Warehouse Worker Protection Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4896
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-05: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T08:06:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The Warehouse Worker Protection Act aims to protect workers at large warehouse and distribution facilities by regulating performance quotas, workplace monitoring, data practices, rest breaks, and safety standards. It establishes oversight mechanisms and updates related labor laws to promote fairness, transparency, and worker well-being.
Key Provisions
- Title I (Warehouse Worker Protections): Creates a Fairness and Transparency Office within the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. Requires covered employers (those with over 200 employees at qualifying facilities) to provide written quota descriptions, including performance targets, monitoring methods, and potential penalties. Prohibits quotas that block required breaks, safety compliance, or legal rights. Mandates data minimization, employee access to work speed records, correction processes for inaccurate data, and paid 15-minute rest breaks every four hours. Includes anti-retaliation rules with a rebuttable presumption for actions taken within 90 days of protected activity.
- Title II (National Labor Relations Act Amendments): Adds a ban on quotas that significantly discourage union or collective bargaining rights. Creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation for quota-related actions within 90 days of exercising NLRA rights.
- Title III (OSHA Standards): Directs OSHA to issue ergonomic standards addressing musculoskeletal disorders within four years and medical referral standards within three years. Allows correction periods for serious violations to begin immediately and limits stays on abatement.
- Title IV (Miscellaneous): Includes severability, state preemption rules favoring stronger protections, and authorization for appropriations through 2035. Grants FTC enforcement authority and exempts certain claims from mandatory arbitration.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to add new transparency and quota rules, plus enhanced penalties up to $769,870 for repeat violations.
- Modifies the National Labor Relations Act to address quota interference with organizing rights.
- Updates the Occupational Safety and Health Act to accelerate abatement of serious violations and require new ergonomic and medical standards.
- Expands employee rights to data access and complaint filing, including through designated representatives from unions or advocacy groups.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases enforcement duties for the Department of Labor (new office and inspections), FTC (unfair practices), OSHA (new standards and faster corrections), and NLRB (quota-related cases). Requires interagency coordination via memoranda of understanding.
- Citizens/Workers: Provides greater access to performance data, protections against unsafe quotas, paid breaks, and remedies for retaliation.
- Employers: Imposes compliance costs for recordkeeping, notices, and system changes, particularly for large distribution operations.
- International Relations: Minimal direct effects, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. facilities and employment.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Warehouse and distribution center employees subject to quotas.
- Large employers in warehousing, wholesaling, e-commerce, and delivery (NAICS codes 493, 423, 424, 454110, 492110).
- Labor organizations and worker advocacy groups.
- Federal agencies including DOL, OSHA, FTC, NLRB, and EEOC.
- State and local governments with existing labor laws.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Strengthens worker data privacy and anti-retaliation measures, with explicit exemptions from Federal Arbitration Act for certain claims.
- Preserves stronger state laws and collective bargaining agreements.
- Raises potential issues around employer due process in quota enforcement and OSHA stay procedures.
- Creates new regulatory framework that could face legal challenges regarding scope of federal authority over private workplaces.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
Cosponsors (21)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-05: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-08-05: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-08-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Warehouse Worker Protection Act — issued 2025-08-05 — PDF (59 pages)