SF supervisor wants flexible work law

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- San Francisco businesses would be required to offer parents and caregivers flexible work schedules under a proposal a city supervisor wants to take before voters in November.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/109lBt0) that Supervisor David Chiu's measure would allow workers to ask their employers to adjust their start times, telecommute or job share.

Employers would only be able to deny the request if it created an undue hardship for the company, including increasing its costs or affecting its ability to meet customer or client needs.

Chiu plans to introduce the proposal at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. He would need six votes to get it onto the Nov. 5 ballot.

His proposal comes as Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has banned working from home, sparking a debate about telecommuting and other programs intended to balance work and home life.

Under the proposed law, it would be illegal to fire or demote employees who, as caregivers, request flexible schedules. Businesses that violate the rules could be fined $50 per day per worker.

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce vice president Jim Lazarus told the Chronicle the idea was "beyond unbelievable."

"Once again we're going to put San Francisco employers at a competitive disadvantage, or at least under a whole new layer of bureaucracy that interjects itself into the daily operation of businesses," Lazarus said.

San Francisco already has the highest local minimum wage at $10.55 an hour.

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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com