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.
There has been a surge of workers in the U.S. demanding better from their employers and leading employers have responded. To highlight companies that have cutting-edge leave policies, as well as to showcase the benefits to companies of transparency, we have launched the Leading on Leave Index.
For the mothers balancing the paid and unpaid labor keeping families afloat, we can do better than just flowers this Mother’s Day. A paid leave plan for all would give our superheroes the time they need to be human.
Which states have the most to gain from investments like paid leave? We crunched the numbers in our Paid Leave Means A Stronger Nation fact sheet series – a state-by-state look at the growing need for paid family and medical leave laws.
Shortly after having a little boy, my partner and I got to dive into the scary, competitive, expensive and overwhelming process of finding childcare. Fast forward to now, a year and half later, we have only managed to stay afloat as a family because of the flexibility, support, and policies in place that met me exactly when and where I needed them.
In an economy shaped by white supremacy, the lack of paid vacation time offered to low-wage, service professionals also means that women of color are the most likely to be denied time for leisure, rest, and self-care.
On October 25, 2023, NPWF President Jocelyn Frye delivered the following opening statement before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee at a hearing entitled: “Exploring Paid Leave: Policy, Practice, and Impact on the Workforce." Watch my opening remarks before the Senate...
As America marks the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one controversy we should not overlook is how Black women leaders — who made vital contributions to the movement as organizers, strategists, and frontline foot soldiers — were relegated to a limited, single speaking segment at the March.
How to know whether a paid leave proposal will meaningfully increase access for the people who need it most, or whether it is just a false promise.
This time of year, there’s a lot of talk about what moms need – and unfortunately, not enough action – so we figured we’d offer a little bit of help.
Enacting a paid family and medical leave policy as part of the Build Back Better package is critical to closing the longstanding systemic inequities that impact women and people of color.
Paid family and medical leave is an indispensable benefit that all working people need and deserve.
Black and brown people in D.C. have seen some of the worst racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths and vaccinations in the country. At the same time, the national economic fallout of the pandemic hit communities of color the hardest: people of color, particularly women, disproportionately worked in industries hit by pandemic-related closures, layoffs and reduced hours. And that is on top of the longstanding health and economic racial disparities that already existed before the pandemic.
Sunday marks our second pandemic Mother’s Day, and more than a year of financial, health, and familial chaos for mothers across the country.
As the United States sees an increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, millions of people are set to lose the critical benefits that Congress enacted — including emergency paid sick days and paid family leave. Three out of four rural voters support permanent legislation mandating paid sick and paid family leave programs.
Thanksgiving reminds us that, in the fight for paid family and medical leave, we must never lose sight of the diverse family relationships that are at the heart of our work.
New moms have all heard the advice: “breast is best.” While it’s true that breastfeeding facilitates bonding between mother and child, many new moms know that choosing to breastfeed can come with a host of challenges.
Sunday is Father’s Day. A day when dads everywhere will feel a sense of pride, get their 453rd pair of socks, and if they’re like me, proudly tape an illegible Father’s Day card their daughter scribbled at preschool to their refrigerator.
As we fight for paid sick days and paid family and medical leave laws that allow people to maintain economic security while caring for their loved ones, it is critical that these laws allow time to care for a range of family members.
As we begin 2019 Black History Month, we must renew our commitment to fighting for Black women and families and remember the reality that people of color are uniquely harmed by race discrimination and this harm is exacerbated for women of color by gender discrimination. We must commit to centering our work on people and families of color in order to address all aspects of the racism that permeate our society.
