Commentary: what role for the family and Medical Leave Act in long-term care policy?
The Family and Medical Leave Act provides unpaid leave but a key component is its intergenerational structure, permitting employees to take time off from work to care for an infant as well as an ill elderly parent. However, in an effort to provide paid leave, 23 of 28 states dropped the elder care provision in new initiatives introduced between 2000 and 2003. This article argues that in reforming leave policy in the future, the leave should be paid, remain intergenerational, cover more workers, and be adaptable to changing family patterns in an aging society. Also discussed is California's paid leave law, which meets these criteria.
Wisensale
Steven K
SK
School of Family Studies, University of Conneticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. Steven.Wisendale@Uconn.edu
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005190:Family; D017407:Family Leave / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035082:Federal Government; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States