Our Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) topic page was originally created to provide information about the federal legislation called the FMLA. However, Network Advisory Committee member Netsy Firestein pointed out that there was information about family leave in general or from a state perspective that was also included on the page. Therefore, we created a separate Family Leave topic page that focuses on state legislation and general information on family leave. Thank you, Netsy!

The second issue of our Effective Workplace Series, Flexible Work Schedules, is now available.

Sandee Shulkin will present a paper entitled “The State of the States: Trends in Policies for Working Families” at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work 2006 Policy Conference, June 16-19, 2006. The theme of the conference is “Shifting the Tide: Changes for Policy Practice.”

Be sure to keep checking “What’s New in Work and Family” for the latest work and family links. Here are two recent announcements:

Sara Miller Llana of The Christian Science Monitor discusses the recent Massachusetts proposal that would give workers twelve weeks of paid leave to care for newborn children or sick family members.

To read “Paid-Leave Proposals Gain Steam,” click here.

John Tagliabue of The New York Times reports on the recent trend towards part-time and temporary jobs in Europe.

To read “4 Hours a Day, 3 Days a Week,” click here.

Best regards,

Marcie, Karen, Judi, Tina, and Sandee