In a recent testimony, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) told the government that the Fair Labor Standards Act needs to be modernized to allow employers greater flexibility to meet the demands of the current workforce.
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Speaking on behalf of SHRM, Hara told members of the subcommittee that the FLSA does not permit employers to provide the workplace flexibility benefits — flextime, telecommuting and compressed workweeks.
"While nonexempt employees can receive time-and-a-half pay, they cannot be afforded the same workplace flexibility benefits as exempt employees," he added.
Reform of the FLSA, he said, would encourage employers to better meet the needs of their employees.
The Society committed to members of the subcommittee to work with Congress to modernize the FLSA in a way that balances the needs of both employees and employers and does not produce unnecessary and counterproductive requirements.
SHRM's full testimony is available online.