Each year, we track some of our most important paid leave policy fights across the nation, and this year has highlights and lowlights. This piece covers key developments of paid family and medical leave and paid sick and safe days including Virginia’s passage of critical paid leave and paid sick days laws and progress toward paid leave in three states.
At some point, everyone gets sick – but no one chooses to get sick. And no one should have to decide between recovering or caring for their loved ones and being able to make ends meet. But as of 2024, nearly 27 million workers lacked paid sick days through their employer.
On October 1, the federal government shut down because Republicans were unable to pass a funding bill, despite having control over all three branches of government. As the shutdown enters its fifth week, women and families across the country continue to feel the devastating economic impact.
The 2025 state legislative session has been filled with ups and downs and a few notable surprises – specifically in the South. This year’s highlights include more workers having access to paid parental leave and pay transparency protections. This piece covers developments of paid family and medical leave, paid sick and safe days, fair pay and discrimination.
The Supreme Court’s last term supported extremist ideology over evidence and expertise, and personal interests over the health, wellbeing and safety of others.
For millions of women, all it takes is one major life event – a new baby, a serious illness, losing a job, a family crisis, some unexpected emergency – and everything can unravel. In 2024, several states made significant headway in becoming more equitable for thousands of workers and better supporting women and families.
Nearly 27 million people — more than 1 in 5 private sector workers — cannot access a single paid sick day. This November, voters have the opportunity to vote on paid sick days in Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska.
In 2023, Latinas were paid just 51 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men; that means that the typical Latina lost out on $30,800 in wages. On October 3, we commemorate Latina Equal Pay Day and recommit ourselves to the fight for fair pay.
Over the last several years, cities have worked to advance earned sick leave for workers by passing local laws that require local employers to offer paid sick leave or other forms of paid leave. However, many cities across the nation have been restricted by preemption.
The 2023-2024 U.S. Supreme Court term has been one of the most destructive in recent years: the Court put ideology before evidence and expertise, grabbed power from our elected officials in favor of extremist judges serving on lower courts, and showed that they care more about their personal preferences than Americans’ health, safety and more.
Today marks the official kickoff of the WNBA basketball season. From pre-season sellouts to record views, the spotlight is on the WNBA. The topic of equal pay for athletes has also taken center stage.
In 2019, a poll revealed that nearly half of men believe that the wage gap is “made up.” It’s time to set the record straight.
In light of Taraji P. Henson’s recent interview with Gayle King, this piece discusses how Hollywood continues to undervalue and under pay Black Women actors.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was an important step towards closing the wage gap. Since 2009, the wage gap has shrunk by 7 cents. Despite the progress made, there is far more work to be done to eliminate the wage gap that robs the United States’ economy of over 1 trillion dollars a year.
The U.S. women’s national soccer team is playing in its first World Cup since their landmark equal pay victory. Here is how we can learn from their efforts to achieve equal pay for everyone.