E&W Blog

Today at the Committee on Education and the Workforce, we’re recognizing 25 years of the bipartisan Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), which was signed into law by President Clinton on February 5, 1993.

This landmark law has had a meaningful impact on the American workforce, and it was an important step in enabling millions of workers to attend to life when life happens.

American workers increasingly prioritize greater flexibility and more paid leave over traditional cash wages. A 2015 study conducted by Harris Poll and Glassdoor found that nearly four out of five workers would prefer new or additional benefits like flexible work arrangements or expanded leave policies over a bigger paycheck.

Additionally, having family-friendly policies and providing flexibility in work schedules can be good for businesses. Since the FLMA was adopted in 1993, many employers have stepped up to the plate and adapted to the changing needs of their workforce by offering new and innovative benefits and giving workers expanded options, like telework or a compressed schedule.

This committee has heard from small business owners, workers, and workforce experts over the years about the constraints of workplace requirements that restrict workplace flexibility, innovation, and opportunity. In December of 2017, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions held a hearing on workplace leave policies to understand firsthand what businesses are doing to meet the changing needs of their employees.

Our committee members and House Republicans have paid close attention to the changes occurring in workplaces around the country, and we will continue to explore and encourage ideas of how to provide workers with the flexibility they want to create the work-life balance they need.

Last year, the Education and Workforce Committee marked up and the House passed H.R. 1180, the Working Families Flexibility Act, introduced by Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL) to give employees the flexibility to choose between comp time and cash wages.

In November of 2017, Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA) introduced H.R. 4219, the Workflex in the 21st Century Act, a bill designed to incentivize businesses to provide their employees with paid leave and flexible work arrangements. Arrangements like these would make it possible for employees to create a schedule which best suits their lifestyles, so that they have time to care for a loved one, spend more time with their families, or maybe even pick up a new hobby.

These sorts of legislative proposals will keep workforce innovation moving in the right direction so that we may improve on the precedent set by the FMLA, and make sure that workforce policies aren't left in the past.

On the 25th anniversary of the FMLA, we recognize all that this landmark law has accomplished for American workers. But more than that, we are committed to ensuring that federal policies meet the needs of employees and employers, so that they may put their families first when it matters the most.