PathWays PA Policy Blog

(Cross post from the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces Blog ) The majority of our society no longer looks the way it did in the 1950s, with one member of the household, generally the husband, working outside the home. Today, if two adults are in a household, both of their incomes are usually needed to keep up with the added costs of daily life. In other households, single parents may be on their own caring for their children. These new family models make the standard 40 hour, 9-to-5 workweek difficult for many parents. To discuss this issue, NPR is doing a three-part series on how employers can give employees some flexibility so they can have more of a work-life balance. Some of the techniques used by employers include flex-time, results-only work environments, and telecommuting. Employers interviewed in the first segment said that by giving employees more options, they have a more productive staff and less turnover. First, more and more employers are discover...

While the health care debate has been going on for what may feel like forever, this week there may truly be an end in sight. The House is expected to vote on the Senate Bill along with a Reconciliation Bill , which makes changes to the Senate Bill, by the end of this week. The vote is likely to be close in the House, so if you support the bill, please contact your Representative today and urge them to support health care reform. If both bills pass the House, the Reconciliation Bill will then be sent to the Senate where it is expected to pass quickly so the President can sign both bills before the Easter Recess.

(cross posted from http://earnedsicktime.blogspot.com/2010/03/joint-economic-committee-report-on.htm l) Last week, the Joint Economic Committee released a report showing the impact that The Healthy Families Act would have on workers in the United States.  The Healthy Families Act is a federal bill that would ensure workers whose companies employ 15 or more would have the opportunity to earn up to 56 hours of earned sick time each year to care for themselves or for ill family members, or to use in the aftermath of domestic violence.  Currently, there is no law that ensures workers have access to earned sick time, leaving 40 percent of the private sector without paid sick time. According to the Joint Economic Committee report: As a result of the Healthy Families Act, at least 30.3 million additional workers would have access to earned sick time. Almost half of the increased access to paid sick leave (14.7 million additional workers) would accrue to workers in the bottom wa...

Public Forum on Earned Sick Time Thank you to everyone who came out to the Public Forum on Earned Sick Time sponsored by PathWays PA, WOMEN’S WAY, The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces! The campaign for paid sick days got a boost as more than forty people came to the Central Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library to learn about the need for earned sick time and to tell their stories. Some important facts discussed include that: 40 percent of all private sector workers lack access to job-protected earned sick time. Among food service workers and child care workers, 73 percent lack any access to earned sick time. 46 percent of all workers lack earned sick time. A diverse group of panel members agreed that employees should not need to work sick. The owner of a child care center explained how she saved money by providing the opportunity for workers to earn sick time, since one sick worker at home was less costly...

(cross-posted from FamilyValuesatWork.org ) The campaign for paid sick days in Philadelphia got a boost last week when more than forty people came to the Central Branch of the Philadelphia Fre e Library to learn about the need for earned sick time and to tell their stories. A diverse group of panel members agreed that employees should not need to work sick. The owner of a child care center explained how she saved money by providing the opportunity for workers to earn sick time, since one sick worker at home was less costly than if that worker infected other staff. Other speakers and audience members said it was the public health risk created by working sick that convinced them support earned sick days. One restaurant worker explained: “One person gets sick, and then the next person gets sick. But if someone could take off… maybe the circle would be broken.” PathWays PA , WOMEN’S WAY , and other members of the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces sponsored the forum ev...

Green Jobs for Women by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman More than half of all women in the US work in sales, clerical, or service jobs-- "pink collar" jobs. While they fill important needs, they offer low pay and few benefits. Carol Goertzel, President and CEO of PathWays PA, which enhances opportunities for women, girls, and families, points out that there are new opportunities for women to make history in the workplace. Women should look to the growing field of green jobs to find careers and higher incomes. Please read the full article on KYW's website and listen to the radio to hear it on air!

March 11, 2010 - Paid time off for illness often not allowed March 11. 2010 - Local workers not paid for sick days make everyone sicker March 10, 2010 - In Pa., Sick days Are a Luxury For Most March 10, 2010 - Group Calls for Paid Sick Leave for All Workers in Pennsylvania