(April 10, 2008) California Chamber of Commerce-sponsored legislation to allow individual employees flexibility in work schedules could help accommodate diverse family obligations, as well as commuting issues and other personal needs, speakers told an Assembly committee yesterday.

Even with the overwhelming support of employers, employees and sponsorship from 43 local chambers of commerce, the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee rejected AB 2127 (Benoit; R-Bermuda Dunes) on a party line vote of 2-6.

AB 2127 would have allowed a small employer (25 or fewer employees) to agree to an employee’s request to work an alternative work schedule. The bill applied specifically to small businesses that are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. According to small businesses, employees and local chambers of commerce, the Small Business Family Scheduling Option would have added a much-needed boost for employers struggling to recruit and maintain qualified employees in a shrinking pool of candidates.

News Conference

Earlier in the day, the CalChamber participated in a news conference where Marc Burgat, CalChamber vice president of government relations, explained that a flexible work schedule would benefit both employers and employees.

Assemblyman Benoit (R-Bermuda Dunes) at the podium and Marc Burgat, vice president, CalChamber Government Relations.

“California needs a law that will permit four-day workweeks for individual workers,” said Burgat. “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.” 

Sharon Tyrrell, owner of Capree Escrow, Inc. in Riverside, told the media that she would like to offer a more flexible schedule for her employees, but current law prevents her from offering them an option.

“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 full-time 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?”

Catherine Gaughen, executive director of the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce, added that the legislation would allow employees and employers flexibility in their work schedules to help accommodate diverse family obligations.

“This important legislation will allow employees and employers much-needed flexibility in determining work schedules to help accommodate the diverse family and personal obligations and commuting issues,” said Gaughen. “Allowing employers and employees to mutually agree to an alternative work schedule is important to improving an employee’s overall quality of life, which increases employee productivity and retention. We support AB 2127 because increased professional flexibility in our changing workforce is crucial in meeting the economic demands of the future.”

Brian Holcombe, president of 1st Bank and member of the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce, noted that being able to offer the benefit would help businesses recruit and retain employees.
“A flexible work schedule is something that could be very beneficial for my employees. It is difficult enough to find a qualified job applicant, but it is even more difficult to keep them. AB 2127 would provide an added incentive that I could offer to my employees as a way of improving productivity and reducing absenteeism.”

Committee Testimony Highlights Need for Flexibility

AB 2127 supporters wait in line to testify before the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.

In testimony to the committee, Ruth Evans, owner of The Evans HR Group, a human resource management firm, testified that AB 2127 would allow her employees to spend more time with their families and achieve the life-work balance her employees seek.

Ruth Evans

“This is an employee-focused bill that provides employees the flexibility they have been seeking,” said Evans. “This bill provides employees an opportunity to reduce their workweek, reduce commuting time, while saving gas and allowing for more time to spend with their children, take care of aging parents, and attend school activities. AB 2127 does all these things as well as offer employees an opportunity to improve their work-life balance without a reduction in pay.”

Scott Raty, president and chief executive officer of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the additional traffic and environmental benefits of the proposal.

Scott Raty

“It is an absolute fact that flexible work schedules reduce peak hour congestion,” said Raty. “It is an undeniable fact that less time spent in stop-and-go traffic reduces carbon emissions. In fact, the California Air Resources Board recently released a report that counted among its ways of reducing carbon emissions, to move to a four-day workweek as an alternative.”

Key Vote

AB 2127 failed to pass Assembly Labor and Employment on a party line vote of 2-6.

Ayes: Gaines  (R-Roseville), Strickland (R-Camarillo).

Noes: Swanson (D-Alameda), DeSaulnier  (D-Concord), Fuentes  (D-Los Angeles), Laird  (D-Santa Cruz), Leno (D-San Francisco), Ruskin  (D-Redwood City).

Staff Contact: Marti Fisher.

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Four Day Workweek - April 9, 2008

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