Enlightened Solutions’ Post

The Problem The United States is one of the few developed nations without a nationwide paid family leave policy. This lack of support for working families creates significant economic hardship and contributes to gender inequality. The Solution Implement a national paid family leave program, funded through a combination of employee and employer contributions. To incentivize businesses to offer more generous packages, provide substantial tax breaks for companies that offer paid family leave benefits exceeding a certain threshold, such as 50% of employee wages. Key Benefits • Economic Stability: Paid family leave helps prevent financial hardship for families during critical life events. • Workforce Retention: Companies that offer generous family leave packages are more likely to retain talented employees. • Gender Equality: Paid family leave helps to address the gender pay gap by reducing the career penalties faced by women who take time off to care for family members. • Improved Child Well-being: Research has shown that children whose parents have access to paid leave tend to have better developmental outcomes. #likesharerepost #jointhemovement #fairlaborlawsforall

Why is a universal paid leave policy essential? This policy brief explores its impact on public health, gender equity, and economic stability. Discover the key findings and recommendations for Congress. 📄 Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-MiA3kA #PaidLeave #Policy #EconomicEquity

For the first time in history, more than 70 brands and organizations in the country are closing their doors today to spotlight the nation’s lack of #paidfamilyleave — and urge lawmakers to urgently pass federal legislation. The day of action symbolizes what could happen if women are forced to exit the workforce because of the lack of paid family and #medicalleave. While paid leave impacts all Americans, women have disproportionately taken on caregiving while increasingly taking breadwinning roles, and without #policy support. It has cost women—particularly low-income women and Black women—their #jobs, #pay, and mental and physical health. Reports also show that women are facing alarmingly high levels of #burnout, that have been disproportionately higher than men—a gap that has more than doubled since 2019. Likewise, the #maternal mortality rate has more than doubled in the last 20 years. The United States is one of only seven countries in the world with no form of national paid family leave. Join the fight to #passpaidleave alongside Glamour, Paid Leave for All, and over 70 organizations at the link below.

Paid leave is a crucial investment in a thriving labor force and a strong economy--with particular benefits for women. Learn more with my chapter in Center for American Progress's new Playbook for the Advancement of Women in the Economy: https://lnkd.in/eiUfGwTN

The (pre-election) promise to pay super on the Government's Paid Parental Leave is, of course, a good idea for all the reasons argued in the official press release shared below: it supports women's economic security, and helps women to balance their care and work responsibilities. But let's not lose sight of the fact that it is also good for men. That is, it helps to ease their decisions about whether they take time out of their careers to spend quality time with their children. As I have previously argued (here https://lnkd.in/gGMhWgaw), if we want to see more mums get and stay in the workforce, the focus needs to shift on to assisting dads to get out of it. https://lnkd.in/g-Hri3bJ

Just wrapped up an eye-opening session at Bristol City Office (Bristol One City), reflecting on the journey of my niece Bea. As she embarks on her educational path, it's alarming to realize the gender pay gap isn't just a statistic—it's Bea's future. Did you know Bea needs to save for an extra 19 years just to retire with the same pension as her male schoolfriends? Or that a ten-year interruption to her career to start a family will cost her £39,000 in lost pension savings? But it's not all bleak. We discussed innovative solutions that can reshape Bea's world. Gender-inclusive parental leave, childcare infrastructure, and the transformative potential of a four-day workweek—these changes aren't just hypotheticals; they're happening now. So, as we mark International Women’s Day, let's not just talk about equality—let's act. Whether it's advocating for inclusive policies or championing diversity in leadership, let's pave the way for a brighter future—for Bea and for all. 🚀 #InternationalWomensDay #GenderEquality #inspireinclusion

Today is a historic day for working parents, with new laws passing the Senate that will give workers access to more paid parental leave, increasing by two weeks each year from July 2024, to 26 weeks in 2026. Once the scheme is fully implemented from July 2026, the 26 weeks will be able to be shared by both parents. Union members campaigned hard for this change because it’s an important milestone in addressing workplace gender inequality – making work fairer for working women. The change will help make it easier for women to re-enter the workforce, and facilitate more equal sharing of caring responsibilities between men and women. This massive win comes on the back of last week's announcement that – after another massive campaign by union members – the Federal Government will pay superannuation on paid parental leave from 1 July 2025, helping close the superannuation gender pay gap. The best bit? You can be a part of it! Joining your union will mean you're part of the push for even more improvements to our rights at work – including campaigning to extend the paid parental leave scheme to 52 weeks. Join your union today: https://lnkd.in/ga_4h-KD

Great! Can you also stop adding CPI (effectively interest) to HECS/HELP debts whilst carers are on parental leave or extended leave for other caring responsibilities - because women (who statistically take more time off for parental leave, and work part-time or casual jobs so their student loans take longer to repay) effectively pay more for the same university degree)…not to mention earn less overall with the gender pay gaps.

Thank you to Newsweek for sharing my op-ed about the challenges faced by stay-at-home mothers when re-entering the workplace. In the article, I outline some ideas that could make this transition easier. Do you agree that these are important issues to discuss? United States Senate #workingmothers #workplacereentry #womeninbusiness

During the pandemic, a staggering 13.5 million women lost their jobs, highlighting a widespread issue. Even in remote work, women are balancing caregiving and homemaking alongside their jobs. Author Reshma Saujani emphasizes ongoing efforts for change, advocating for expanded childcare options and paid leave provisions to bridge the gap. Key Takeaways: -Banning childcare duties during remote work isn't a fix. -Forward-thinking businesses can help by subsidizing childcare and offering flexibility. Let's build a fairer, more inclusive workforce together. #GenderEquality #EmpowerWomen #WorkforceDiversity