II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1402 

To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with a commitment 

to helping employees balance workplace responsibilities and family obligations. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 9, 2019 

Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself and Mrs. GILLIBRAND) introduced the following 

bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers 

with a commitment to helping employees balance workplace responsibilities and family obligations. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Honoring Family5 Friendly Workplaces Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) EMPLOYEE; EMPLOYER.—The terms ‘‘em9 ployee’’ and ‘‘employer’’ have the meanings given 


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•S 1402 IS

1 such terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards 

2 Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203). 

3 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

4 the Secretary of Labor. 

5 SEC. 3. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 

7 national certification program to award certifications to 

8 recognize employers that have a commitment to helping 

9 employees balance employment responsibilities and family 

10 obligations (referred to in this section as ‘‘family-friendly 

11 certifications’’). 

12 (b) CRITERIA FOR CERTIFICATION.—In order to be 

13 eligible to receive a family-friendly certification, an em14 ployer must carry out each of the following family-friendly 

15 employment policies and benefits: 

16 (1) Assistance paying for, or referring employ17 ees to, fertility or adoption services. 

18 (2) Paid family leave of not less than 12 weeks 

19 per year, including the option to use leave for any 

20 of the following reasons: 

21 (A) The birth of a son or daughter of the 

22 employee and in order to care for such son or 

23 daughter. 

24 (B) The placement of a son or daughter 

25 with the employee for adoption or foster care. 


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1 (C) To address the employee’s own serious 

2 health condition, including pregnancy or child3 birth. 

4 (D) To address the serious health condi5 tion (as defined in section 101 of the Family 

6 and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 

7 2611)) of a family member. 

8 (E) For specific military caregiving and 

9 leave. 

10 (3) Paid sick days for employees that are sepa11 rate from time accrued as part of a paid time off 

12 policy. 

13 (4) A subsidy for child care or policies that 

14 allow parents to work alongside their infants in safe 

15 settings. 

16 (5) Policies that allow for flexible hours once a 

17 parent returns to work after a birth, adoption, or 

18 foster care placement. 

19 (6) If feasible, policies that allow employees to 

20 work remotely as needed for reasons related to the 

21 care of a child. 

22 (7) Lactation support, such as reimbursement 

23 of expressed breastmilk delivery while on travel, ac24 cess to pumps, kits, and other lactation supplies and 


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1 amenities, and access to lactation consultants and 

2 support. 

3 (c) APPLICATION.—An employer who desires to re4 ceive a family-friendly certification from the Secretary 

5 under this section shall submit an application to the Sec6 retary at such time, containing such information, and in 

7 such manner as the Secretary may require. 

8 (d) AWARD OF CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall 

9 review applications submitted under subparagraph (c) and 

10 award a family-friendly certification to an employer whose 

11 application demonstrates that the employer has met the 

12 requirements established under subsection (b) regarding 

13 family-friendly policies and benefits. 

14 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

15 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 

16 such sums as may be necessary. 

Æ 


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