SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman John J. Benoit (R-Bermuda Dunes) today
announced that his Small Business Family Scheduling Option (Assembly Bill 2127),
legislation that would have given flexibility to hourly employees in
California´s small businesses to alter their workweek schedules, was defeated on
a party-line vote in the Labor and Employment Committee.
"I am terribly dismayed that liberal-dominated interests, which would be unaffected by my bill´s provisions, have stopped small business employees from having the additional workweek flexibility that workers in 46 other states enjoy," said Benoit. "Today´s vote signals that, even during these difficult economic times, Assembly Democrats refuse to look into ways we can maintain a competitive business climate and help our small businesses."
AB 2127 would have permitted an individual employee in a company that employs 25 people or less, with the consent of his or her employer, to adopt a schedule that provides for 10-hour workdays in a 4-day workweek.
Several representatives from Chambers in Riverside County traveled to Sacramento to testify and advocate in support of Benoit´s measure. One, Sharon Tyrrell, owner of Capree Escrow, Inc. in Riverside, said that current law prevents her from offering a flexible schedule for her employees. "As a small business owner, I have always encouraged my employees to continue their education," said Tyrrell. "AB 2127 would allow my staff to work a fulltime schedule in four days, providing them with an additional day to attend college classes that are often only offered during traditional business hours. Current law prevents me from offering my employees a more flexible schedule to accommodate their needs, and as a result, the employees must reduce their work hours, and therefore their pay, in order to attend class. Why should they have to choose between work and school when AB 2127 is a reasonable alternative?"
"California needs a law that will permit four-day workweeks for individual workers," said Marc Burgat, CalChamber Vice President of Government Relations. "AB 2127 is good for workers, good for the environment and good public policy. Permitting individual scheduling flexibility is one way small businesses owners can help employees strike a balance between work and personal responsibilities. This bill has the added benefit of helping our environment by eliminating one commute trip per week for each employee who is working the compressed schedule."
Benoit´s bill was sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce and received a wide array of support from California´s business community, with more than 43 local Chambers signing on as co-sponsors of AB 2127.
"I am terribly dismayed that liberal-dominated interests, which would be unaffected by my bill´s provisions, have stopped small business employees from having the additional workweek flexibility that workers in 46 other states enjoy," said Benoit. "Today´s vote signals that, even during these difficult economic times, Assembly Democrats refuse to look into ways we can maintain a competitive business climate and help our small businesses."
AB 2127 would have permitted an individual employee in a company that employs 25 people or less, with the consent of his or her employer, to adopt a schedule that provides for 10-hour workdays in a 4-day workweek.
Several representatives from Chambers in Riverside County traveled to Sacramento to testify and advocate in support of Benoit´s measure. One, Sharon Tyrrell, owner of Capree Escrow, Inc. in Riverside, said that current law prevents her from offering a flexible schedule for her employees. "As a small business owner, I have always encouraged my employees to continue their education," said Tyrrell. "AB 2127 would allow my staff to work a fulltime schedule in four days, providing them with an additional day to attend college classes that are often only offered during traditional business hours. Current law prevents me from offering my employees a more flexible schedule to accommodate their needs, and as a result, the employees must reduce their work hours, and therefore their pay, in order to attend class. Why should they have to choose between work and school when AB 2127 is a reasonable alternative?"
"California needs a law that will permit four-day workweeks for individual workers," said Marc Burgat, CalChamber Vice President of Government Relations. "AB 2127 is good for workers, good for the environment and good public policy. Permitting individual scheduling flexibility is one way small businesses owners can help employees strike a balance between work and personal responsibilities. This bill has the added benefit of helping our environment by eliminating one commute trip per week for each employee who is working the compressed schedule."
Benoit´s bill was sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce and received a wide array of support from California´s business community, with more than 43 local Chambers signing on as co-sponsors of AB 2127.
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