U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has introduced Workers’ Right to Training Act requiring companies to provide advance notice of any technology changes that may affect workers’ jobs and provide training to these workers in advance of adopting the new technology.
Specifically Brown’s bill would:
- Require companies to provide 180 days advanced notice to workers when new technology will change employment positions and provide 270 days advanced notice if jobs will be eliminated. Employers must bargain directly with employees on how best to implement new technology.
- Require employers to pay for and provide on-the-job training to any employees who will be affected by the introduction of new technology. Companies must either provide training to employees whose jobs will change as a result of new technology or to employees who will lose their job to help these workers obtain a different position at a similar company.
- Require employers to provide six-month severance to all workers who lose their jobs as a result of new technology.
View Workers’ Right to Training Act here.