Cass Ballenger: “This is a simple bill. It will allow private sector employers and employees, where there is agreement, to have the…”

“This is a simple bill. It will allow private sector employers and employees, where there is agreement, to have the option of using comp time or paid time off in lieu of overtime pay. It is designed to give hourly employees the opportunity to have more flexibility in their work schedules so that, for example, they can better meet the demands of work and family. Let me just say that since I first introduced this bill in the 104th Congress, I have tried to address the concerns that others have had with this legislation. There have been changes made to this bill at each step of the process, at least 23, and the majority of these changes were made to give employees greater control over their accrued comp time and to make perfectly clear that the choice of comp time by the employee must be truly voluntary. Let me review the protections for the employees: Any agreement to take comp time must be voluntary on the part of the employee and indicated in writing.”