Veterans Day Off Act

To require employers to provide veterans with time off on Veterans Day. 1. Short Title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Day Off Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (a) Eligible Employee (1) In General The term eligible employee (A) is a veteran, as that term is defined in section 101 (B) has been employed for at least 12 months by the employer with respect to whom leave is requested under section 3. (2) Exclusions The term eligible employee (b) Employ; employee The terms employ employee (c) Employer The term employer commerce industry or activity affective commerce (d) Person The term person 29 U.S.C. 203(a) (e) Secretary The term Secretary 3. Leave requirement (a) Entitlement to leave (1) In General Except as provided in paragraph (2), an eligible employee shall be entitled to leave on Veterans Day upon request if such employee would otherwise be required to work on Veterans Day. (2) Exceptions An employer may deny leave to an eligible employee if providing leave to the employee would— (A) negatively impact public health or safety; or (B) cause the employer significant economic or operational disruption. (b) Type of leave (1) Unpaid leave permitted Leave granted under subsection (a) may consist of unpaid leave. (2) Substitution of paid leave An eligible employee may elect, or an employer may require the employee, to substitute any of the accrued paid vacation leave or personal leave of the employee for leave provided under subsection (a). (c) Duties of Employee Not less than 30 days before the Veterans Day on which leave is requested to be taken, an employee requesting leave under subsection (a) shall provide the employer with the following: (1) Written notice of the employee's intention to take leave under subsection (a). (2) Documentation verifying that the employee is a veteran. (d) Duties of Employer (1) Notice of decision Not less than 10 days before the Veterans Day on which leave is requested to be taken, the employer shall notify an employee requesting leave under subsection (a)— (A) whether the employee shall be provided leave; and (B) if so, whether the leave shall be paid or unpaid. (2) Denial of leave request If an employer receives multiple requests for leave under subsection (a)(1) and denies leave to more than one eligible employee in accordance with subsection (a)(2), the employer should deny leave to the minimum number of eligible employees practicable. 4. Prohibited Acts (a) Interference with rights (1) Exercise of rights It shall be unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the taking of or the attempt to take, any leave provided under this Act. (2) Discrimination It shall be unlawful for any employer to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any individual for opposing any practice made unlawful by this Act. (b) Interference with proceedings or inquiries It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any individual because such individual— (1) has filed any charge, or has instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this Act; (2) has given, or is about to give, any information in connection with any inquiry or proceeding relating to any leave provided under this Act; or (3) has testified, or is about to testify, in any inquiry or proceeding relating to any leave provided under this Act. 5. Investigative Authority The Secretary shall have investigative authority with respect to the provisions of this Act in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as the investigative authority provided under section 106 of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and the requirements of section 106 of such Act shall apply to employers under this Act in the same manner as such requirements apply to employers under section 106 of such Act. 6. Enforcement The provisions of section 107 of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 shall apply with respect to the enforcement of the requirements of this Act in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as such provisions apply with respect to the enforcement of the requirements of title I of such Act. 7. Notice (a) In General Each employer shall post and keep posted, in conspicuous places on the premises of the employer where notices to employees and applicants for employment are customarily posted, a notice, to be prepared or approved by the Secretary, setting forth excerpts from, or summaries of, the pertinent provisions of this title Act information pertaining to the filing of a charge. (b) Penalty Any employer that willfully violates this section may be assessed a civil money penalty not to exceed $100 for each separate offense.

Summary: Veterans Day Off Act - Entitles veterans who have been employed by an employer for at least 12 months, except those employed by a public agency, to leave from such employer on Veterans Day upon request if such veteran would otherwise be required to work on Veterans Day. Authorizes employers who employ 50 or more employees to deny leave if providing leave to veterans would negatively impact public health or safety or cause the employer significant economic or operational disruption. Authorizes leave granted to consist of unpaid leave. Authorizes an employee to elect, or an employer to require the employee, to substitute accrued paid vacation leave or personal leave for leave provided under this Act. Prohibits: (1) such employers from interfering with, restraining, or denying the taking of any leave provided under this Act; (2) such employers from discharging or discriminating against individuals for opposing practices made unlawful by this Act; and (3) any person from discharging or discriminating against individuals for filing any charge or instituting any proceeding under this Act, giving any information in connection with inquiries or proceedings relating to such leave, or testifying in inquiries or proceedings related to such leave. Gives the Secretary of Labor investigative authority with respect to the provisions of this Act in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as the investigative authority provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Requires such employers to post in conspicuous places on their premises a notice with information pertaining to the filing of a charge under this Act.