A Better Balance uses the power of the law to promote equality and to ensure workers can care for themselves and their loved ones without risking their economic security. In our current political climate, families and low-wage workers across the left have been left as vulnerable as ever, and this work has never been more urgent.
But as the year comes to a close, we have many victories to celebrate! In just 2019, our work has had a major impact on millions of women, caregivers, and families. As a result of our legal efforts…
- Over 1.6 million people in Connecticut and 1.8 million people in Oregon now have the right to paid family and medical leave to bond with a new child or care for a personal or family member’s serious illness.
- New laws in Kentucky, Maine, and Oregon protect over 2 million working women against pregnancy discrimination with the explicit right to reasonable pregnancy accommodations when they need them, ensuring they can stay healthy and on the job.
- New York’s new gender equality measures benefit over 4.5 million working women in New York with new protections around equal pay, sexual harassment, breastfeeding, and more.
- Approximately 730,000 more people now have the right to take paid sick time, thanks to Dallas’ new paid sick time ordinance and more general paid time off laws in Maine and Nevada.
- In the courts, we are helping to defend an additional 6 million workers’ rights to paid sick time from state interference and corporate lawsuits challenging the laws.
- We presented to over 4,000 advocates and supporters across the country on topics including paid leave, pregnancy discrimination, breastfeeding, preemption, equal pay, and childcare.
- We provided direct support to over 1,000 callers to our free and confidential legal helpline, helping workers across the country understand and exercise their legal rights.
But there’s still so much to do! We’re gearing up for a pivotal year of fighting for justice in the workplace in 2020. Together, we can build a fair, just, and inclusive workplace for us all.
