Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) is about to introduce the Paid Vacation Act of 2009 on May 21.

(Update: May 22 2009 - H.R.2564, referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.)

The bill would force employers with 100+ employees to provide one week of paid vacation to all workers who have been employed for a year or more, and part-timers who work at least 25 hours a week and 1,250 hours a year.

Before you start thanking Rep. Grayson, you might want to know that this is actually the result of an intense multi-year lobbying effort by Take Back your Time (www.timeday.org/) & Right2Vacation.

 They’ve been badgering lawmakers and trying to get some media attention for mandatory paid vacations for all Americans since 2005. And Travel Weekly report says that John de Graaf, executive director of Take Back your Time, will be on hand along with Rep. Grayson at the press conference on May 21.

And in case you were wondering, there’s zero percent chance that this bill will become law. Doesn’t mean it’s a waste of time, though. Getting a bill introduced in Congress is a big step. At the very least, it will make a lot of people - both employers and employees - think about the merits of mandatory paid vacations.

Photo credit - Right2Vacation

Travel News Roundup:-

Coney Island Advisory Panel urges ‘Disney Style’ theme park - The Brooklyn Paper (Also see - NYCEDC press release)

California beaches, state parks to be smoke-free zone  - Reuters

State steps in as Naples Ritz-Carlton, citizens clash over beach access - Naples News

80% tourism businesses in Key West support nude beach - Keysnet.com

Rising Lake Michigan levels swallowing Grand Haven beaches - MLive

20% off at Marriott hotels around the world (book by June 2, for weekend stays between May 21 and September 7) - Marriott Global Rate Break

Flipkey opens up vacation rental listings for individual home-owners ($1.99 per month) - Flipkey/TripAdvisor press release

Posted on May 17th, 2009 by PLing
Filed under: Travel News