How many U.N. nations have laws mandating paid sick leave, maternity leave and annual leave? Where does the United States fall compared to nations around the world? What is the impact of these laws on global competitiveness? Should these policies be left to individual businesses, the states or the federal government? What is the impact of such policies on the workforce?

The most extensive study ever conducted on these issues is the focus of a new book by Jody Heymann, PhD, a leading expert on global work-family policies. To be released Tuesday, Raising the Global Floor: Dismantling the Myth that We Can’t Afford Good Working Conditions for Everyone examines the effect of these workplace supports on businesses, workers, families and on jobs, competitiveness and economic stability. The author and Debra L. Ness, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families, the nation’s leading policy expert on work-family policies, will discuss the book, on the day it is released at a luncheon briefing at:

Luncheon Briefing

 
NOON, Tuesday, November 17
Room 188, Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families

 
Dr. Heymann will discuss her findings broadly and with regard to arguments against mandating workplace policies support families. She will also discuss her recommendations for global efforts to ensure such policies in every country.

Ness will discuss national and state efforts in the United States to pass legislation that would guarantee workers paid leave, the importance of these and other policies and what this new research means to those efforts.

Raising the Global Floor is being published by Stanford University Press.