82 FR 31787 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 130 (July 10, 2017)

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the ``Leave Supplement to the American Time Use Survey.'' A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the Addresses section of this notice.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 130 (Monday, July 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31787-31788]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14359]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection, Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95). This program helps to ensure that requested data 
can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and 
financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly 
understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents 
can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the ``Leave 
Supplement to the American Time Use Survey.'' A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
individual listed below in the Addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
Addresses section of this notice on or before September 8, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, Division 
of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 2 
Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also 
may be transmitted by fax to 202-691-5111 (this is not a toll free 
number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, at 
202-691-7763 (this is not a toll free number). (See Addresses section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) is the Nation's first federally 
administered, continuous survey on time use in the United States. It 
measures, for example, time spent providing childcare, working, 
sleeping, or doing leisure activities. In the United States, several 
existing Federal surveys collect income and wage data for individuals 
and families, and analysts often use such measures of material 
prosperity as proxies for quality of life. Time-use data substantially 
augment these quality-of-life measures. The data also can be used in 
conjunction with wage data to evaluate the contribution of non-market 
work to national economies. This enables comparisons of production 
between nations that have different mixes of market and non-market 
activities.
    The ATUS is used to develop nationally representative estimates of 
how people spend their time. This is done by collecting a time diary 
about the activities survey respondents did over a 24-hour period 
``yesterday,'' from 4 a.m. on the day before the interview until 4 a.m. 
on the day of the interview. In the one-time interview, respondents 
also report who was with them during the activities, where they were, 
how long each activity lasted, and if they were paid. All of this 
information has numerous practical applications for sociologists, 
economists, educators, government policymakers, businesspersons, health 
researchers, and others.
    The Leave Supplement supports the mission of the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics by providing relevant information on economic and social 
issues. The data from the Leave Supplement can be used for research on 
the relationships between work schedules, job flexibilities, access to 
leave, and time use. These data enhance the understanding of people's 
overall well-being. The supplement surveys employed wage and salary 
workers, except those who are self-employed, aged 15 and up, from a 
nationally representative sample of approximately 2,060 sample 
households each month.
    The Leave Supplement collects data about workers' access to and use 
of paid and unpaid leave, job flexibility, and their work schedules. 
The Leave Supplement also includes questions about shift work, advance 
notice of work schedules, workers' control over

[[Page 31788]]

their schedules, flexible start and stop times, and work at home 
arrangements. These questions provide an additional dimension to 
analyses of workers' job flexibility data.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget approval is being sought for the 
Leave Supplement to the American Time Use Survey. An extension without 
change of a currently approved collection is needed to continue 
collecting data on workers' access to and use of paid and unpaid leave, 
job flexibility, and their work schedules.
    Collecting the Leave Supplement in 2018 will add significant 
information beyond what has been collected in 2017. An additional year 
of the Leave Supplement provides researchers with a larger sample by 
combining data across years. For some subpopulations, the number of 
observations needed to make valid statistical inferences exceeds the 
annual sample size.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Leave Supplement to the American Time Use Survey.
    OMB Number: 1220-0191.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Respondents: 5,490.
    Frequency: One time.
    Total Responses: 5,490.
    Average Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 458 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 3rd day of July, 2017.
Kimberley Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2017-14359 Filed 7-7-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P