Estes Chamber of Commerce position on HB23-1118: Fair Workweek Employment Standards bill

The Estes Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee has reviewed information pertaining to HB23-1118 and on February 7th, they unanimously voted to develop a statement opposing the bill. HB23-1118 will go to the Business Affairs & Labor committee at 1:30 on 2/16. We do
expect changes as the bill goes through committee meetings and the Chamber will continue monitoring the bill and any language changes.

Statement of opposition:
Estes Park is a seasonal town supported by a diverse group of entrepreneurs and small businesses that would be negatively impacted by HB23-1118. The Estes Chamber of Commerce joins the Colorado Chamber and the Colorado Restaurant Association in the opposition of HB23-1118. (Below is a link to the research we have done on the bill. This link goes to a live folder so check back for updates as the session progresses.)

Melissa Strong, owner of Bird’s Nest and Bird & Jim, expressed concern for the bill and asked us to oppose HB23-1118. Excerpts from Melissa’s statement ring true for so many of our business owners:

“The nature of restaurant work and the reason we can attract employees is the flexible schedule.
The majority of our employees work in the restaurant business because of the flexible schedule.”

“HB 23-1118 penalizes me for staffing up or down due to things outside my control. Estes Park is
growing in the off-season but we still dramatically slow down in the winter.”

“HB 23-1118 would cost businesses more money for administrative resources to create schedules
21 days in advance.”

The Colorado Restaurant Association does not support this legislation and supplied a synopsis of the bill that is included in our folder of resources. They have also been helpful with clarification and answering questions. They made it easy for you to get your voice heard by taking action at this link: https://corestaurant.org/take-action/

The Colorado Chamber announced that they also oppose HB23-1118. Remarks from their press
release dated 1/26/23 include:

“The bill imposes broad new regulations and restrictions on how employers manage employee workweek schedules and pay.

“Businesses have a choice in where they can locate, expand and invest – and we want them to choose Colorado,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “But for years, business leaders have been telling us that Colorado’s increasingly complex and costly regulatory climate is hurting our competitiveness. HB 1118 is precisely the type of proposal we’re talking about when we caution lawmakers about the consequences of their policies. The harsh reality of this bill is that it will lead to fewer available jobs for workers, lower pay and less flexibility – all while driving businesses out of the state. As written, it’s the most punitive of its kind in the country and the Colorado Chamber will utilize all resources available to oppose it.”

The position to oppose HB 1118 was unanimously supported by the Colorado Chamber’s labor and employment policy council. The Chamber is leading a growing coalition of business groups against the bill.”

To review the materials that the Chamber has put together on HB23-1118 please use the link below. This is a live link and will change as we add more resources. The folder includes the following:
1. Request from Melissa Strong to the Chamber to oppose this bill
2. Original bill language as of 2/3/23
3. Synopsis of bill from Colorado Restaurant Association
4. Press Release from Colorado Chamber opposing the bill
5. Email clarification on wording from Colorado Restaurant Association

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Yfs1jj7wCQQiO8Teo3AIQC2fiNhUEy9E?usp=share_link