Family Values at Work - A Multi-State Consortium

Family Values at Work

"Family Values @ Work" documents the consequences on workers, families, businesses and the nation when family values end at the workplace door. The document details the wrenching stories of workers suffering from the lack of family-friendly work rules, summarizes key research, and lays out a policy agenda modest compared to that of other advanced nations yet urgently needed by U.S. workers and their families. These policies include a minimum number of paid sick days for routine illnesses as well as a family leave insurance fund to provide income during longer-term leaves for a new baby or serious health condition.


The report was released by Family Values @ Work: A Multi-State Consortium, a network of state coalitions working for policies that value families. Joining them were ten national organizations, including 9to5, National Association of Working Women, ACORN, the AFL-CIO, Moms Rising, and Service Employees International Union. Together these groups and others are building a movement to win changes at the local, state and national level. Funding for the report was provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Concurrent with the report, a poll conducted by Lake Research Partners finds that nearly nine in ten poll respondents (89 percent) favor paid sick days. There is strong bipartisan agreement, with at least three quarters of Democrats, Independents and Republicans expressing agreement (Democrats - 94 percent agree; Independents - 90 percent; Republicans - 83 percent).

Similarly, three-quarters of poll respondents favor family leave insurance. Support here is also bipartisan (Democrats - 81 percent, Independents - 73 percent, and Republicans - 69 percent). More detail about the poll can be found on page 27 of the report.

"Family Values at Work" lays out six reasons for adopting new rules at work: Not many families have a wife at home full time. The lack of time to care harms families. Setting minimum standards to protect workers is a legitimate and necessary role of government. Flexibility works for families. Flexibility also pays off for employers and taxpayers. And voters want action.

If we believe in family values, it's time to value families.

Menu of Options (PDF Files)

• Valuing Families at Work: Priorities for Federal Action
  
• Our Economy Needs Family Values at Work Now More Than Ever
• Family Values at Work Summary (PDF)
• Family Values at Work Full Report (PDF)
• A [Mom and] Pop Quiz (PDF)
• Sources for A [Mom and] Pop Quiz
• Sources for Report
• Resources for Action
• Fact Sheet - "Our Economy Needs Family Values at Work Now More Than Ever"
• Keeping Jobs and Raising Families (PDF) (Radcliff 2002)

PowerPoint Presentations

• Thinking Big on Valuing Families at Work
• Expanding Family and Medical Leave
• Why We Need a New Standard of Paid Sick Days

Websites

• Working Families Story Bank
• Arizona Women Rise