Work-Family Policy Katie Reck – FCHD 1010

What is your interest in policy/politics? Very interested Somewhat interested Neutral Not very interested I do not care about policy/politics……period.

Do you feel like policy is important Yes, absolutely!!! Somewhat, it does matter whether I know a lot about it or not. Not really, I hear about it but don’t get involved much. Nope. Don’t know, don’t care.

What is a policy? A law created by a governmental body. A principle or rule which guides decision making. A procedure for completing a task. A protocol for implementing power.

Policy What is a policy? A principle or rule to guide decisions. Procedure Rule Law Protocol Who makes policy?

How Does Policy Affect the Family?

Is there a U.S. Family Policy? Bogenshneider Chapter 2

“_____” is not mentioned in the constitution Equal opportunity of the individual The family : Social institution Contract with the individual Bogenshneider Chapter 2

PRWORA Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act Promote personal responsibility Encourage individual employment capacity Example: PRWORA – Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act Primary focus of welfare reform in most states is promoting personal responsibility by encouraging and facilitating recipients’ wage-earning or bread-winning capacity. Bogenshneider Chapter 2

Why is it difficult to make family policy? No legal ______ of a family Traditional family is the norm Why a family focus? A family focus is reflective of how the real world works. Maximizing the contributions of individuals to promote the good of the whole. What is a family? Sometimes this is used as shorthand to mean parent and child while ignoring other relationships. There is no legal definition of family – however courts commonly use the “traditional family” model to base decisions on. Really this is impossible. Implications?

Why is it difficult to make family policy? Democracy Time Everyone wants a piece Change Family Work Political System Values

Work-Family Policies

What has affected work-family policies? _______ entering the workforce ______ ___ _____expectations Egalitarianism _________

Work-Family Policy ___ ____federal policies Some ______________ laws at local levels Company policies

Parents and Work What are some of the issues parents have to face when it comes to work? Who do you believe has it harder when it comes to work and family issues? A – Women B – Men C – They both have equal hardship

Moms http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/working-mothers-want-more-time/6hylbxt Dads http://www.hulu.com/watch/71321/celebrating-mom-stay-at-home-dads-working-moms

Does the U.S. government require companies to provide paid medical leave to its employees? A – Yes B – No C – I don’t know ___ _____ __ countries in the world does not have a national paid maternity law

Examples from Abroad

Examples from Abroad

Parental Leave Policies - Objectives ___ _________ Enable time with children Support infant/maternal health Strengthen _____ _________ Strengthen means child caregiving Shore up _______ / macroeconomic health Sustain ______ Provide earnings/income supplement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHkFdo3E0K0

Parental Leave Policies ___vs. _____ Maternity leave - mothers Paternity Leave - fathers “_____ _____” - longer, flexible, both parents Childcare leave – time limited family allowance, no employment incentives Paid leave - wage replacement from social insurance funds Unpaid leave - job protection but no wage replacement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHkFdo3E0K0

Policy in the U.S. Maternity leave – State policy ___ states have temporary disability laws Parental Leave – National policy _____ _____ _____ _____ – unpaid leave for those working in companies Parental leave – State policy California, Washington, and New Jersey: 5-6 weeks Parental Leave – Private Sector ___% of all employees White, unionized, high paid, lots of employees, metropolitan areas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHkFdo3E0K0

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Federal Law - ____ Allows __ weeks of _____ leave from employment: Family and medical reasons Birth of a child (also adoption/foster care) Take care of sick family member Own serious health condition Care for a service member Intermittent leave at employers discretion Men or women

FMLA - Employer Eligible – must be working for employer for 1 year and worked 1,250 hours. ____+ employees Must provide notification within 30 days Employer can _____ _________ May terminate if employee does not intend to return to work “______” illnesses do not count

Problems with the FMLA ________________________ Illness has to be severe Leave is unpaid ____________

Childcare http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/video/americas-family-child-care-costs-11312335 What are some solutions to the work - family - child care issue?

Child Care Policies Child Parents Society Care Development Labor mobilization Society Social infrastructure for economic development 80% of economic developers see importance of child care

Child Care __% of local governments use loans, tax credits, business assistance to promote child care. What's wrong with the child care market? _____________ Low profitability and supply _________– Finding and getting good care _______ business – few employees Recession

___million paid workers Full-time paid workers Part-time paid workers Paid care workers _______________ Unpaid _____ and ______ care

Child care - What can be done? Communities – Economic development, business assistance, coordinated planning (transportation). Employers – Flexibility Spending Accounts, on site or flexible work arrangements, taxation. State and National Government – Tax credits (subsidies), rating system, reimbursement, preschool.

Company Policies ___________ No overtime rules ______________ Nursing Rooms Flextime / telecommuting 16 weeks job-guaranteed leave and 8 weeks fully paid leave. Dream Scheduling Subsidized child care

Why so few state/federal policies? ___________ Most businesses “small businesses” _______________________ Stigma for using family-friendly policies