Warehouse Worker Protection Act

The Warehouse Worker Protection Act establishes new protections for warehouse workers, including creating a Fairness and Transparency Office within the Department of Labor, amending the National Labor Relations Act to prohibit quotas that discourage protected activity, and directing OSHA to issue standards on ergonomics and medical treatment referrals. It also changes OSHA violation correction procedures and authorizes appropriations.

Title I, Warehouse Worker Protections: Creates a Fairness and Transparency Office in the Wage and Hour Division, headed by a President-appointed Director, with an advisory board of experts and stakeholders. It defines covered facilities (warehousing, merchant wholesalers, e-commerce, couriers) and prohibits adverse employment actions related to work speed data.

Sec. 102, Referral of Complaints: Requires the Fairness and Transparency Office and Wage and Hour Administrator to enter a memorandum of understanding with OSHA for information sharing, complaint referral, and cross-training of inspectors, and encourages similar coordination with other federal and state agencies.

Title II, National Labor Relations Act: Amends the NLRA to make it an unfair labor practice to impose a quota that significantly discourages or prevents employees from exercising Section 7 rights. Creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation if a quota is imposed within 90 days of an employee exercising those rights. Defines "quota" as a performance standard or target measured in time periods of a day or less.

Sec. 202, NLRB Report: Directs the National Labor Relations Board to examine cases where a quota was used to deny worker rights and report to congressional committees.

Title III, OSHA Standards: Requires the Secretary of Labor to propose an ergonomic standard within 3 years and finalize it within 4 years, covering hazard identification, control, training, and medical management for musculoskeletal disorders.

Sec. 302, Medical Treatment Referrals: Requires a proposed standard within 1 year and final standard within 3 years mandating that covered employers have a trained first-aid person available and provide occupational medicine consultation services.

Sec. 303, Correction of Violations: Amends OSHA to require correction periods for serious, willful, or repeated violations to begin upon citation receipt, with no automatic stay upon contest. Establishes expedited procedures for employers to seek a stay from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Sec. 304, Definitions: Defines terms for Title III by reference to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Title IV, Miscellaneous: Contains severability, preemption (allowing stronger state or local laws and more beneficial collective bargaining terms), and authorization of appropriations as necessary for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.