The Work/Family Balance: New York's Struggle to Harmonize Domestic and Employment Spheres

Authors

Kerry Anne Hoffman, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Abstract

The note examines the challenges faced by American workers in balancing work and family responsibilities, highlighting the limitations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and advocating for the implementation of paid family leave policies. It emphasizes the need for both federal and state-level reforms to address the financial and societal barriers that prevent employees, particularly low-income families and single parents, from utilizing unpaid leave. The note also explores the progress made by states like California, New Jersey, and Washington in enacting paid family leave legislation, while noting the ongoing political opposition to such measures in New York. It concludes by urging the federal government to adopt comprehensive paid family leave policies to align with global standards and support modern workforce needs.

Disciplines

Insurance Law | Labor and Employment Law | Law | Medical Jurisprudence

Recommended Citation

Kerry A. Hoffman, The Work/Family Balance: New York's Struggle to Harmonize Domestic and Employment Spheres, 16 Cardozo J. Equal Rts. & Soc. Just. 93 (2009).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cardozoersj/vol16/iss1/6