This Mother’s Day Upgrade California from an A- to an A+
By Vibhuti Mehra, Labor Project for Working Families
With Mother’s Day around the corner, there has been a lot of buzz in the news and on social media networks about the status of mothers in the United States and what can be done to support moms and working families. While most reports show our nation to be dismally behind in protecting the health and economic well-being of pregnant or new and nursing mothers, we have some reason to celebrate in California. A recent state-by-state analysis finds that California is leading nearly all other states in the country because of its policies to support working parents.
The report, Expecting Better: A State-by-State Analysis of Laws that Help New Parents, released this week by the National Partnership for Women & Families is the most comprehensive analysis to date of state laws and regulations governing paid leave and workplace rights for new parents in the US. Eighteen states received grades of “F”. Most states fall somewhere in between; they are doing something to expand upon minimal federal protections for new parents, but not enough. California was one of just two states to earn a grade of “A-” for providing important protections to new parents beyond minimal federal standards. No state received a higher grade.
In California, women make up 46 percent of the workforce and 65 percent of California children live in families where all parents work. More than 508,000 California women gave birth in the 2009-2010 year alone (the most recent data available).
In 2002, concerted efforts of community groups and unions in the California Work & Family Coalition led to the successful passage of the nation’s first-ever paid family leave (PFL) insurance program, helping to ensure income for workers and families when a new child arrives or a seriously ill family member needs care. The Coalition’s efforts also led to the successful passage of a new California law (SB 299) to ensure continued health care coverage for workers on pregnancy or childbirth-related leave. The law came into effect in January 2012 and it requires California employers to continue to provide health coverage for women on maternity leave.
We have done well in California, but we can and need to do better. Our working families need the ability to care for their family members without jeopardizing their economic security and their jobs.
Studies show that paid leave promotes the health and economic security of families, reduces reliance on public assistance programs, and benefits businesses through improved worker loyalty and reduced turnover. We are proud of our PFL program and celebrate its success. But we have a long way to go in ensuring that family leave is accessible and affordable for all family caregivers.
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), enacted nearly 20 years ago, provides new parents up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, but only about half of the workforce is eligible and many cannot afford to take the unpaid leave it provides. We need to ensure that our laws are inclusive and reflect what our families really look like. The Coalition is currently working on a bill that would expand leave to include more family caregivers (AB 2039). We also need to make our workplaces free of discrimination against workers with family caregiving responsibilities. The Coalition is advocating for AB 1999 to ensure that.
Most importantly, we need to make our voices heard. So, this Mother’s Day, let’s tell California Governor Jerry Brown that we expect better.
We’re delivering California’s report card to Governor Brown. Make sure he hears — loud and clear — that you support policies that help new and expecting parents. Add your name to the report card now.
Vibhuti Mehra is the Communications & Development Director at the Labor Project for Working Families.
Don’t Balance the Budget on the Backs of Family Caregivers
By Donna Benton, PhD, Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center
Millions of Californians are providing care for a disabled, ill or ageing family member or friend. Providing long-term care for a loved one can take a serious toll on a caregiver’s finances, health and emotional well-being. Family caregivers in California have been able to receive much-needed support through the state’s Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs).
California was the first state in the nation to establish a statewide network of support organizations for caregivers. There are currently 11 CRCs throughout the state that provide information, education, respite, care planning and support for family and friends caring for adults with a chronic, disabling health conditions. The CRCs serve thousands of families and caregivers of those with debilitating disorders including Alzheimer’s, multi-infarct disease or other dementias; cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke or aneurysms; degenerative diseases which cause both physical and cognitive impairment such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, brain injury due to trauma or infection; brain tumor; and other conditions.
The majority of caregivers served by the CRCs are in the workforce, middle income and juggling job, caregiving, and other family responsibilities. The CRCs are the eldercare resource information provider for small and medium sized businesses that cannot afford employee assistance programs. And the presence of a trained and supported family caregiver is the best insurance against higher cost medical care and placement in a nursing home.
