SHRM Member Urges Congress to Unlock the Full Potential of the U.S. Workforce by Modernizing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA):
SHRM Volunteer Leader Paige Boughan testifies before Congress, calling for FLSA reforms to promote workforce flexibility, compliance, and economic growth.
On March 25, SHRM’s Paige Boughan, M.S., SHRM-SCP, legislative director for the Maryland SHRM State Council, testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. The hearing, The Future of Wage Laws: Assessing the FLSA’s Effectiveness, Challenges, and Opportunities, focused on modernizing the FLSA to align with the realities of today’s workplace.
In her testimony, Boughan emphasized that federal labor laws must evolve to support both employers and employees in a rapidly changing economy. Outdated provisions within the FLSA create barriers to workforce flexibility and hinder organizations’ ability to attract, retain, and support talent effectively.
Work has changed dramatically since the FLSA’s enactment in 1938, yet the law remains largely the same. To unlock the full potential of the U.S. workforce, Boughan told Congress that we need bold, forward-thinking reforms that:
- Clarify worker classification rules.
- Ensure consistency in application.
- Promote compliance through clear, modernized policies.
These are SHRM’s “3 C’s,” guiding our advocacy for a labor framework that fosters innovation, economic growth, and workforce adaptability. SHRM and our members are calling on Congress to take action — because a modern workforce deserves modern workplace policies.
Would you like to play a greater role in SHRM’s advocacy efforts, such as testifying before policymakers on behalf of SHRM? If so, reach out to SHRM Government Affairs at governmentaffairs@shrm.org.
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