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Amy Coney Barrett’s Confirmation to the Supreme Court Is a Disgrace & a Threat to Workers’ Rights

The confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett is a disgrace. It undermines the significance of the Supreme Court as an institution and disrespects Justice Ginsburg’s legacy. As the pandemic rages on, and millions of families struggle to make ends meet, the Senate chose to confirm an extremist and dangerous judge with a heartless disdain for this country's most vulnerable and marginalized people rather than pass a COVID relief package.

Licencia de Emergencia de COVID-19: Lo Que Deben Saber Los Trabajadores de Nueva York

¿Eres un trabajador en el Estado de Nueva York afectado por COVID-19? Si es así, usted podría ser elegible para tomar licencia por enfermedad de emergencia bajo la ley federal Familias Primero de Respuesta al Coronavirus o la ley de Licencia por Enfermedad de Emergencia del Estado de Nueva York. La ley de Familias Primero de Respuesta al Coronavirus (FFCRA, por sus siglas en inglés) otorga 80 horas de licencia pagada por enfermedad, para toda serie de propósitos relacionados con el coronavirus, a empleados a tiempo completo (y una cantidad de tiempo prorrateado a empleados a tiempo parcial).

La Ley de Días Pagados de Enfermedad y Seguridad de la Ciudad de Nueva York: Lo Que Deben Saber Los Trabajadores

La Ley de Días Pagados de Enfermedad y Seguridad de la Ciudad de Nueva York (“ESSTA” por sus siglas en inglés) le otorga a trabajadores tiempo de enfermedad que puede ser usado para recuperar de una enfermedad o lesión física/mental; buscar un diagnóstico médico, tratamiento o cuidado preventivo; cuidar de un miembro familiar quien esté enfermo o necesite un diagnóstico médico, tratamiento o cuidado preventivo; cuando el lugar de trabajo del trabajador esté cerrado por orden de un oficial público debido a una emergencia pública de salud o cuidar de un niño si su escuela o proveedor de cuidado ha sido cerrado por orden de un funcionario público debido a una emergencia pública de salud; o para atender ciertas necesidades no médicas que puedan surgir si el trabajador o un miembro familiar es una víctima de violencia doméstica, acoso sexual, acecho o trata de personas.

La Ley de Licencia Familiar Pagada de Nueva York: Lo Que Deben Saber Los Trabajadores

La Ley de Licencia Familiar Pagada de Nueva York (“NYPFL” por sus siglas en inglés) le garantiza a la mayoría de trabajadores del sector privado —incluyendo a los trabajadores a tiempo parcial — que trabajan en el estado de Nueva York el derecho a usar tiempo pagado fuera del trabajo para vincularse con un nuevo hijo, cuidar a un familiar gravemente enfermo, o cuidar de ciertas necesidades familiares de miembros del ejército, sin arriesgar su trabajo o su seguro médico.

Yes on 118: Paid Family and Medical Leave on the Ballot in Colorado

As Election Day rapidly approaches, voters across Colorado have the opportunity to approve an initiative — Proposition 118 — that will establish a statewide paid family and medical leave program. And there are several ways for you to get involved! Only 1 in 5 Coloradans have access to paid family and medical leave to care for a new child, recover from a serious health condition, or care for a seriously ill loved one. The pandemic has shown that this ballot initiative is needed now, more than ever.

A Better Balance Leads Effort to Oppose Judge Barrett’s Confirmation, A Threat to Working Families

We authored and sent a letter to the Senate expressing our strong opposition to the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett— signed by 95 groups that support the rights of workers to care for themselves and their loved ones without compromising their economic security. As we express in the letter, the rushed confirmation process currently underway is a disgrace. It undermines the significance of the Supreme Court as an institution and disrespects Justice Ginsburg’s legacy. Furthermore, Judge Barrett’s record has made clear that she is opposed to the rights of working people and unsympathetic to the needs of their families—being a successful woman and mother does not make Judge Barrett an appropriate successor to Justice Ginsburg.

NYC Paid Sick Time Law: How Recent Updates will Help Workers

Recently, New York City’s landmark paid sick time law, the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA), was amended so that workers have even more rights under the law. A Better Balance was proud to help draft and negotiate the law when it originally passed in 2013, and we were proud to have helped improve the law—including testifying before the New York City Council—through these recent amendments. The changes in NYC’s ESSTA reflect necessary updates to align with New York State’s sick time law, which will provide workers throughout the state with sick time they can use starting January 1, 2021 but also contains many additional helpful clarifications that will help workers throughout New York City.

Emergency Paid Leave: The Way Forward

Since the COVID-19 pandemic took root in the U.S. in March, federal, state, and local officials have sought to enact legislative solutions to help the nation through this unfathomable crisis. A Better Balance has been working at every level of government to advance policies, including COVID-19 emergency paid leave laws, to ensure that workers aren’t forced to choose—during a pandemic and national crisis—between their personal or family health and their jobs. Around the country, momentum continues to grow for emergency paid sick leave, and we’re proud to share a number of new victories.

Pregnant Workers in Tennessee Now Have a Clear Right to Reasonable Accommodations

Starting October 1, 2020, Tennesseans who are working while pregnant, recovering from childbirth, or who need to express breastmilk at work are protected under the law from discrimination. Tennessee law now gives workers an explicit right to reasonable pregnancy accommodations at work, so they can stay healthy and safe while continuing to earn a paycheck to support their family. Tennessee joins 29 other states in mandating fairness for pregnant workers.

The Top 5 Questions Debate Moderators Should Ask on Work-Family Issues

There are so many important questions that Presidential debate moderators should ask candidates in 2020. Chief among them must be questions centered on how to advance justice so workers can care for themselves and their loved ones, without jeopardizing their economic security. Chris Wallace, the moderator for the first Presidential Debate on September 29th, has already announced several topics including COVID-19, the economy, the Supreme Court, and race relations in America. Many of these issues directly intersect with the needs of working families and their economic security—and we urge prioritizing the following 5 key questions.
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