Work and Family

Although the “traditional” family—a father who works outside the home and financially supports the children and a mother whose work is keeping the house and raising the children—has been disappearing for more than a generation, our workplaces and government policies have not kept pace with America’s new reality.

Most children are growing up in homes with both parents working or with single parents. One-third of workers don’t have access to paid sick leave, and only 42 percent have paid personal leave. What’s the impact on public health when working people can’t afford to take sick days during a flu epidemic? Who takes care of a sick child? Who’s home to fix dinner and help with homework? Who can dedicate time to a sick elderly parent?

The recession and jobless recovery have complicated life further for working families, when having to leave work for a family emergency could lead to long-term unemployment.

More about this issue:

Feb 2

CIR members at NYC H+H are in contract negotiations with the city and haven't seen any movement that would give members a fair contract. The current proposal on the table would make CIR members in NYC's public sector hospitals the lowest-paid resident physicians in the city.

Feb 1

CIR members at NYC H+H are in contract negotiations with the city and haven't seen any movement that would give members a fair contract. The current proposal on the table would make CIR members in NYC's public sector hospitals the lowest-paid resident physicians in the city.

Feb 1

CIR members at NYC H+H are in contract negotiations with the city and haven't seen any movement that would give members a fair contract. The current proposal on the table would make CIR members in NYC's public sector hospitals the lowest-paid resident physicians in the city.

Jan 31

CIR members at NYC H+H are in contract negotiations with the city and haven't seen any movement that would give members a fair contract. The current proposal on the table would make CIR members in NYC's public sector hospitals the lowest-paid resident physicians in the city.

Jan 31

CIR members at NYC H+H are in contract negotiations with the city and haven't seen any movement that would give members a fair contract. The current proposal on the table would make CIR members in NYC's public sector hospitals the lowest-paid resident physicians in the city.

Jan 30

CIR members at NYC H+H are in contract negotiations with the city and haven't seen any movement that would give members a fair contract. The current proposal on the table would make CIR members in NYC's public sector hospitals the lowest-paid resident physicians in the city.

Jan 19, 2024 | News Story

On Thursday, January 18, the bakers, porters, wholesale drivers, and market staff at She Wolf Bakery marched on the boss to share that a majority of workers had signed RWDSU authorization cards.

Jan 19, 2024 | News Story

UAW Local 2325 has announced that a supermajority of staff from the New York-based Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund declared their intent to unionize.

Jan 19, 2024 | News Story

Musicians of the American Federation of Musicians of the U.S. & Canada (AFM) will begin bargaining with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) this month.

Dec 29, 2023 | News Story

Just after midnight on Thursday, a bargaining committee composed of 32BJ SEIU members who clean New York City commercial building offices, transportation hubs and universities and union officers reached a tentative agreement with the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations.