State Laws

Defending Local Nondiscrimination Laws, Nashville and Beyond

October 5, 2018
Defending Local Democracy, State Laws

Tennessee has been at the center of a number of recent preemption conflicts in recent years, from the state’s 2011 law that prohibited cities from enacting nondiscrimination policies more protective than the state’s law to a bill passed this year that will withhold state funding for cities with certain “sanctuary city” policies.

The Big Picture: Paid Family and Medical Leave for Military Families

October 1, 2018
National Laws, Paid Family Leave, State Laws

Our paid family leave policies too often fail to address the specific needs of military families. Having a loved one deployed is stressful enough without having to worry about your family’s economic security. Here's an overview of the law today.

Governor Brown: Sign California bill to help military families!

September 14, 2018
Paid Family Leave

If signed into law, SB 1123 will expand California’s existing paid leave law to provide paid benefits to workers so that they can take time off to address needs arising out of their loved one’s military service.

Celebrating, Protecting, and Building on Michigan’s Paid Sick Time Victory

September 12, 2018
Paid Sick Time

Last week, Michigan lawmakers passed an inclusive earned paid sick time law giving nearly 2 million hard working Michiganders the right to take time off to care for themselves or their families. Michigan joins 10 states and 34 jurisdictions that have passed similar measures in recent years.

Press Release: ABB Responds to Passage of MI’s Earned Paid Sick Time Proposal

September 5, 2018
Defending Local Democracy, Paid Sick Time, State Laws

We applaud the passage today of Michigan’s earned paid sick time law giving nearly 2 million hard-working Michiganders the right to take time off to care for themselves and their families. But the fight is not over.

Your Questions Answered: From Our New York Paid Family Leave Hotline

August 23, 2018
Paid Family Leave, State Laws

At A Better Balance, we run a free and confidential hotline answering workers’ questions about New York’s paid family leave law. We hear from a lot of New Yorkers eager to get the family leave they need and we often hear the same questions from multiple callers.

A Better Balance Launches Policy Brief Series on Paid Leave and the Future Of Work

July 26, 2018
Paid Family Leave, State Laws

Today, we launched Constructing 21st Century Rights For A Changing Workforce, a new series of policy briefs analyzing key issues in covering non-standard and precarious workers under paid leave laws. The first brief focuses on how paid family and medical leave laws can cover self-employed workers like freelancers and independent contractors.

Walmart’s Absence Policy Forces Pregnant Workers to Choose between a Healthy Pregnancy and a Pink Slip

July 24, 2018
Absence control, Pregnant Workers Fairness, State Laws

Leigha Klopp was pregnant and working at Walmart. One morning, she woke up vomiting blood. She called the store to tell them that she was going to the hospital, on the advice of her obstetrician, and that she would need to miss work. When she returned for her next scheduled shift, Walmart fired her. We filed a class-action lawsuit against Walmart on behalf of Ms. Klopp and another former Walmart employee.

Press Release: Class-Action Lawsuit Alleges Walmart’s Absence Control Policy Discriminates Against Pregnant Workers

July 24, 2018
Pregnant Workers Fairness, State Laws

A Better Balance filed a class-action lawsuit today, challenging Walmart’s “no-fault” absence control policy as systemically violating the rights of women who need leave for pregnancy-related illnesses or medical care. The lawsuit is being brought on behalf of two former Walmart employees and is the first class action brought under New York's Pregnant Worker Fairness Act.

Complaint: Hoover v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

July 24, 2018