Balancing Work and Family Responsibilities: Designing Policy Alternatives

Families of all shapes and sizes are struggling to meet work and caregiving responsibilities. While all parents have the option under law to take unpaid leave from work to meet caregiving demands, the lack of pay presents a significant barrier to most low- and middle-income families. This article begins by defining the problem faced by working families, particularly parents of newborn children, and then proposes three policy alternatives for the provision of financial assistance to help families balance their work and family responsibilities. The article concludes with an evaluation of the proposed policy alternatives and makes a final recommendation as to how the federal government could best meet the needs of working families.