26th Oct 2006
Take Back Your Time Day
October 24th was Take Back Your Time Day. Despite writing this post ten days ahead of time, I forgot to actually post the draft. Whoops. Good thing you can take back your time any day of the week.
The main goal of Take Back Your Time Dayis to call attention to the overworked nature of life in the United States and to begin a discussion about how to address it.
The political agenda of Take Back Your Time Day follows:
Calling on our political leaders for action, we are bringing together individuals and organizations in support of the “Time to Care” public policy agenda:
Guaranteeing paid leave for all parents for the birth or adoption of a child. Today, only 40% of Americans are able to take advantage of the 12 weeks of unpaid leave provided by the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
Guaranteeing at least one week of paid sick leave for all workers. Many Americans work while sick, lowering productivity and endangering other workers.
Guaranteeing at least three weeks of paid annual vacation leave for all workers. Studies show that 28% of all female employees and 37% of women earning less than $40,000 a year receive no paid vacation at all.
Placing a limit on the amount of compulsory overtime work that an employer can impose, with our goal being to give employees the right to accept or refuse overtime work.
Making Election Day a holiday, with the understanding that Americans need time for civic and political participation
Making it easier for Americans to choose part-time work. Hourly wage parity and protection of promotions and pro-rated benefits for part-time workers.
Take Back Your Time Day is an initiative of the Simplicity Forum and the Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy at Cornell.
