No Images? Click here Taking timeIncreasingly, paid family leave is a buzzword for U.S. employers—yet over half of the U.S.’s 60 largest employers have no paid family leave policy or refuse to disclose their policy, according to a new report from PL+US. Many companies that do have policies leave out fathers, adoptive parents, and hourly workers. For multinational corporations required to provide paid leave in other countries, U.S. policy—or lack thereof—poses a challenge. Some of these corporations are creating internationally standardized paid leave policies—but the lack of support from the U.S. government imposes high costs. Another area where the U.S. lags behind is paid sick leave, which hurts workers, their families, and even their employers, as well as endangering public health. Confused about the difference between sick days and family leave? The Center for American Progress breaks down the different types of paid leave. Advice for the good lifeAs a young woman starting a career, how can you achieve success without compromising work-life balance? On the podcast Advice to my Younger Me, Brigid Schulte doles out wisdom on work, love, and play—how to set priorities, manage “the overwhelm,” and live the good life. One unlikely source of inspiration for our work-life balance needs: the Middle Ages. The average American worker takes less vacation than a medieval peasant. Instead, we’re busy engaging in “public displays of working” on social media. Busyness is even creeping into old age—but here’s why Americans shouldn’t give up retirement. Glass ceilingsHillary Clinton got closer to breaking “that highest and hardest glass ceiling” than any woman before her, but she wasn’t the first. Jay Newton-Small explores the history of female presidential candidates, why women aren’t a unified voting bloc, and how female politicians move forward. Plenty of other glass ceilings remain in place, too: the vice presidency, several cabinet positions, and senate seats and governorships in many states. And while Hillary Clinton hoped to assemble a gender-balanced cabinet, prospects are murkier under Trump—though Clinton’s candidacy could still inspire many female political hopefuls. Where we go nextThe 2016 election saw unprecedented discussion of paid family leave and child care. But what does a Trump administration actually mean for working families? As this primer on Donald Trump’s policy proposals explains, biological mothers and higher-income families could see benefits. But low-income families, fathers, same-sex couples, and adoptive parents will need stronger measures. The election also raises questions for in-home domestic workers, many of whom are immigrants and people of color. Hand in Hand, the Domestic Employers Network, offers advice for employers of domestic workers on steps to take following the election. And many women are wondering what the election means for reproductive health. Here’s how reproductive rights could change over the next four years. Measuring careFamily caregivers are at the foundation of our society, caring for millions of children and sick, disabled, and elderly people. But we know very little about their lives, and collecting data on family caregiving is a challenge. A new experiment, the Atlas of Caregiving, explores possibilities for data collection and illuminates the complex, all-encompassing nature of care. That's a wrap! We'll look forward to seeing your inbox again soon.Follow us on Twitter and Facebook — and suggest your best reads on living a better life! Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here! About New AmericaNew America is dedicated to the renewal of American politics, prosperity, and purpose in the Digital Age. Our hallmarks are big ideas, pragmatic policy solutions, technological innovation, and creative engagement with broad audiences. Read the rest of our story, or see what we've been doing recently in our latest Annual Report. About the Better Life LabNew America’s Breadwinning & Caregiving Program is thrilled to unveil a new name, the Better Life Lab, and an updated agenda to transform policy and culture so that people and families have the opportunity to live their best lives at work and at home. As a “lab,” we are dedicated to disruptive experiments, collaborative work, and innovative thinking. “Your Life, Better: News From the Better Life Lab” will be our way to keep you in the know, featuring the best of what we’re reading and writing about gender equity, the evolution of work, and social policies that support 21st-century families. We will be a clear signal amid the noise to share what’s fresh and crucial to an inclusive vision of work-life, gender, and income equity issues. Better Life Lab Real choices. Real parity. All people. |