A U.S. Congresswoman has proposed legislation that would allow private sector employees to opt for paid time off in lieu of cash wages for overtime hours worked.

The Family-Friendly Workplace Act (H.R. 6025), which Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) introduced, would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow employees who prefer to take compensatory time--instead of receiving overtime pay--to do so.

"Time is one of our most precious resources," said McMorris Rodgers. "We all want more of it and yet we only have 24 hours in a day. That means we have to figure out how to work a full day, run errands, pack lunches, make dinner and spend quality time with our kids, spouse, or elderly parent. Giving employees more flexibility in their workweek is key to increasing retention as well as attracting great employees that will help increase our country's competitiveness."

The bill was referred to the House's Committee on Education and Labor.

President Bush has previously called for Congress to pass legislation that would allow employers in the private sector to offer compensatory time in lieu of overtime pay.

The Department of Labor says that the use of comp time instead of overtime is limited by Section 7(o) of the FLSA to a public agency that is a state, a political subdivision of a state, or an interstate governmental agency

Compensatory time allows employees to take paid time off at 1.5 times the number of overtime hours worked instead of being paid the overtime premium.