Twittercast on the topic of women and work
Now, those who work part-time and lose their jobs can collect unemployment benefits. This is a huge change, and will benefit many women, notes Mimi Abromowitz on Women’s eNews:
After years of facing discrimination by the nation’s unemployment insurance program, women stand to disproportionately benefit from three new rules in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Barack Obama on Feb. 17. Popularly known as the stimulus package, the law provides the states with substantial financial incentives to “modernize” their unemployment insurance systems by closing major gaps that have denied benefits to more than 500,000 people, including many women.
Here’s how women gain; in addition to a temporary hike in the amount of the jobless benefit for all workers and a new dependent’s allowance:
- Benefits will now be provided to workers who must leave their jobs for compelling family reasons, such as caring for ill or disabled family members, relocating with a spouse whose job has moved to another area, or escaping domestic violence in which the abuser follows the woman to her workplace;
- The earning test now looks at the worker’s most recent employment, instead of excluding the last three to six months, making it much easier for low-wage workers and new entrants to the work force (read: large numbers of women) to qualify for benefits.
- Benefits are now available to workers seeking part-time work which also includes many women.
Before the Obama administration liberalized the jobless qualifications, workers had to show a strong “attachment to the labor force” that was measured by wages earned and hours worked. They had to earn sufficient wages over an 18-month period that excluded their most recent earnings and could not be seeking a part-time job.
Want to talk about women and the workplace? MomsRising and Feminism 2.o are hosting a blog carnival and a twittercast on March 20 at 10pm PST.
We’ll discuss: What is work? What kind of work has value? Does the traditional definition of work — the 9 to 5 job with benefits — reflect the economic realities of today, especially for women designing their own work patterns to accommodate their families?
Participate in the Sunday night Fem2.0 twittercast, March 29, 10 PM EST, hashtag #fem2
For something that’s marginalized by the mainstream, this topic induces strong emotions and lots of conversation among every woman I’ve ever met, and many men.
Comments
About Me
Morra Aarons-Mele utilizes social media strategies to help employers, employees and communities connect. She also consults with leading organizations on how women can use the internet for professional and personal development. In her spare time, Morra enjoys blogging about women and politics. Read her full bio >>
Recent Posts
- Entrepreneurs: not who you think they are
- 10:25 am, Tuesday
- Read His Lips: Workplace Flex Not a Women’s Issue
- Blogging from the White House Forum on Workplace Flexibility
- Wolf at BestBuy- Women’s Affinity Group with Bottom Line Effect