On the recordNovember 30, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1598, which expresses support for designating October as National Work and Family Month. Over the past 40 years, the family dynamic has changed. Women comprise nearly half of the United States workforce. For most working women, their responsibilities do not cease at the end of the workday but continue on at home as most women serve as their families' primary caregivers. Beyond caring for their own families, working women often take on additional caregiver responsibilities by caring for their parents and/or their spouses' parents. But it isn't just women who face the challenge of balancing work and family, Mr. Speaker. More than ever before, men have taken on a greater share of family responsibilities in addition to their workplace duties. With working families taking on extra hours to make ends meet during these tough economic times, the need for a work-life balance is more crucial than ever. Employers who afford their employees with policies that help to balance work and family reap substantial benefits, ranging from improving an employer's bottom line, increasing retention rates, decreasing absenteeism, and improving productivity and morale.
