HR 2564 IH 
(9) men who don’t take regular vacations are 
32 percent more likely to die of heart attacks, and 
21 percent more likely to die early of all causes; 
(10) women who don’t take regular vacations 
have a 50 percent greater risk of heart attack, and 
are twice as likely to be depressed as those who do; 
(11) the travel industry adds $740 billion a 
year to the Nation’s economy, while stress and burn-
out at work cost the economy over $300 billion a 
year; and 
(12) vacations allow workers and businesses to 
increase productivity, decrease stress-related health 
costs, and provide time for family strengthening and 
bonding. 
SEC. 3. ENTITLEMENT TO VACATION. 
Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 
U.S.C. 207) is amended by inserting after subsection (b) 
the following: 
‘‘(c)(1) Beginning on the date of enactment of the 
Paid Vacation Act of 2009, an eligible employee of an em-
ployer that employs 100 or more employees at any time 
during a calendar year shall be entitled to a total of 1 
workweek of paid vacation during each 12-month period. 
‘‘(2) Beginning on the date that is 3 years after the 
date of enactment of the Paid Vacation Act of 2009, an 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:59 May 27, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2564.IH
H2564
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 2564 IH 
eligible employee of an employer that employs 50 or more 
employees at any time during a calendar year shall be enti-
tled to a total of 1 workweek of paid vacation during each 
12-month period, and an eligible employee of an employer 
that employs 100 or more employees shall be entitled to 
a total of 2 workweeks of paid vacation during each 12- 
month period, beginning on that eligible employee’s first 
anniversary of employment. 
‘‘(3) An eligible employee shall provide the employer 
with not less than 30 days’ notice, before the date the paid 
vacation under paragraph (1) or (2) is to begin, of the 
employee’s intention to take paid vacation under such 
paragraph, and identify the date such paid vacation shall 
begin. 
‘‘(4) For purposes of this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the term ‘eligible employee’ means an em-
ployee who has been employed for at least 12 
months by the employer with respect to whom leave 
is requested under paragraph (1) or (2) and for at 
least 1,250 hours of service with such employer dur-
ing such 12-month period; and 
‘‘(B) the term 1 workweek of ‘paid vacation’ 
means vacation time, in addition to and apart from 
sick leave and any leave otherwise required by law, 
to be taken in a continuous series or block of work 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:59 May 27, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2564.IH
H2564
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 2564 IH 
days comprising 7 calendar days that cannot be 
rolled over, but must be used within the 12-month 
period. 
‘‘(5) The exemptions to this section provided in sec-
tion 13 shall not apply to this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 4. PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN BY DEPARTMENT 
OF LABOR. 
The Secretary of Labor is authorized to conduct a 
public awareness campaign, through the Internet and 
other media, to inform the public of the entitlement to 
leave afforded by this Act. There is authorized to be ap-
propriated such sums as may be necessary for the public 
awareness campaign. 
SEC. 5. STUDY ON PRODUCTIVITY. 
The Secretary of Labor shall conduct a study on 
workplace productivity and the effect on productivity of 
the leave requirement in this Act. The study shall also ad-
dress any benefits to public health and psychological well- 
being as a result of such leave. Not later than 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
transmit to Congress a report containing the findings of 
the study, and shall publish such findings on the website 
of the Department of Labor. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:59 May 27, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2564.IH
H2564
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS