On Tuesday, the House of Representatives failed to approve the Work-Life Balance Award Act (H.R. 4855), a bill that would have established an award for employers that develop and implement work-life balance policies. The measure was considered under a suspension of the rules, a procedure usually reserved for non-controversial bills that requires the approval of two-thirds of the House to forgo debate and pass the bill. The vote failed by a 249-163 margin.

In April, a hearing was held to discuss this bill. During the hearing, a number of panelists offered praise for the measure, including representatives from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the National Partnership for Women. In a statement, Reps. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, expressed dismay over the bill’s failure: “We are disappointed that Republicans fail to understand the importance of recognizing businesses that offer family-friendly policies,” adding: “Encouraging workplaces to develop these policies go to the heart of how we value our nation’s families and our economic competitiveness. Employers that recognize the value of helping their employees achieve a work-life balance should be recognized and copied.”

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