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Join Us for Our Spring Celebration!

We invite you to join us on Monday, May 4th, 2020, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at the beautiful Manhattan Penthouse to honor Jennifer Hyman, CEO, Rent the Runway, Chai Feldblum, partner at the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning journalist, and Natasha Jackson, Community Advocate.

Court Grants Preliminary Approval to $14 Million Settlement Agreement with Pregnant Workers from 2013-2014

Pregnant workers represented by co-counsel A Better Balance, Mehri & Skalet, PLLC and the National Women’s Law Center announced that on November 14, 2019 the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois granted preliminary approval to a settlement in the amount of $14 million in the matter of Borders v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., No. 3:17-cv-0506 (S.D. Ill.). The settlement will pay for claims by pregnant workers at Walmart that they had requested but were denied workplace accommodations between March 19, 2013 and March 5, 2014.

A Better Balance Applauds House Committee’s Bipartisan Approval of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Today, the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act reached a historic milestone with bipartisan approval by the House Committee on Education and Labor. This news comes on the heels of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's official endorsement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act yesterday. The bill will likely now proceed to the House floor for a vote. 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Pregnant Workers Fairness Act As A Pro-Business, Pro-Economy Bill

Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced its support for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, recognizing that this commonsense legislation is a win-win for the health and economic security of families as well as businesses.  We joined with our partners and the U.S. Chamber in a joint letter announcing their  endorsement, calling the PWFA “a balanced approach to ensuring that pregnant employees have the maximum opportunity to stay in the workplace, which is critical to the economic security of America’s women and families.” The letter states that the PWFA will remedy extensive confusion, providing businesses with clarity regarding their obligations to accommodate pregnant workers. 

2020: A Year of Improvements to Paid Family & Medical Leave Laws Nationwide

As 2020 ushers in a new decade, it brings with it many changes to paid family and medical leave laws throughout the U.S.—a cause for celebration for workers and their families. Washington State’s paid family and medical leave program officially went live on January 1. Workers can now receive benefits for up to 12 weeks for medical leave or family leave, up to a total of 16 weeks of benefits in a 52-week period. Nearly all employees in the state are covered, including both public and private sector workers, and self-employed workers can opt in to coverage.

As the PWFA Heads into Markup on 1/14, Tell Your Representative to Co-Sponsor the Bill!

Now is a critical moment to show your support for pregnant workers. We’ll be in D.C. on Tuesday as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act heads into a crucial next phase—with the committee debating the bill and deciding whether to report it to a floor vote.  Will you get in touch with your Representative today and ask that they sign on to co-sponsor the PWFA? 

Major Steps Forward for Paid Family & Medical Leave in Tennessee!

Since 2015, we've worked closely with advocates and lawmakers to push for a comprehensive paid family & medical leave program in Tennessee. On Wednesday, we joined State Representative Gloria Johnson in Knoxville to announce the Tennessee Family Insurance Act, a bill to grant paid family and medical leave to all workers in the state. Under this proposal, employees would contribute a small amount each month to a paid family and medical leave insurance fund.

The PUMP Act Would Extend Protections to Millions of Nursing Parents

The PUMP Act will strengthen the 2010 Break Time for Nursing Mothers Law, extending the law’s protections to 9 million employees who are currently uncovered due to the law’s inclusion in the Fair Labor Standards Act, including nurses, teachers, and software engineers. The PUMP Act will also provide employers some additional clarity about employees who need to take breaks to express breastmilk for their babies.

The Demands of the Holiday Season Take a Toll on Working Families

With the holiday season underway and Christmas and Hanukkah around the corner, shopping for gifts and spending time with loved ones is top of mind for many. Unfortunately, as we’ve been hearing from our helpline callers, this time of year comes with increased hardship for many, especially for low-wage workers.

We Condemn the EEOC’s Decision to Roll Back Its Stance Against Forced Arbitration

In an alarming development for workers’ rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted this week to rescind its longstanding position that forced arbitration clashes with our nation’s civil rights laws. Forced arbitration—the practice of employers forcing employees to sign away their right to take their claims to court—allows corporations to get away with violating their workers' rights.
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