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Board approves 'family-friendly workplace' changes guaranteeing request for flexible, predictable schedules; business groups seek tweaks
Summary
The board passed on first reading an update to the Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance that requires employers to permit flexible or predictable working arrangements unless they cause undue hardship, formalizes an interactive process, and adds technical assistance. A last-minute bid to delay consideration failed.
The Board of Supervisors on March 1 approved on first reading an ordinance strengthening the city’s Family Friendly Workplace rules to guarantee employees the right to request — and obtain unless it causes undue hardship — flexible or predictable working arrangements, and to require employers to engage in an interactive process to try to reach mutually agreeable scheduling solutions.
Sponsor and goals: Supervisor Sandra F. Chan (introduced as supervisor Chan) said the update moves the law from a request-based model into one that more clearly protects workers’ ability to secure predictable schedules for caregiving responsibilities. She said workers “need and deserve” predictable arrangements and framed the change as an equitable recovery measure as the city comes out of the pandemic.
Key provisions: The ordinance as amended clarifies definitions, requires employers to discuss and document interactive scheduling requests, provides a pathway for technical assistance and enforcement through the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, and includes expanded outreach and education in multiple languages.
Debate and process: Supervisor Stephanie moved a continuance to allow additional one-week outreach after new concerns surfaced from small-business stakeholders; that motion failed 8–3. Supporters said the measure is modest, draws on earlier city precedents and existing undue-hardship language, and is necessary to support working caregivers and reduce turnover. Opponents and some small-business representatives urged additional time to resolve operational details; the sponsor said the measure has been in development for more than a year, that many definitions are borrowed from prior local laws, and that the board should act now and revisit any unforeseen implementation problems.
Amendments and vote: Two non-substantive technical amendments were adopted — a corrected internal citation and language strengthening commitments to multilingual technical assistance. The amendment motion carried unanimously and the ordinance passed first reading unanimously. The board recorded 11 ayes on the amended item.
Implementation: The ordinance directs city enforcement and outreach through the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement and anticipates follow-up regulatory or educational work to help employers implement the new interactive process.
Speakers and attribution: Quotations and attributions in this article come from Supervisor Sandra F. Chan (sponsor), Supervisor Stephanie (requested a continuance), Supervisor Melgar and Supervisor Preston (supportive remarks), and staff referenced in the presentation. The small-business commission and other business groups were mentioned as having raised late concerns.
Outcome: Item 27, as amended, passed first reading unanimously; it will return for second reading and final adoption.
