Freedom for Workers to Seek Opportunity Act

Bill: 114-hr-4254
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
Introduced: 2015-12-15
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Contracts and agency

Employee hiring

Employment discrimination and employee rights

Food industry and services

Labor-management relations

Retail and wholesale trades
Latest action: action_date: 2016-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-12-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Freedom for Workers to Seek Opportunity Act</b></p> <p>This bill: (1) prohibits employers from entering into not-to-compete covenants with any grocery store employees engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, and (2) requires an employer of such employees to post a notice of this prohibition in a conspicuous place on the employer's premises.</p> <p>No employers who own or operate at least one grocery store may, in conjunction with the purchase of one or more grocery stores owned or operated by another employer, include in any agreement between such employers any provision that restricts either employer from hiring a grocery store employee of the other employer.</p> <p>An employer who acquires the operation of another employer and retains in employment a grocery store employee of the former employee at the same grocery store of the former employer shall continue to recognize, for all employment purposes, the seniority of that grocery store employee, and, to the extent practicable, make available to such employees any benefits made available by the former employer.</p> <p>The Secretary of Labor shall: (1) enforce a complaint of a violation of this Act in the same manner as a complaint of a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and (2) impose a specified civil fine on any employer who violates this Act.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4254 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 15, 2015 Mr. Kilmer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To prohibit employers from requiring grocery store employees to enter into covenants not to compete, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freedom for Workers to Seek Opportunity Act . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Commerce The term commerce has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 203 ). (2) Covenant not to compete The term covenant not to compete means an agreement— (A) between an employee and employer that restricts such employee from performing— (i) any work for another employer for a specified period of time; (ii) any work in a specified geographical area; or (iii) work for another employer that is similar to such employee’s work for the employer included as a party to the agreement; and (B) that is entered into after the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Employee; employer; enterprise; enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce; goods The terms employee , employer , enterprise , enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce , and goods have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 203 ). (4) Grocery store The term grocery store means an establishment that sells food for home preparation and consumption and offers for sale, on a continuous basis, a variety of foods in each of the following categories of staple foods, including perishable foods in at least two of the categories: (A) Meat, poultry, or fish. (B) Breads and cereals. (C) Vegetables and fruits. (D) Dairy products. (5) Grocery store employee The term grocery store employee means an employee who is employed by a grocery store. (6) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor. (7) State The term State has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 203 ). 3. Prohibition on covenants not to compete and other agreements restricting the mobility of grocery store employees (a) Covenant not To compete (1) In general No employer shall enter into a covenant not to compete with any grocery store employee of such employer, who in any workweek is engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce (or is employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce). (2) Notice An employer subject to subsection (a) shall post, in a conspicuous place on the premises of such employer, a notice of the prohibition set forth in such subsection. (b) Purchase agreements No employer who owns or operates at least one grocery store may, in conjunction with the purchase of one or more grocery stores owned or operated by another employer, include in any agreement between such employers any provision that restricts either employer from hiring a grocery store employee of the other employer. 4. Grocery store employee retention of seniority and benefits after acquisition or merger An employer who acquires the operations of another employer (hereafter referred to as the former employer) and retains in employment a grocery store employee of the former employer at the same grocery store of the former employer shall continue to recognize, for all employment purposes, the seniority of such grocery store employee, and, to the extent practicable, make available to such employees any benefits made available by the former employer. 5. Enforcement (a) In general The Secretary shall receive, investigate, attempt to resolve, and enforce a complaint of a violation of section 3 or 4 in the same manner that the Secretary receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve a complaint of a violation of section 6 or 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206 and 207), subject to subsection (b). (b) Civil fine (1) Maximum fine The Secretary shall impose a civil fine— (A) with respect to any employer who violates section 3(a) or 4, an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each employee who was the subject of such violation; and (B) with respect to any employer who violates section 3(b), an amount not to exceed $5,000. (2) Consideration In determining the amount of any civil fine under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider the appropriateness of the fine to the size of the employer subject to such fine and the gravity of the applicable violation.