Experts recently testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), discussing paid leave and workplace flexibility options and laws.
Panelist Juanita Phillips, member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and HR director at Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation, stated that SHRM does not believe a federal mandate requiring a set minimum employer-paid leave would be the best approach. Although families and employees may face challenges that workplace flexibility might help to solve, Phillips suggested that encouraging employers to offer more options may be a better approach.
What flexibility policies are a good fit varies between employees and positions, the expert suggested. Human resource and employee benefit consultants can help companies tailor their policies to the industry and their particular needs.
Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi, a ranking member of the committee, suggested that it might be wise to test new policies and requirements by implementing them for federal contractors first. Assuming they prove effective and do not cause problems, they could then be expanded to the private sector.
