Family Friendly

Women workers, domestic violence survivors, and caregivers of children, aged or sick family members have an especially difficult time qualifying for unemployment benefits because of outdated eligibility rules that fail to take into account the realities of today’s working families.  A new survey of state unemployment insurance programs by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) and the Program on Gender, Work & Family at American University, Washington College of Law shows a tremendous gender gap in qualification standards for jobless benefits. (March, 2003)NELP resources are available documenting the range of state UI policies regulating work and family and proposed models for reform.

How Much Does Unemployment Insurance for Part Time Jobless Workers Cost? reports for the first time on administrative costs figures from states with part time eligibility and reviews previous cost estimates involving expanded UI eligibility for part time workers. The briefing paper presents a cost estimation methodology that should assist agencies, policymakers, and advocates considering state part time eligibility reforms. (May 2005)

Unemployment Benefits for Domestic Violence Survivors: What Are Its Costs? is a fact sheet on the actual costs experienced by nine of the 27 states that have adopted domestic violence UI laws. To date, costs have been modest, and much lower than costs predicted by opponents to these measures. (March 2005)

Why Unemployment Insurance Matters to Women & Families: This Changing Workforce Changing Economy fact sheet demonstrates how reforming the UI Safety Net would ease the pressure women face as they balance work and family. (December 2004)

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Confronting the Failure of State Unemployment Insurance Systems to Serve Women and Working Families.  A new survey of state unemployment insurance programs by the NELP and the Program on Gender, Work & Family at American University, Washington College of Law shows a tremendous gender gap in qualification standards for jobless benefits. (July 2003)

Unemployment Insurance for Survivors of Domestic Violence.  Many victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking must leave work in order to protect themselves, their families, and their coworkers. In response to intensive advocacy, 18 states have recently enacted legislation to ensure that domestic violence victims can access UI. The following resources are available:

• Fact sheet for advocates describes the issues and offers model language on domestic violence UI. (December 2003)
• States that have Enacted Domestic Violence Unemployment Insurance Programs: Impacts on the UI System. Outlines the impact of the cost of providing unemployment insurance benefits to domestic violence survivors and the impact on a state's UI trust fund.  (March 2001)
• Unemployment Insurance and Domestic Violence: Learning from our Experiences. This paper provides a background review of the experiences of the states that have enacted DVUI legislation. (May 2002)

Unemployment Insurance for Workers on Family and Medical Leave. The United States is one of only three industrialized nations that does not provide paid maternity leave.  The Bush administration has recently proposed repealing so-called "Baby UI regulations" that allowed states to provide unemployment benefits to workers caring for newborn or newly-adopted children.

• NELP's comments to proposed repeal by the U.S. Department of Labor of the "Baby UI" regulations. (February 2003)
• Background information on the original 2000 Federal regulations and efforts to establish "Baby UI" in the states.
• Link to other work and family resources.