September 2015
EWSE Webinar Series
Did you miss our last webinar on the Social Determinants of Breastfeeding: Policies, Training, and Programmatic Strategies? Click here to watch it.
 
All of our archived webinars are located on our website here.
TED Talk on Women in the Workplace
Anne-Marie Slaughter: Can we all
Anne-Marie Slaughter: Can we all "have it all"?
Public policy expert Anne-Marie Slaughter made waves with her 2012 article, "Why women still can't have it all." But is this only a question for women? In this TED Talk, Slaughter expands her ideas and explains why shifts in work culture, public policy and social mores can lead to more equality - for men, women, all of us.
Maternity and Paternity at Work
The international Labour Organization compiled a guidebook regarding maternity at work and the relevant law and practices around the world. Its contents cover maternity leave, parental and adoption leave, employment protection, health protection, and breastfeeding arrangements at work and childcare.
Resources
Click here to view an infographic that highlights the difficulties faced by American women returning to work after they have given birth.
  
The Institute for Women's Policy Research has recently released an in-depth study titled "The Status of Women." Their interactive website displays various women's statistics including employment and earnings, reproductive rights, health, and well-being in different locations across the country. To see specific statistics for your area, visit Status of Women's website and take a closer look at where your state excels and where it has room for improvement. 

Make it Work is a nonpartisan campaign working to advance economic security for working mothers. On their website, you can learn more about important issues such as equal pay, work and family, and caregiving.
American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement provides excellent resources and tips for women's workplace wellness. Check out their articles on how to eat healthy and exercise at work, how to reduce stress at work, and heart-healthy ideas for lunch at work
  
MomsRising is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to achieve economic security for all moms, women, and families in the US. They are working for paid family leave, earned sick days, affordable childcare, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination.
  
The National Women's Law Center has worked for more than 40 years to expand, protect, and promote opportunity and advancement for women and girls at every stage of their lives - from education and employment to health care and everything in between. Their website offers a number of resources on pregnancy, parenting and the workplace.
 Women and the Workplace 
Woman in Workplace
Women's health is unique. Because they face many different types of health concerns, women need distinct forms of education and support, during work hours and after. As we celebrate Labor Day this year, we invite everyone -- employers and employees alike -- to take a closer look at their workplace policies, to know their rights, and to find ways to ensure their health both inside and outside of the workplace.
 
Maternity Leave Policy
US law does not require employers to provide paid time off for childbirth. The Family and Medical Leave Act, currently the only federal leave protection available to American workers who have babies, does not require that an employer pay a new mother for a single day of leave; it merely protects her job for twelve weeks of unpaid leave, and then, only if she has worked at her company for at least a year. 
  
According to the government's recent data, 40% of mothers are now the sole breadwinners in their households, but many employers refuse to provide reasonable accommodations that would allow pregnant women to continue working. Harvard Business Review reported that 43% of highly qualified women with children opt out of their careers altogether. While some states do have slightly more progressive laws, and 11% of private sector companies offer formal paid family leave, it is important for women to understand the specific rights afforded to them in their state.
  
Gender Wage Gap
Women comprise about 47% of the workforce in the US, but two-thirds of the low-wage workforce. According to a recent report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, female workers are making less than their male counterparts in all but one state (New York). In 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 64% of mothers with children under the age of six worked. However, University of Massachusetts sociologist Michelle Budig has found that, on average, an American woman's earnings decrease by 4% for every child that she bears; whereas, after men have kids, their earnings increase an average of 6%.
  
Work-Life Balance
Our culture still places the bulk of household and parental responsibilities on mothers. The decision to continue their careers full-time after children is a choice that is not supported by many Americans, and is even criticized as "selfish." Data indicates that women spend twice the amount of time as their partners doing household tasks while still managing a work life.
  
There is a lot of pressure for women to try to balance their over-sized workload. It is therefore important for them to find ways to maintain their emotional health. One way to counter stress is for women to enlist others within the household to help with chores. In addition, emotional acceptance of the challenges of balancing work and life also helps to alleviate pressure. Researchers from the University of Washington found that working mothers who profess that their home and office can be easily managed are at a greater risk for depression than their more realistic colleagues. 
Resources 
The National Partnership for Women & Families promotes fairness in the workplace, access to quality health care, reproductive health and rights, and policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family. Their website contains resources centered around the protection of women's health, promotion of patient- and family-centered health care, and ways to obtain paid sick days and eliminate the wage gap. 
  
The National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) is the nation's leading voice for dignity and fairness for the millions of domestic workers in the US. They work with a range of groups to change how people value care, women, families, and communities. Their website has information regarding working women's status in the US, as well as resources for workers and employers regarding workers' rights. 
  
The Healthy Women website contains great information on ways to stay healthy in the workplace. To start, check out their 10 tips for achieving a healthier work-life balance
  
Businesses across America have learned how to support nursing mothers at work. This website's online resource provides businesses with cost-effective tips and solutions for any industry setting. Search by industry to see how businesses like yours have made it work. Or search by solutions to find creative options for time and space that might work for you. Information regarding laws protecting nursing moms can be found here as well.
Featured Blog!   
Dr. Michelle Robin, author, international speaker, and Founder and CWO of Your Wellness Connection, P.A., writes a blog about workplace wellness, suggesting five ways that you can create wellness in your workplace.    

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