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:

Jul 16, 2021 | News Story

Actors' Equity Association has partnered with the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI), the ventilation, indoor air quality and air balancing arm of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers to release a new model ventilation standard for li

Jul 16, 2021 | News Story

On Wednesday, a near-capacity crowd of young professionals and community leaders stopped by for the "What's Brewin' Offshore?” happy hour to learn more about the offshore wind industry on Long Island.

Jul 16, 2021 | News Story

Our outdated labor laws are no longer strong enough to protect us in the workplace. High-profile corporations openly union-bust without facing consequences. Anti-worker lawmakers have passed wage-killing and racist right to work laws in 27 states.

Jul 9, 2021 | News Story

After nearly round-the-clock negotiations at the end of June that lasted into the July 4th holiday weekend, negotiators for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local One (stage and shop crew members) and the Metropolitan Opera have reached a tentative agreement for a new cont

Jul 9, 2021 | News Story

On Wednesday, New York City held a ticker-tape parade to honor the essential workers who helped the city through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hometown Heroes Parade kicked off at 11 a.m.

Jul 9, 2021 | News Story

Actors’ Equity Association is thrilled with the news that the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved President Biden’s full budgetary request of $201 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, a record for the agency.

Jul 9, 2021 | News Story

"In New York City, the clean energy economy of the future should not be driven by short-term, low-skill, dead-end jobs," write Local 3, IBEW Business Manager Christopher Erikson and ALIGN NY E

Jul 9, 2021 | News Story

There’s still time to enroll for the Fall 2021 semester at SLU. If you have participated in some of SLU’s public programs, you have already been introduced to some of the School’s renowned faculty.

Jul 9, 2021 | News Story

On July 10, 1896, 38-year-old Henry Miller, founder and president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, was the head lineworker for the Potomac Light & Power Company in Washington, DC.

Jul 7, 2021 | Press Release

Our City's essential workers risked their own safety and health to get us through the pandemic, and continue to work tirelessly for their fellow New Yorkers even as we begin to emerge from this long crisis.