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March 18, 2008
Submit Your Letter Supporting
Flexibility in the Workplace
 The
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (RBCC &
VB) supports a pro-posed law that is designed to allow for
employees and employers to have more flexibility with work
schedules. This new workplace flexibility proposal will
accommodate employees' diverse family obligations, personal
pursuits and commuting issues by allowing employers to agree
to provide scheduling options requested by an employee. The
Small Business Family Scheduling Option (AB 2127) would only
allow a small business, with 25 or fewer employees, to offer
the option.
Click here to submit your letter!
“This proposal will benefit both the employees and
employers,” stated Marna Smeltzer, President and CEO of RBCC
& VB. “AB 2127 will meet the demands of our workforce, and
at the same time allow our business owners to create an
incentive for their employees, which is this scheduling
option,” continued Smeltzer.
The option would allow an employer to agree to an employee’s
request to work four 10-hour days a week, or eight nine-hour
days and one eight-hour day in two weeks, also known as a
9/80 schedule. This option applies exclusively to small
businesses that are not covered by a collective bargaining
agreement.
According to the U. S. Department of Labor, the labor force
is growing at a very modest rate and the number of available
workers between 25 and 44 may actually shrink.
“The need for qualified employees should encourage employers
to rethink recruitment and retention strategies of
employees,” stated Charles Gale, Jr. Chair of the Chamber’s
Government Relations Council.
“The ability to
provide flexible work schedules to employees may aide in
retaining employees, improving productivity and reducing
absenteeism because employees can take care of personal
business on personal time,” continued Gale.
The Small Business Family Scheduling Option also allows for
certain protections and benefits.
- The request for the option must be made by the employee,
in writing, and it must be made voluntarily
- The employer is required to maintain a copy of the written
agreement as it would any personnel record – for three years
beyond termination of the agreement.
- The agreement must be executed in writing.
- Either the employee or the employer can revoke the
agreement at any time, provided he or she gives seven days
written notice.
- Any hours worked beyond the compressed workweek hours must
be paid at normal overtime rates.
- The employer is prohibited from reducing the employee’s
regular rate of pay as a result of the employee adopting an
alternative work week schedule.
- Working a compressed four-day workweek provides up to 50
extra non-work days each year for the average full-time
employee.
- AB 2127 satisfies employee demands for flexible schedules.
- AB 2127 reduces traffic and the frequency of long commutes
at peak hours.
- AB 2127 means fewer trips to the workplace, which results
in lower carbon emissions.
- A flexible work life is good for your health according to
researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine
as reported in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine (December 2007).
Click here to submit your letter!
Click here
to contact the Redondo Beach Chamber
for more
information
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