Flexible work arrangements, including part-time work, flexible workday schedules, and telecommuting, are crucial for families struggling to care for their children, aging parents or disabled loved ones.  Forty years ago, 70 percent of families had at least one parent at home full-time.  Today, 62 percent of married couples with children under 18 are dual-earner couples, with no stay-at-home parent. Despite these demographic changes in the workforce, the American workplace continues to operate as if all employees can rely on someone at home to care for their families while they are at work.   This is simply no longer the case.  Click here to read our analysis of the need for workplace flexibility. 

PART-TIME WORK

Part-time work is essential to our economy but is consistently undervalued.  Part-time workers often receive less compensation on a pro rata basis, in both pay and benefits, than full-time workers doing the same jobs.   Click here to learn about the Part-Time Penalty and what A Better Balance is doing to address it.  

RIGHT TO REQUEST FLEXIBLE WORK

The majority of the U.S. workforce reports having little or no flexibility in setting work hours yet studies show that most workers would like more flexible work options.  Research shows that workers do not ask for flexibility because they don’t know how, fear retaliation or negative consequences, or simply lack a process for doing so.  Learn more about how we can change this.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S EDUCATION

 Working parents need time off to participate in their children’s education.  Studies have shown that parental involvement is crucial for children to succeed in school, yet many parents do not have enough flexibility in their work schedules to allow them to attend school events, including parent-teacher conferences, without fear of reprisal.   Click here to read A Better Balance’s Educational Leave Fact Sheet.   

WORKING PARENTS CARING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

 Working parents who care for children with special needs face serious financial, physical and emotional challenges when trying to balance paid work with care for their children.   The  Sloan Work and Family Research Network convened a panel meeting in May 2008 to discuss current research, best practices and state public policy on this topic.  A Better Balance's Co-President, Yolanda Wu, participated in the panel discussion.   The Sloan Network has released an action plan generated from the meeting, which you can read by clicking here.

BREASTFEEDING AT WORK

The United States provides few workplace or public protections for breastfeeding mothers.  At least 107 other countries protect women’s right to breastfeed, including 73 countries that provide for paid breastfeeding breaks.  Law reform in the U.S. should include prohibiting discrimination against breastfeeding mothers and providing them with reasonable accommodation in terms of breaks and privacy, as well as ensuring that breast pumps are regulated by the FDA and creating incentives for employers to provide clean, safe lactation rooms.    Click here to learn more.

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

- A Better Balance Workplace Flexibility Fact Sheet---The Need for Flexibility (2008)

- A Better Balance Workplace Flexibility Fact Sheet--The Business Case  (2008)  

- "Strengthening the Middle Class: Ensuring Equal Pay for Women,"  Testimony of Heather Boushey before the House Committee on Education and Labor, April 24, 2007

- Work-Life Policies for the Twenty-First Century Economy (May 2008)

LEARN MORE  

- Catalyst

- Center for Work-Life Policy

- Corporate Voices for Working Families

- Families and Work Institute

- Flex-Time Lawyers  

- Sloan Work and Family Research Network 

 - Workplace Flexibility 2010