Work/Family Challenge
When 9to5 member Sherri Landrum's daughter was shot, Sherri was allowed to take time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) - but she couldn't afford to take time off without pay. For Sherri and the thousands of other members of 9to5, paid leave and other work-family issues will play a prominent role in the 2004 presidential elections.
9to5 is helping bring these issues to the attention of all candidates for president. Ellen Bravo, 9to5 Director, serves on the steering committee of Take Care Net, a new collaborative of more than 200 work-life experts calling for public policies supporting caregivers. Bravo helped draft a candidate survey which will ask each candidate, including President Bush, to indicate support for or opposition to a number of specific proposals related to expanding access and affordability of family and medical leave and other work-family issues. Results of the survey will be announced by Take Care Net in mid-January.
"We appreciate every initiative which brings these issues into the forefront," Bravo said. She noted that polls of working women repeatedly show paid leave as a high priority for voters.
Paid leave is one of many improvements workers need in order to support their families and care for them. The FMLA needs to include more workers and allow leave for more situations such as school activities. In addition, workers need protection for absences related to routine illness now excluded from the FMLA.
"Having a family shouldn't cost you your job," Bravo said, "and employment shouldn't jeopardize your family's well-being."
For more information on these initiatives, contact 9to5's hotline at 1-800-522-0925 or email 9to5@9to5.org
