Sponsors (4)
The bill expands family-friendly workplace benefits (paid family leave, separate sick days, fertility/lactation supports, flexibility and a certification program) that substantially help parents and caregivers, while imposing additional compliance and administrative costs—especially on small businesses and taxpayers—and shifting implementation discretion to the Department of Labor.
Parents and caregivers (employees) gain a guaranteed minimum of 12 weeks of paid family leave per year for childbirth, adoption, fostering, pregnancy complications, or a seriously ill family member.
Employees (workers with illnesses) receive paid sick days separate from PTO, allowing recovery without using vacation time.
Workers seeking family-building support (fertility, adoption) and new parents receive employer-provided assistance and lactation support (supplies, paid time, consultants, transport reimbursement), reducing out-of-pocket costs and supporting breastfeeding while working.
Small businesses (employers) will face higher costs to provide paid leave, paid sick days, childcare subsidies, lactation support, and to meet certification requirements, which could reduce hiring or be passed on to consumers.
Using FLSA definitions may expand coverage and create additional compliance costs for employers who previously relied on narrower definitions of employee, raising legal and payroll burdens.
If certification is effectively only attainable by larger or wealthier employers, workers at non-certified firms could face widening disparities in benefits and workplace supports.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a voluntary DOL certification that labels employers as "family-friendly" if they offer specified paid leave, sick days, childcare supports, lactation services, and fertility/adoption assistance.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with a commitment to helping employees balance workplace responsibilities and family obligations.
Introduced December 18, 2025 by Grace Meng · Last progress December 18, 2025
Creates a Department of Labor-run national certification program that awards "family-friendly" employer certifications to workplaces meeting specified standards for paid family leave, paid sick days, childcare supports, flexible/remote work options, lactation support, and fertility/adoption assistance. Employers apply to the Secretary of Labor, who reviews applications and issues certifications; the law authorizes whatever sums are necessary to run the program.