February 17, 2011 • 11:29 am 1
The Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce is collecting stories about paid sick days, and they want to hear from you. Your contribution will help more people understand why paid sick days are so important in today’s workplace.
It’s easy to do, anonymous (if you want) and will only take a couple of minutes — click here to learn more and get started.
Filed under: paid sick days, work and family, business, health, productivity, Seattle
February 16, 2011 • 12:09 pm 1
Cross-posted from the Washington Family Leave Coalition:
Since the late 1980′s, Washington’s Family Care Act (FCA) has helped ensure workers can use their paid sick days or other paid time off to care for a sick family member. For the most part, it’s worked well — but the FCA doesn’t give state agencies authority to stop employers from retaliating against workers who use the FCA.
Lawmakers are now considering two bills to create modest enforcement provisions for the FCA. We need your help to get this legislation passed and delivered to the Governor’s desk!
It’s easy: just call the state legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and say you’d like to leave a message for your state Representatives and state Senator. (You’ll need to give your street address for your message to get to the right office.) If you prefer, you can also look up your legislators here and send each of them an email.
The best message is in your own words – but here are a few talking points you can use:
Filed under: health care, paid sick days, work and family, family, health, paid sick days, Washington, work
February 4, 2011 • 12:29 pm 0
Declining Fortunes of Children in MIddle Class Families
Continued state budget cuts are lowering future prospects for the children of middle class families, according to a new report issued by The Foundation for Child Development (FDC), aptly titled “The Declining Fortunes of Children in Middle Class Families“.
According to the FDC, over the past 25 years, public education and health programs have stepped in to provide essential services for middle-class children that their parents cannot afford or take for granted. In particular, researchers have identified access to health insurance and enrollment in early learning programs as particularly critical for children’s long-term well-being and success.
Given those findings, it is ironic to see our state seriously considering proposals to end the Basic Health Plan, stop childcare subsidies for working parents, and carve billions out of K-12 education, while leaving millions in corporate tax exemptions on the books.
As the middle class erodes, we’ve seen the income gap between the richest and poorest families widen, and prospects for job security and retirement security lost. I’ve often heard this generational reversal of fortune blithely referred to as “the new normal”. But I think Stan Sorscher (also an EOI Board Member) got it right when he called that phrase “some goofy hypnotic code for giving up on opportunities for our children and accepting diminished futures.”
The FDC report is a stark reminder that the choices we make today will define the “normal” for future generations. We have the power to create the future we want for our children and grandchildren by creating a foundation of strong educational, health and social support systems that make it possible for everyone to prosper.
Filed under: tax and budget, Child, children, Education, health, Health insurance, middle class
January 13, 2011 • 2:18 pm 2
Which public investment will pay off in a better future for our state?
A $23 million cut in King County health programs approved by the Legislature last month means layoffs in Maternity Support Services, a program that improves infant survival and health by providing a range of services to 30,000 women and babies.
Meanwhile a sales tax exemption for out-of-state coal worth…you guessed it, $23.7 million…is still on the books.
Voters’ voices make budget choices – you can contact your legislators here.
Filed under: health care, tax and budget, health, king county, voters voice budget choice
Budget and Taxes Social Security Family-wage Jobs Government
State Economy Paid Sick Days Paid Family Leave
