Issue Position: Ensuring a family friendly economy

Issue Position

We have work to do to ensure state government is helping working families.

Women make up half the workforce today, but our workplace policies do not make it easy for women to balance their jobs and family responsibilities. Women make only 78 cents to the dollar men earn. But wages are just the beginning. Only 13% of Americans have access to paid family leave. Only 37% can take medical leave. Additionally, 80% of low-wage workers cannot earn a single sick day. We can do better.

The first step is a minimum wage that helps struggling families make ends meet. But it doesn't end there. We need to provide improved economic opportunity. We need to ensure that low wage workers get paid fairly, women receive equal pay for equal work, and help parents stay home with loved ones when they are sick or facing other emergencies.

Source