Enhanced Protections for Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies
This act strengthens financial protections for employees and retirees during business bankruptcies. It prioritizes unpaid wages and benefits, makes it harder to reduce employee and retiree benefits, and limits executive compensation. The goal is to reduce financial losses for ordinary citizens in challenging economic situations.
Key points
Increases the priority amount for unpaid wages and benefits recoverable by employees in bankruptcy from $10,000 to $20,000.
Makes it more difficult for bankrupt companies to unilaterally reject collective bargaining agreements and reduce retiree benefits, requiring court approval and good-faith negotiations.
Restricts high executive compensation and bonuses during and after bankruptcy proceedings, especially when employees face losses.
Enhances job and benefit preservation during asset sales in bankruptcy, emphasizing the continuation of employment and pension obligations.
Allows employees and labor organizations to claim losses from stock value in defined contribution plans and for unpaid employee benefit plan contributions.
Introduced
Citizen Poll