Posted by Captain Sensible on June 29, 2003 at 11:28:19:
Some of these suggestions (e.g., shorter work-weeks) are just non-starters, especially under the Bush administration. What should be in place are basic protections to ensure that people can't be fired or demoted for family-related responsbilities (e.g., tending to a sick child, paternity/maternity leave). Making significant changes in law and policy in this area is going to be a slow, incremental process. We should recall that the very existance of some recent "family-friendly" legislation is a significant breakthrough. A busniess exec in the 1950s requesting paternity leave would have laughed out of the office. Now it is becoming an increasingly common occurence. Like all real change that matters, it begins with hearts, minds and attitudes. Law and policy will follow, not lead.