HB16: HB16 Labor and industrial relations; protections for warehouse distribution center workers; provide

Currently, Georgia has no specific state law governing productivity quotas or electronic monitoring in warehouse and distribution centers. This bill creates a new chapter of Georgia's labor code called the 'Warehouse Worker Protection Act' to address that gap. It would require covered employers, generally those in warehousing, wholesale distribution, e-commerce fulfillment, and courier services, to give workers a written explanation of any quota they must meet and how their work speed is tracked. It bans quotas that interfere with legally required breaks, bathroom use, or safety rules, and bans quotas based purely on ranking workers against each other. Workers would get a paid 15 minute break every four hours, safety training, the right to see and correct their own work speed data, and protection from retaliation for asserting these rights. The Department of Labor would enforce the law, investigate complaints, and could fine employers up to $5,000 per violation. Most requirements would take effect by July 1, 2025, and the Act itself takes effect when signed by the Governor.

• Requires warehouse and distribution center employers to give workers a written, plain-language description of any productivity quota and how it is calculated and monitored.
• Prohibits quotas that block legally required meal breaks, rest periods, bathroom access, safety compliance, or accommodations, and bans quotas based solely on ranking workers against each other.
• Guarantees covered employees a paid 15-minute break every four hours and requires annual safety and ergonomics training.
• Limits how employers can collect, use, and share electronic work speed data, and gives workers the right to review, correct, and request copies of their own data.
• Bans retaliation against workers who assert rights under the law and creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation if adverse action happens within 90 days of a protected activity.
• Lets the Department of Labor investigate complaints and impose civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation, or up to $5,000 for serious, willful, or repeated violations, and allows workers to sue in superior court.

The bill covers workers at warehouses, distribution centers, wholesale operations, e-commerce fulfillment centers, and courier or delivery services in Georgia who are subject to productivity quotas, along with the employers, staffing agencies, and contractors who run those facilities. The Georgia Department of Labor and the Attorney General's office would also take on new enforcement duties.

Warehouse workers subject to speed quotas would gain new rights to see how they are being measured, take paid breaks, and challenge inaccurate performance data, while employers in this sector would face new disclosure, training, and recordkeeping requirements along with potential fines for violations.

• Section 34-11-2 defines key terms, including 'quota,' 'employee work speed data,' and 'warehouse distribution center,' the last defined using specific North American Industry Classification System codes.
• Section 34-11-3 requires employers to give covered employees a written description of any quota upon hire, by July 1, 2025, before a quota change, and before any adverse action tied to a missed quota.
• Section 34-11-4 prohibits quotas that interfere with legally required breaks, bathroom use, or safety and accommodation rights, or that are based solely on peer ranking or continuous time-tracking.
• Section 34-11-5 guarantees a paid 15-minute break every four hours and requires safety, ergonomics, and injury-reporting training for new hires and annually thereafter.
• Section 34-11-7 and 34-11-8 require employers to keep work speed records for the duration of employment plus three years after separation and let current and former employees request copies at no cost.
• Section 34-11-10 bars retaliation against workers exercising rights under the chapter and creates a 90-day rebuttable presumption of retaliation for adverse actions following protected activity.
• Section 34-11-12 authorizes the Commissioner of Labor to set rules, enforce the chapter, and assess civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation (up to $5,000 for serious or repeated violations), with appeal rights to an administrative law judge.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.

1. 2025-01-15House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-14House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-13House Hopper (House)

• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)Primary sponsor
• Dewey McClain (D, HD-109)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)

• warehouse worker rights
• labor law
• workplace surveillance
• productivity quotas
• Georgia Department of Labor