AUGUSTA - On Tuesday, the Legislature enacted legislation sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder, D-Bangor, which would allow employees to request flexible work schedules without retaliation from their employers.
LD 827 would allow an employee of a public or private employer to request a flexible work schedule for up to six months at a time, which the employer does not have to grant. However, it would ensure that an employer cannot discipline an employee who requests a flexible work schedule. It also provides that the schedule continues in six-month increments unless the employer provides written notice stating otherwise.
"At the very least, workers should be able to request flexible work schedules without fear of retaliation from their employers, even if their request isn't ultimately granted," said Roeder. "A member of my own family was retaliated against for requesting a flexible work schedule and, after 16 years of employment with his company, was forced to leave. No other family should have to face the loss of their employment while seeking a schedule that better accommodates their everyday responsibilities."
The bill will receive funding consideration by the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee in the coming days.
Roeder is serving her second term in the Maine House of Representatives and is House chair of the Labor and Housing Committee. She represents House District 23, which includes a portion of Bangor.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Roeder], 305-965-2744