House bill would ban firing employees who evacuate during emergencies

As Hurricane Irma bore down on Florida, many residents were faced with evacuation orders — and some felt pressure from employers not to leave … or else they’d lose their jobs.

A new bill from Rep. Tracie Davis, a Jacksonville Democrat, would rectify that, banning such “employment discrimination.”

HB 225 would protect employees from “retaliatory personnel action” if they evacuated in compliance with an executive branch evacuation order applicable to their residence.

The employee would have 14 days to return to work — unless a lesser timespan was mutually agreed to by the employer and employee.

If fired, the employee could take civil action and remedies could include reinstatement of the employee to his or her previous position, compensation for lost wages, and attorney and court costs.

This does not apply to first responders, people working in nursing homes and those involved in the “restoration of vital services.”