The Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act makes two major changes to protect part-time and temporary workers. First, it expands family and medical leave eligibility by eliminating the requirement that workers have worked 1,250 hours in the past year; instead, employees would qualify for leave after just 90 days of employment. Second, the bill prohibits employers with more than 15 employees from discriminating against part-time workers by paying them less, denying them benefits, or limiting promotion opportunities based solely on their part-time status. The legislation also requires employers to offer additional hours to existing employees before hiring new workers or contractors to fill those shifts, and mandates that workers be compensated if new hires receive hours the existing employee requested. The bill applies to most private employers and federal, state, and congressional employees, with enforcement through the Labor Department, which can issue penalties ranging from $500 to $5,000 per violation. Implementation regulations must be issued within 180 days of the law's enactment, with the changes to family and medical leave taking effect one year after passage.
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