California Governor Jerry Brown has proposed the elimination $2.9 million in state funding for the CRCs. California’s contribution for explicit support of family caregivers is 50 cents per caregiver. In contrast, the individual caregiver’s economic value of assistance they provide everyday is $8, 000 – some 47 billion dollars a year in the aggregate.
Now the Governor’s budget wants to cut even this tiny level of support for caring families in the state. We need to protect this vital funding and we need your help.
Please call Assembly members with the message “Reject the Governor’s proposal to eliminate Caregiver Resource Centers” before the Assembly vote on Monday, May 7:
- Holly Mitchell, Chair (310) 342-1070
- Wesley Chesbro (707) 576-2526
- Kevin Jeffries (951) 894-1232
- Allan Mansoor (714) 668-2100
- William Monning (831) 425-1503
- Bob Blumenfield (818) 904-3840
- Jim Nielsen (530) 223-6300
The CRCs are the only program in the state that provides practical information and support every year for over 12,000 caregivers of persons with adult onset brain impairments regardless of age, income or where you live. PLEASE MAKE YOUR CALL TODAY!
Donna Benton, PhD, is the Director of the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center – a program of Partners in Care Foundation.
Walmart Workers Fight for Respect
Walmart Associate Charlene Fletcher with her husband and sons.
By Charlene Fletcher, OUR Walmart
I have always enjoyed living in California, and I specifically love Duarte because this city is very family-oriented. As a proud wife and mother of two I take great pride and value in protecting my family.
I’ve been working at Walmart for the last three years and during this time I have become quite close with many of my co-workers oftentimes referring to them as family. In fact, my husband and brother-in-law both work in my store so I am constantly surrounded by family. As a person who takes a bold stance against those who use intimidation to control others, I oftentimes struggle with how many associates are treated at Walmart. In my position as a Walmart associate, I frequently see management treat other associates with disrespect, referring to them as bodies rather than human beings. They use smart remarks to demean and intimidate them.
While Walmart has intimidated many of us, I have made a point to stand up to them. I joined the Organization United for Respect at Walmart, OUR Walmart, a group of associates working to gain the respect of our employer. I also started demanding respect from my managers and confronted them when they haven’t given it to me. Surprisingly, managers have acknowledged their wrongs and started to treat me with greater respect. Soon enough my associates came to acknowledge how much better I am treated, and I hope they will follow my example, which will give themselves confidence in taking a stand.
With all of the enormous profits that Walmart pulls in annually, one could only suggest that Walmart is choosing not to do right by our communities. It’s extremely difficult working at Walmart because they pay so little and the hours are so low. As a result, we can’t afford the company’s health care insurance so we are forced to rely on MediCal for medical insurance. Working at Walmart and being a mother of two makes things extremely hard because taking sick time and family time is really tough. I shouldn’t have to choose between taking a day off to care for my kids when they are sick or going into work because they schedule so few hours and I really need that shift so I can buy groceries for them.
When workers are mistreated, it ripples down to the valued customers also. When stores are not properly staffed with enough associates, customers are forced to wait for long periods of time when they need help on the sales floor and in overly long lines at the front check-outs. Walmart is choosing not to provide excellent customer service through sufficient staffing because the company mistakenly feels that it doesn’t have to. Its business model is based upon lowering standards of treatment toward the associates and the customers. In exchange of saving a few cents, Walmart has made mistreatment a common standard. Walmart is the only one saving money and living better at the expense of you and me.
But this is why members of OUR Walmart have decided to come together and fight for the respect and proper treatment we deserve. This year Walmart is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. Now is the perfect time for associates like me to come together and stand for change.
Walmart’s recent scandal and cover up in Mexico is one of many examples that show this company is not headed in the right direction. How low is the company willing to stoop in order to grow?
As Walmart associates are joining with members of the community, we are standing up to change our company and demand respect. Please visit www.walmartat50.org and share your story. I hope you’ll join us!
Charlene Fletcher has worked at Walmart Store 2401 in Duarte, CA for the last three years. She is a proud wife and mother of two sons.