Advancing the rights of working families.

The Need for Fairness in the Workplace

Many workplace norms and laws were developed over half a century ago, when a different workforce model and a different family model prevailed. In 1960, 70% of families had at least one parent at home full-time. Today, 70% of children are growing up in families headed by either a single working parent or two working parents. A Better Balance is working to change laws and policies to better reflect the way Americans live and work today.

Flexible Work Arrangements

Nearly half of all workers in the U.S. are responsible for the care of a child or elder relative but few have access to flexible work arrangements to help them manage those responsibilities. Nearly 80% of workers would like to have more flexible work options and would use them if there were no negative career consequences. Existing law does little to help these workers and we can do better.

Part-Time Work

Telecommuting and the Right to Request Flexible Work

Breastfeeding at Work: Break Time and Support for Nursing Mothers

ABB Fact Sheets and Reports

**Relevant Testimony**
	Testimony before the New Hampshire House Labor Committee on Workplace Flexibility	February 2009
	Testimony on Family-Friendly Work Policies before the New York City Council	October 2008

Pregnancy & Caregiver Discrimination

Discrimination against workers because of their family responsibilities is all too common in today's workplaces. An employee with an excellent track record tells her boss she is pregnant and suddenly starts receiving negative reviews. A young man whose mother is fighting cancer is fired after asking for a part-time schedule at work so he can care for her. A new mother is passed over for an opportunity in favor of a male coworker because her boss doesn't want a woman with a baby representing his business. We need better laws and stricter enforcement to prevent such unfair treatment and remove this obstacle to caregivers' success at work.

Family Responsibilities Discrimination

Pregnancy Discrimination

Families @ Work Legal Clinic

Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnant Women

**Relevant Testimony & Comments**
	Comments Submitted for EEOC Meeting on Pregnancy and Caregiver Issues	February 2012
	Testimony on Maine Act to Protect Family Caregivers	April 2009
	Testimony on New York City Proposed Int. No. 565-A	December 2007

Fair Pay

Mothers are the breadwinner or co-breadwinner in two thirds of American families. Twenty-four percent of children in the U.S. live in single-mother-lead households with one breadwinner. Women's earnings are critical to their families' economic security and yet women earn, on average, only 77 cents for every dollar their male counterparts are paid. Working mothers and their families deserve fair pay.

ABB Fact Sheet on Fair Pay

Wage Secrecy in New York and a Legislative Memo in Support of a NY Wage Secrecy Bill

Fair Pay for Federal Contractors

Equal Pay in New York State Contracting

**Relevant Testimony**
	Testimony before New York State Assemblymembers about Fair Pay in NY	December 2011
	Testimony before the New York City Council about Wal-Mart	February 2011
	Testimony before the New York City Council Women's Issues Committee	June 2010