have allowed non-exempt employees the flexibility to work four 10-hour days or the traditional five 8-hour work days.

“Choosing a flexible work schedule of 4, 10-hour work days would have given employees 50 additional non-working days per year and would save employers money so they can create new jobs and hire more people,” said Olsen. “I am very disappointed that my Democrat colleagues did not take the opportunity to pass this bill and create a win for employers and employees.”

AB 830 would have created an employee driven, voluntary process for flexible work schedules and would not have affected existing bargaining agreements or eliminate overtime opportunities, and benefits already in existence would have been maintained. Flexible work schedules would have also had the added benefit of decreasing commute time, easing traffic congestion, reducing pollution and reducing child care costs.

“There has never been a greater need for a flexible work schedule than now. AB 830  would have given working families, caregivers, students and others with scheduling conflicts the availability to choose an alternative work schedule,” said Olsen.

California is one of only four states that does not conform to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act; of those four states, California’s overtime laws are the most restrictive. AB 830 was supported by coalition of statewide organizations and small business owners, including the California Small Business Association, the California Restaurant Association and the California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation. The only register opposition to the bill was labor unions, including the California Labor Federation and the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council. 

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