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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Marc Gergely |
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Gergely: Labor committee approves two bills to help workers
HARRISBURG, March 18 – State Rep. Marc Gergely said the House Labor Relations Committee this week unanimously approved two bills that would provide greater protections for Pennsylvania workers by expanding the state's whistleblower protection law and establishing a shared-work program as an alternative to layoffs.
"As vice chairman of the House Labor Relation Committee, I am a strong supporter of both bills," said Gergely, D-Allegheny. "I encourage my colleagues to quickly bring the bills to a vote in the House so we can send them to the Senate."
Gergely said he is working bipartisanly with Rep. Brian Ellis on H.B 2108 to expand the state's whistleblower protection law for the first time since 1986 to include employees at private businesses and non-profits that receive public funding, including grants.
"Without expanding the whistleblower protections, many employees in organizations that get public funding would be hesitant to speak out about improper activities for fear of retribution from a supervisor, and in some cases, of losing their jobs.
"This bill will help the state to ensure that tax dollars are being used appropriately and should encourage those employees to come forward to report fraudulent or illegal activities in their workplace. With millions in federal stimulus dollars coming into the state we must active quickly," Gergely said.
The bill would increase civil penalties from $500 to a maximum of $10,000 for employers who take action against an employee for reporting illegal activity. A judge ruling in favor of the employee could reinstate the person's job with payment of back wages, full benefits, seniority rights and actual damages, as well as paying the employee's legal costs.
Gergely said the second bill would allow Pennsylvania workers with reduced work hours to be eligible for unemployment compensation.
"This gives employers an alternative to laying off workers and helps employees to keep their jobs by working a few hours and being offering assistance that helps their families to make up for the lost income.
"For many hard-working Pennsylvanians, a drop in family income can make it difficult to pay the mortgage or rent, keep food on the table or gas in the car. In this difficult economy, these situations are increasingly common and a small unemployment compensation check will make a big difference in many lives."
Gergely said H.B. 2160, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Bradford, D-Montgomery, would create a shared-work program in the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Employees with work hours reduced by 20 percent to 40 percent at employers approved by the department could be eligible for unemployment compensation in proportion to the reduction.
"This type of program is already available in 18 other states and it is time for Pennsylvania to support workers by establishing our own," Gergely said. "It will help employers to get through these tough economy times without layoffs and the possible future costs of training new employees when business improves. Plus, it helps workers to keep their jobs and should ultimately put less of a burden on our unemployment compensation system."