National Partnership for Women & Families

Blog Archive

From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

America's Working Parents Deserve Paid Leave - Take Action Today!

September 26, 2011 | Work and Family
The arrival of a new child should be a time of pure celebration. Sadly, for millions of working parents without paid leave in this country, the joyous occasion can be short-lived.

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Judith L. Lichtman, Senior Advisor

From the desk of ... Judith L. Lichtman

Remembering a Major Step toward Equality in the Courts

September 25, 2011 | Judges and Supreme Court
Thirty years ago today, women and girls in every corner of the country watched with pride as Sandra Day O'Connor raised her right hand, took an oath and became the first woman justice on the Supreme Court.

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Christine Bechtel, Vice President

From the desk of ... Christine Bechtel, Health IT

In the Works: New Patient Rights

September 15, 2011 | Health Care | Health Care > Health Information Technology (IT)
Patients and families may soon have a great opportunity to have more control over - and make improvements in - the health care they receive.

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Vicki Shabo, Director of Work and Family Programs

From the desk of ... Vicki Shabo

Victory in Seattle!

September 12, 2011 | Work and Family
It is an exciting day for Seattle workers. After a tireless campaign that brought together workers, business leaders, lawmakers and advocates like never before, Seattle City Council members voted 8-1 in support of a strong paid sick days standard for the city.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

Fair Pay: What a Difference a Union Makes

September 2, 2011 | Workplace Fairness
On Monday, the country will celebrate Labor Day - a national holiday established to honor the strength of America's workers and its unions. All workers who are in unions benefit from higher wages, better benefits, retirement security and more - but the union difference for today's women is especially striking, particularly when it comes to fair pay.

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Vicki Shabo, Director of Work and Family Programs

From the desk of ... Vicki Shabo

Connecticut Poll: Paid Sick Days are a Voting Issue

September 1, 2011 | Work and Family
Connecticut recently became the first state to pass a law offering many workers the right to earn paid sick days.

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Sarah Crawford, Director of Workplace Fairness

From the desk of ... Sarah Crawford, Paid Sick Days

The Supreme Court's one-two punch: Class actions in the wake of Wal-Mart v. Dukes and AT&T v. Concepcion

August 31, 2011 | Workplace Fairness
With the recent decisions in Wal-Mart v. Dukes and AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion, the Supreme Court weakened the ability of individuals to band together in class action lawsuits to challenge corporate misconduct.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

Keeping the Dream of Full Equality Alive

August 26, 2011 | Workplace Fairness
It's Women's Equality Day - a commemoration of the 19th Amendment and women's steady march toward equality, a tribute to how far we have come, and a reminder of the work still to do.

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Vicki Shabo, Director of Work and Family Programs

From the desk of ... Vicki Shabo

The Good, the Bad and the Hope for Breastfeeding Rights

August 22, 2011 | Work and Family
Roughly four million women give birth in the United States every year - and most choose to breastfeed (74 percent). After all, the nutritional value of breast milk is well documented. Numerous studies show that breastfeeding protects mothers and children from a range of acute and chronic health conditions. But with two-thirds of today's working women returning to work within three months of giving birth, the lack of supportive workplace policies and laws is forcing too many nursing mothers to quit breastfeeding early - or never start.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

Crisis Averted. Now What?

August 2, 2011 | Health Care
The deal is done. Both chambers of Congress have now voted, and President Obama has signed an unprecedented bill into law to avert the immediate catastrophe of a government default. But the country will be living with the consequences of this deal for decades to come.

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Judith L. Lichtman, Senior Advisor

From the desk of ... Judith L. Lichtman, Paid Sick Days

220 Reasons That Paid Sick Days Campaigns Will Succeed

July 22, 2011 | Work and Family
Momentum and support for paid sick days policies in this country are growing like never before.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness, Repro Health Watch

In Science v. Politics, Science Scores a Win

July 21, 2011 | Health Care | Reproductive Health
A milestone for women's health is finally within reach: On Tuesday, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) identified the full range of FDA-approved contraception and birth control options as preventive health services - and recommended that they be made available to women without additional fees or co-payment under health care reform.

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Lee Partridge, Senior Health Policy Advisor

From the desk of ... Lee Partridge

Cause for Hope in North Carolina

July 12, 2011 | Reproductive Health
Infant mortality rates are widely used in this country and internationally as a barometer of the quality of a community's, or a nation's, health care system - and with good reason.

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Vicki Shabo, Director of Work and Family Programs

From the desk of ... Vicki Shabo, Paid Sick Days

New Report Quantifies Paid Sick Days' Value to Working Families

June 30, 2011 | Work and Family
For working families today, paid sick days can mean the difference between staying afloat and being unable to afford basic expenses like food and transportation - and this lifeline comes at minimal or no cost to businesses.

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Sarah Crawford, Director of Workplace Fairness

From the desk of ... Sarah Crawford

Wal-Mart v. Dukes: A Supreme Blow to Corporate Accountability, the Class Action Vehicle - and Justice

June 27, 2011 | Workplace Fairness
The Supreme Court's decision in Wal-Mart v. Dukes was deeply disappointing for those who care whether workers can vindicate their statutory rights.

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Judith L. Lichtman, Senior Advisor

From the desk of ... Judith L. Lichtman

The Pursuit of Justice is Not Over

June 20, 2011 | Workplace Fairness
Today, the Supreme Court ruled that the women of Wal-Mart cannot proceed as a group as they challenge the company's discriminatory pay and promotion practices. It was a disappointing day for the women involved in the case and for all of us who are fighting for fair pay and fair opportunities for advancement for America's women. But today's decision is not the end.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

Connecticut Makes History

June 4, 2011 | Work and Family
Today is a great day for workers in Connecticut, and a day that offers hope to tens of millions of workers throughout the country who cannot now earn paid sick time, no matter how long they hold a job or how solid their work record is. After an impressive campaign, steady political leadership and strong advocacy from supporters in the state, Connecticut's General Assembly has passed the first statewide paid sick days law.

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Portia Wu, Vice President

From the desk of ... Portia Wu

Time to Support Older Americans and their Caregivers, Not Undermine Them

May 31, 2011 | Work and Family

Respect your elders. Many of us have been given that advice by our parents, grandparents, teachers and mentors for as long as we can remember. So why don't our public policies better address the needs of our country's seniors and their families, and why do some lawmakers seem poised to dismantle the policies that older Americans rely on?

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

Seniors in America Today: "Not a Pretty Picture"

May 12, 2011 | Health Care | Health Care > Campaign for Better Care

Earlier this week, I was privileged to be a part of Volunteers of America's third annual discussion on aging issues. I was on a panel with Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post co-founder and editor-in-chief; Mike King, National President and CEO of Volunteers of America, Inc.; and Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, AARP Executive Vice President of Multicultural Markets and Engagement. Our topic: How our nation's public policies affect older Americans, especially women.

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Vicki Shabo, Director of Work and Family Programs

From the desk of ... Vicki Shabo

It's Time for a Family Friendly America

May 6, 2011 | Work and Family
Mother's Day. It's a day when we shower the mothers in our lives with well-deserved compliments and gifts that show our appreciation. The heartfelt thanks, expressed in cards, flowers and chocolates, certainly have their place, but mothers today also need something much more lasting - policies that let them meet their own needs and those of their families.

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