Bill > S1158

This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow private sector employees to receive compensatory time off (comp time) instead of monetary overtime pay. Under the proposed law, employees can earn 1.5 hours of paid time off for each hour of overtime worked, but only if they agree voluntarily and have worked at least 1,000 hours in the previous 12 months. Employees can accrue up to 160 hours of comp time, with unused hours being paid out in monetary compensation by January 31st each year. The bill includes important protections such as prohibiting employers from intimidating or coercing employees into accepting comp time, and ensuring employees can request monetary compensation for accrued time within 30 days. Employers must pay out unused comp time at the employee's highest regular rate upon termination of employment. The legislation also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit reports tracking the implementation of this policy, and includes a sunset provision that expires the law after 5 years. Importantly, this law applies only to private sector employees, not public agency workers, and must be agreed upon through collective bargaining agreements or individual voluntary agreements documented in writing.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1158/all-info