Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025
Sen. Lee Introduces Working Families Flexibility Act to Give Private Workers Choice of Comp Time or Overtime Pay
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would change federal law to let private-sector employees choose paid time off instead of cash for working overtime. For every hour of overtime worked, an employee would receive 1.5 hours of 'comp time' to use for vacation or personal needs later.
- To qualify, a worker must have been with their employer for at least a year and worked at least 1,000 hours. The choice must be completely voluntary, and the law would strictly forbid employers from forcing or threatening workers to pick time off instead of money.
- Workers could save up to 160 hours of this paid time off. If they do not use it by the end of the year, the employer must pay them the cash value. Employees also have the right to change their minds and ask for a cash payout for their saved hours at any time.
- Employers would be allowed to turn down a specific request to use the time off if it would 'unduly disrupt' the business. However, they must allow the employee to use the time within a reasonable window after the request is made.
- This policy would expire after five years unless Congress chooses to renew it. During that time, government investigators would track how many people use the program and whether employers are following the rules or facing complaints from workers.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Union workers could gain access to comp time through collective bargaining agreements, giving them a new option for work-life balance. However, unions have historically opposed comp time bills, arguing they could weaken overtime pay protections and give employers leverage to pressure workers into taking time off instead of cash. The bill does require that comp time be part of a collectively bargained agreement for unionized workers, preserving some union control over the terms.
Programs
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articlesHouse GOP passes bill changing workers' overtime rules
The House of Representatives advanced the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025, which would allow private-sector employees to choose paid time off instead of cash for overtime. Supporters argue it provides needed flexibility for parents, while critics fear it could lead to wage theft.
House committee approves bill allowing comp time instead of overtime pay
Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee moved forward with the Working Families Flexibility Act. Sponsor Rep. Mary Miller stated the goal is to give parents more control over their schedules, while Democrats argued it undermines the 40-hour work week and overtime protections.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(5)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.