Predictable, Stable Hours
The Issue
The problem of predictable hours revolves around basic labor standards to ensure a family-friendly workplace. With so many women in the workforce and a growing number of single-parent families, the rules of the workplace haven’t kept up. We shouldn’t have to risk our jobs to take care of our families, or to put our families at risk to keep our jobs. Yet millions of Americans are forced to make these decisions every day. Only one in five low-wage workers has access to paid sick days on the job. For too many, unpaid leave is an unrealistic option.
What Employers Can Do
-Remember that family-flexible policies help employers as well as workers!
-Every company – regardless of size or industry – can offer support and flexibility
- Policies should be written and available to all workers.
-Companies with more resources can offer paid leave and childcare support.
Workplace flexible options include:
-Part-time work with pro-rated benefits
-Overtime on a voluntary basis
-Flexible schedules (start and end times)
-Compressed work weeks
-Paid sick days
-Subsidies for dependent care, vacation or after-school programs
What Supervisors/Managers Can Do
-Put guidelines in writing and apply them to all employees
-Encourage men as well as women to be responsible family caregivers
-Respect cultural differences
-Involve workers directly in working out flexible schedules
-Support company-wide policies, rather than manager discretion
What Elected Officials Can Do
-Expand FMLA – to cover more employers, more workers, including part-timers.
-Pass paid family leave insurance programs – similar to unemployment insurance.
-Pass a minimum labor standard for paid sick days for all workers
-Pass legislation to provide flexible use of paid sick days
-Include work/family policies in the criteria required for government contractors
and tax credits
Learn more at http://9to5.org/our-work/work-flexibility/
Adapted from 9to5 Wisconsin
The problem of predictable hours revolves around basic labor standards to ensure a family-friendly workplace. With so many women in the workforce and a growing number of single-parent families, the rules of the workplace haven’t kept up. We shouldn’t have to risk our jobs to take care of our families, or to put our families at risk to keep our jobs. Yet millions of Americans are forced to make these decisions every day. Only one in five low-wage workers has access to paid sick days on the job. For too many, unpaid leave is an unrealistic option.
What Employers Can Do
-Remember that family-flexible policies help employers as well as workers!
-Every company – regardless of size or industry – can offer support and flexibility
- Policies should be written and available to all workers.
-Companies with more resources can offer paid leave and childcare support.
Workplace flexible options include:
-Part-time work with pro-rated benefits
-Overtime on a voluntary basis
-Flexible schedules (start and end times)
-Compressed work weeks
-Paid sick days
-Subsidies for dependent care, vacation or after-school programs
What Supervisors/Managers Can Do
-Put guidelines in writing and apply them to all employees
-Encourage men as well as women to be responsible family caregivers
-Respect cultural differences
-Involve workers directly in working out flexible schedules
-Support company-wide policies, rather than manager discretion
What Elected Officials Can Do
-Expand FMLA – to cover more employers, more workers, including part-timers.
-Pass paid family leave insurance programs – similar to unemployment insurance.
-Pass a minimum labor standard for paid sick days for all workers
-Pass legislation to provide flexible use of paid sick days
-Include work/family policies in the criteria required for government contractors
and tax credits
Learn more at http://9to5.org/our-work/work-flexibility/
Adapted from 9to5 Wisconsin