No Images? Click here Greetings, friends! Welcome to Your Life, Better for June 2, 2017. Here are five things you need to know this week to make your life better at work and at home: Better Life Lab in the NewsBetter Life Lab is excited to announce our upcoming event “How the Trump Campaign Took the White Working Class by Storm” on June 7th from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Join our conversation with distinguished UC Hastings law professor Joan C. Williams, Washington Post reporters Jenna Johnson and Janell Ross, and New America Vice President of Policy and Technology Cecilia Muñoz as we discuss race, class, economic anxiety, and the way forward. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the Better Life Lab pop-up blog on Slate running through Father’s Day. Most recently, Elizabeth Weingarten writes about why pretending to be color-blind or gender-blind ignores valuable differences between us and acts as a barrier to equality. Abbie Lieberman and Laura Bornfreund discuss the ugly-truth behind child care and the varying qualifications (or lack thereof) state’s require of child care directors. Finally Zuzana Boehmová deems Grandpas the new gender equity warriors, shining a light on the increasing role they play in their grandchildren's life, as well as the power they hold in the US workforce. Photo illustration by Shutterstock. Company Culture - The Good, The Bad, The UglyWith technology changing the way we work, countries, cities, and workplaces are seeking to harness innovations and promote work-life balance. The Shift Commission - partnership between New America and Bloomberg - released a new report on how to think about work, workers, and technology. In a recent interview with The Daily Telegraph, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull suggested flexible and family oriented workplaces will spur innovation. The Australian Human Rights Commission has also begun major research efforts to promote gender equity in the workforce. In the U.S., New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a new law requiring fast food and retail employers provide more predictable work schedules and pay protections, reported The Wall Street Journal. Project Time Off finds that Americans still don’t feel confident enough in their jobs to take vacation days, women taking less vacation time than men (across all age groups), and a large majority of people don’t take their vacation days at all. Looking to change company culture, LinkedIn released their top companies of 2017, many of which have revamped their paid-family leave programs. Of LinkedIn’s top ranked companies, 22 say they broadened or created new programs. Yet, we still have work to do. Incidents of sexual harassment at Google prompted employees to step up and start a message board called “Yes, at Google" tracking unwelcomed behavior at work to make the company more inclusive, according to Bloomberg Technology. And new research from Life Meets Work suggests the most toxic workplaces are majority male. The report offers suggestions for how to detoxify work culture and encourage mindful leadership. Pregnancy in the WorkplaceA recent study by Pew Research Center found that few workers have access to paid-family leave, and access varies by type of industry and employer size. Working at large firms in the private sector or for the government greatly increase your chances of having access to leave. Workers not in this category often get the short end of the stick. A recent Washington Post story explores what happens when pregnant and facing layoffs. Women have no protection if lay-offs hit during pregnancy and pregnant job seekers are less likely to be hired. The time of childbirth should celebrated, but often turns into a workplace nightmare if the workplace does not support families. Another pregnancy horror story published by the Washington Post exposed Frontier Airlines’ lack of support for new mothers. Unable to pump breast milk on the job, flight attendants and pilots are often forced to go to bathroom or other unsanitary places to be able to pump and keep their job. The American SuperwomanAfrican American women are working, and working A LOT. The Economic Policy Institute released a study showing that half of all African American women are working parents, two-thirds of which are the primary (and often sole) economic provider for their family. Married African American moms work excessive hours, clocking 200 more hours per year than their white or Hispanic counterparts and 339 hours more than African American single mothers. The 2017 Survey of Household Economics and Decision Making from the the Federal Reserve may explain why African American women work so much. In general, nearly half of the respondents reported they would not be able to cover an unexpected expense of $400. Expenses like these disproportionately affect black women since they make less money and possess less wealth than their white and male counterparts. A recent study by the National Partnership for Women and Families showed black women make 68 cents to the white-man's dollar. Unfortunately, black women won’t get a break anytime soon. New America’s Education Policy Program reported that President Trump’s new budget proposal calls for major cuts to early and elementary education, which would restrict access to childcare for these hard working women. Children in Poverty A recent article from City Lab examines what factors may help the 9 million U.S. children growing up in poverty escape it in adulthood. The US Partnership on Mobility from Poverty finds avoiding teen pregnancy, attaining higher levels of education, living in less segregated environments, and consistently working or being in school ages 25-30 may contribute to that success. A new study from The Atlantic seeking to understand the child brain also suggests children’s early environment matters. Childhood experiences have a lifelong impact on adulthood and experiencing childhood trauma often is associated with toxic stress in adults. Trauma, violence, and abuse are correlated with outcomes later in life like depression, poor academic achievement, and heart disease. Targeting policy interventions to support young children ages 2-3 could correct for adversity. 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 LabThe Better Life Lab is here 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” is 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 provide 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.
|