Paid Family Leave

August 16, 2013

A decade ago, Lisa Belkin wrote “ The Opt Out Revolution ,” a New York Times Magazine piece that became instantly famous. It profiled women who had chosen to leave high-profile careers to stay home full-time, arguing that they had opted out because (to quote one) “women’s brains light up...

MomsRising Together

Joan C. Williams

Paid Family Leave

August 15, 2013

The fact that only 11 percent of employees in the United States are provided any kind of paid family leave by their employers makes me angry. Kind of like that angry cat in the picture. We can change this! For the first time ever, the United States Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a...

MomsRising Together

Ruth Martin

Paid Family Leave Open Flexible Work Family Economic Security

August 15, 2013

Having the time to bond with a new baby is crucial for many reasons. One reason why those first weeks after a baby is born are so vital is the importance of the breastfeeding relationship. However, for many mothers, that relationship is soon disrupted – as many as a quarter of mothers return to...

MomsRising Together

Liz Ben-Ishai

Paid Family Leave Paid Sick Days Family Economic Security

August 13, 2013

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s press conference last month announcing the House Democrats Economic Agenda for Women and Families, “When Women Succeed, America Succeeds,” ended with Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s speech highlighting the importance of the Agenda to small businesses. Congresswoman...

MomsRising Together

Liz Ben-Ishai

Paid Family Leave Paid Sick Days Family Economic Security

August 12, 2013

Co-written with Katherine Ullman. So you or your partner is pregnant. There are plenty of important decisions to consider: what will be the little one’s name? Will you share the name with friends and family or keep it a secret? What about gender? Do you want to know? Do you want others to know?...

MomsRising Together

Joan C. Williams

Paid Family Leave

August 5, 2013

In this country, paid family leave has been nothing more than a sleep-deprived fantasy for most new parents. But now there's some exciting news! MomsRising members have been sending storks to the Hill all year and it's paying off! The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a budget bill...

MomsRising Together

Ruth Martin

Paid Family Leave Open Flexible Work Health Care

August 1, 2013

Here’s a spin on National Breastfeeding Month: activism! August is National Breastfeeding Month and August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week , which is a time to advance breastfeeding as part of the country’s larger healthcare agenda. Throughout the month, MomsRising.org will collaborate with other...

MomsRising Together

Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka

Paid Family Leave

July 23, 2013

Expectant mothers risk losing their jobs, their babies, or both when employers deny them pregnancy accommodations at work - accommodations as modest as the right to carry a water bottle due to persistent pregnancy-related urinary tract infections or the right to take more frequent bathroom breaks...

MomsRising Together

Joan C. Williams

Paid Family Leave Health Care

July 12, 2013

Great Britain's royal baby has a title but no birthday yet. Due any moment, the third-in-line to the throne already has thrust Prince William and Kate Middleton's marriage philosophy and parenting practices into the limelight, where they will remain for nearly two decades. William and Kate promise...

MomsRising Together

Nanette Fondas

Paid Family Leave Open Flexible Work Family Economic Security Blog Carnivals

July 10, 2013

Today's the last day of my paternity leave, so I wanted to reflect a bit on the experience. When I tell people I'm on a 4-month leave, the initial response is typically surprise that my company offers such a generous benefit. Facebook's paternity leave policy is unusual, but I hope it becomes less...

MomsRising Together