“The bill the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions considered this morning, H.R. 4219, offers no benefits to any workers. As the hearing made clear, this bill would jeopardize badly needed, highly popular rights and protections including the right to earn paid sick days, now in place in 10 states, the District of Columbia and 33 other jurisdictions.

Not a single witness called by the majority today was willing to admit the basic truth that nothing prevents employers from offering telework, flexible schedules or paid leave now, nor would H.R. 4219 guarantee any new flexible work options or paid leave to anyone whose boss or company doesn’t currently provide it.

Women, working people and families need real solutions, not excuses. We urge every member of Congress to reject the misnamed Workflex in the 21st Century Act and instead support the Healthy Families Act, which would ensure that all workers, no matter where they live or what job they hold, have the right to earn job-protected sick time. It is the paid sick days solution the country needs.”