Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act
A Democratic bill with 6 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill is titled the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act. It extends family and medical leave protections to part-time workers by replacing previous service hour requirements with a requirement of at least 90 days of employment. The legislation also prohibits discrimination against employees based on the number of hours they work. Additionally, it requires employers to offer additional hours to existing employees before hiring new external workers or contractors. Finally, the bill establishes enforcement mechanisms, civil actions, and penalties for violations of these provisions.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Lower-income households relying on part-time work gain access to paid leave and priority for additional hours.
- Scored +7
Would women be better off under this?
Women disproportionately make up the part-time workforce and will benefit significantly from expanded FMLA and anti-discrimination protections.
- Scored +7
Would students be better off under this?
Students working part-time will benefit from flexible scheduling protections and first-access to additional work hours.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Would business owners be better off under this?
Employers face increased administrative recordkeeping burdens and restrictions on hiring flexibility.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Access to Family and Medical Leave: Under Section 101, the bill eliminates the previous requirement of working 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months to qualify for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Instead, it replaces this with a requirement of being employed for at least 90 days. This makes family and medical leave accessible to part-time workers who previously did not meet the high hour threshold.
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Protection Against Discrimination Based on Hours Worked: Under Section 202, employers are prohibited from discriminating against an employee regarding pay, benefits, promotion opportunities, or work hours simply because they work fewer hours than other employees in similar jobs. This ensures fair and equitable treatment for part-time and temporary workers.
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First Crack at Additional Hours: Under Section 203, employers must allow current employees to fill desired weekly work hours before hiring new external employees, temporary staffing agencies, or contractors. This gives current workers the opportunity to increase their working hours and earnings.
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Protection Against Retaliation: Under Section 204, it is unlawful for employers to discharge, threaten, demote, suspend, or reduce the work hours of any person because they exercised their rights under the bill. This protects workers who speak up or report violations.
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Right to Recover Damages: Under Section 205, employees who are affected by a violation can bring a civil action in federal or state court to recover lost wages, benefits, compensation, and liquidated damages. Courts may also require the defendant to pay reasonable attorney's fees and expert witness fees.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Burdensome Recordkeeping and Compliance: Under Section 205, employers are required to maintain all records necessary to demonstrate compliance for at least three years, including documentation of offers of work hours and responses. This creates administrative burdens and recordkeeping responsibilities for employers.
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Restrictions on Hiring Flexibility: Under Section 203, employers must track and offer desired hours to existing employees in writing before hiring new external staff or contractors. This restricts an employer's flexibility to quickly hire new workers or outside contractors without first checking the availability of current staff.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Lower-income households relying on part-time work gain access to paid leave and priority for additional hours. Would students be better off under this? — Students working part-time will benefit from flexible scheduling protections and first-access to additional work hours. Would women be better off under this? — Women disproportionately make up the part-time workforce and will benefit significantly from expanded FMLA and anti-discrimination protections. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults frequently hold part-time or entry-level positions and will benefit from expanded leave and scheduling rights. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-class part-time workers gain improved benefits and fair treatment protections. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Immigrants frequently work in part-time or temporary roles and will benefit from fair treatment provisions. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill aligns with labor advocacy goals by strengthening worker protections and rights. Would business owners be better off under this? — Employers face increased administrative recordkeeping burdens and restrictions on hiring flexibility.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — By expanding family and medical leave access for part-time workers, who are disproportionately women, the bill supports gender equity. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Providing opportunities for part-time workers to increase hours and earnings helps improve financial stability for lower-income households.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill enhances worker protections and expands part-time employee rights similar to organized labor goals.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes federal labor standards and recordkeeping requirements for employers.
- 12/17/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island