Recent years have seen some legal advances, with more than two dozen cities, five states and the District of Columbia passing sick leave laws, but, “what we need to do is pass the Healthy Family Act, that’s the bottom line,” says Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families.

As the changing needs of modern families continue to influence political discourse, these state-level victories are re-shaping national sentiment, says Vicki Shabo, vice president of the Partnership. “This is a critical juncture,” she says. “The buzz around these policies is at an all-time high, and it’s creating opportunities for regular people to have their voices heard.”

“Forced arbitration allows employers to sweep even the most egregious harassment under the rug, sometimes for decades, and evade laws designed to protect women from sexual harassment in the workplace,” writes Judith Lichtman, senior advisor at the National Partnership for Women & Families.