New York Legislators Introduce ‘Standing Is Tiring’ Act
If you work on your feet all day and feel like no one truly understands how hard it is on your body, you might want to consider relocating to New York state. That’s where some lawmakers introduced what’s being called the “Standing Is Tiring (SIT) Act” on September 9th.
The New York Post reports that Bronx Assemblywoman Karines Reyes, who’s also a nurse, says that’s why she’s co-sponsoring the bill. She and Senator Rachel May of Syracuse want employers to allow cashiers, clerks, and people with jobs requiring a lot of screen time a chance to sit down while they work and alleviate some of the long-term physical toll.
The proposed bill is drawing comparisons to an episode of ’90s sitcom Seinfeld in which George Constanza made a similar argument. In the episode, George provides a chair for a security guard in a clothing store. The chair proves to be a little too comfortable, the security guard dozes off, and the store is robbed at gunpoint.
If the bill is passed, New York’s Department of Labor would determine who would be allowed to sit while on the job. Assemblywoman Reyes is trying to reassure the public that the bill would not apply to workers, such as security guards, who need to be on their feet patrolling. Also, people probably shouldn’t be working in rocking chairs.