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:

Jan 6, 2023 | News Story

Workers at HarperCollins Publishers entered 2023 still on strike, more than 40 days after about 250 employees at the publishing giant walked out when contract negotiations broke down in November.

Jan 6, 2023 | News Story

The MTA unfairly wants to reduce subway service on Mondays and Fridays because its wealthier suburban commuters are not coming into their Manhattan offices on those days. This will create longer waits and more crowding for millions of regular New Yorkers.

Jan 6, 2023 | News Story

Community Boards are the most grassroots level of New York City’s government and serve an advisory role providing recommendations to the City Council and the Office of the Borough President and working with City agencies to resolve local service issues.

Dec 30, 2022 | News Story

NYSNA nurses have announced the outcome of strike authorization votes at NYC private sector hospitals with union contracts expiring Dec. 31.

Dec 30, 2022 | News Story

After spending years in legislative limbo before being approved in both the NYS Senate and Assembly in June, a bill that would significantly increase fines issued to construction companies found criminally liable for worker injuries or fatalities has been signed by Governor Hochul.

Dec 28, 2022 | News Story

In 2022, we’ve seen workers here and around the country rise up to take back their own power, demanding better pay, improved working conditions, and a voice in their workplace.

Dec 23, 2022 | News Story

Unsafe work speeds, unreasonable work quotas, dangerous work, and insufficient breaks all contribute to the skyrocketing rate of injuries and sickness in the warehousing industry, which is why the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) pushed for the introduction of the Warehouse Wo

Dec 23, 2022 | News Story

Actors’ Equity Association members have ratified a new three-year agreement with The Broadway League. The Production Contract: Broadway and Sit-Downs governs employment in shows on Broadway, as well as in sit-down shows produced by members of the Broadway League elsewhere in the United States.

Dec 23, 2022 | News Story

"We’ve had, I think, a really strong financial performance for 2022. Revenue was significantly higher for 2022 than it was last year. We will be more profitable this year." These are the words of Bustle Digital Group’s CEO, Bryan Goldberg, in an internal podcast released on October 17.

Dec 16, 2022 | News Story

1700 part-time faculty members at The New School (members of UAW Local 7902) have a tentative agreement and are back at work following their strike, the longest adjunct strike in U.S. history. Workers won: