Blog Archive

From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

10 Things to LOVE About the Affordable Care Act

March 21, 2012 | Health Care | Reproductive Health

This week, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) turns two. Let's not mince words: This law is the greatest advance for women's health in a generation.

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Sarah Crawford, Director of Workplace Fairness

From the desk of ... Sarah Crawford

Supreme Court Erodes State Workers' FMLA Rights

March 21, 2012 | Judges and Supreme Court | Work and Family

By a narrow majority, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Coleman v. Maryland Court of Appeals has eroded the right of millions of state workers to take job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) when faced with a serious illness, injury, or pregnancy.

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From the desk of ... Sarah Crawford

Home Care Workers Deserve Minimum Wage and Overtime Protections

March 1, 2012 | Workplace Fairness

Every day, nearly three million home care workers in the United States help the elderly and people with disabilities get the daily assistance they need.

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From the desk of ... Eva Powell, Health IT

How do Consumers View Health IT?

February 17, 2012 | Health Care > Health Information Technology (IT)

We are so excited to be able to share with you the results of an unprecedented study, commissioned to examine consumer views on health IT!

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From the desk of ... Judith L. Lichtman

Time for Concrete Action to Stop Discrimination Against Pregnant Women and Caregivers

February 15, 2012 | Workplace Fairness

Today, I was honored to join a distinguished group of scholars, advocates, government officials, and legal and policy experts to discuss an issue of critical importance to working women and families in this country: discrimination based on pregnancy and caregiving.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

Widespread Inequality in the Restaurant Industry Means Hardship for Women Workers

February 13, 2012 | Work and Family | Workplace Fairness

There are more than 10 million restaurant workers in the United States. The majority are women. These are the hosts and hostesses who greet us, the waiters and waitresses who serve us, the bartenders who fill our drink orders, the attendants and dishwashers who clean up after us, set up our tables, and more.

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

Through the Looking Glass on Contraceptive Coverage

February 6, 2012 | Reproductive Health

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Birth control is basic health care for women.

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Vicki Shabo, Director of Work and Family Programs

From the desk of ... Vicki Shabo

19 Years

February 5, 2012 | Work and Family

That's how long it's been since the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was signed into law.

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From the desk of ... Vicki Shabo

Legislation America Needs

February 3, 2012 | Work and Family

On Wednesday morning, at an event sponsored by the Center for American Progress, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) described for the first time sweeping new legislation that he plans to introduce this spring: the Rebuild America Act.

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From the desk of ... Eva Powell, Health IT

Consumer Advocates Connect on Inaugural Webinar

February 3, 2012 | Health Care > Health Information Technology (IT)

We had a fabulous inaugural conversation for state-based consumer advocates working on health IT implementation this week!

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From the desk of ... Alice Leiter, Health IT

Calling All State Advocates

January 30, 2012 | Health Care > Health Information Technology (IT)

Welcome. We are pleased to introduce this new blog — the first step in the process of creating an online community for state-level consumer advocates.

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From the desk of ... Vicki Shabo

New Study Documents Troubling Trends in Retail Industry

January 24, 2012 | Work and Family

Retail is the nation's second-largest sector and one of the fastest-growing industries in the country.

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

After 39 Years, Let's End the War on Women

January 22, 2012 | Reproductive Health

It's been 39 years since the U.S. Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade - but the battles over access to the full range of reproductive health care services still rage on.

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From the desk of ... Vicki Shabo

New Study Makes a Strong Case for a National Paid Leave Policy

January 19, 2012 | Work and Family

At a time when working families are struggling, the economy is in trouble, and the need for family friendly workplace policies is high, a groundbreaking new study demonstrates that paid leave is good for working families, businesses and our economy.

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From the desk of ... Kirsten Sloan

Defending Progress on Health Care

January 17, 2012 | Health Care | Judges and Supreme Court

In March, the United States Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) - the health reform law enacted in 2010.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

At Stake: A Fundamental Protection for Millions of Workers

January 12, 2012 | Work and Family

It may be the single most important law ever passed to address the needs of workers trying to meet their work and family responsibilities.

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From the desk of ... Sarah Crawford

Supreme Court to Decide State Workers' Rights Under FMLA

January 11, 2012 | Work and Family | Workplace Fairness | Judges and Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral argument today in Coleman v. Maryland Court of Appeals - a case that could erode the right of millions of state workers to take job-protected, unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) when faced with a serious illness.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

Toward a More Family Friendly Nation

January 4, 2012 | Work and Family

It's not literally the 99 percent versus the privileged few, but it's one of the most noteworthy divides I have seen.

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From the desk of ... Sarah Crawford

Improving Access to the FMLA Through Improved Forms

December 14, 2011 | Workplace Fairness

Nearly 20 years ago, passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was a major milestone in the effort to help families meet their work and family needs.

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