Family-Time Changes Ahead

Incoming president Barack Obama has laid out a family-work agenda that is likely to ease anxiety for many employees -- but to leave them confused in the short term.

Obama has called for federally-mandated sick days and an expanded family leave policy. Whether his historic proposal will become reality is hard to say -- but anyone with family-leave needs will want to follow the drama in 2009.

Here are the president-elect's three main proposals, according to the Wall Street Journal:

• Employers with 15 or more employees required to offer seven paid sick days a year.

• Employers with 25 or more employees offer up to 12 weeks unpaid leave to tend to family, including children's school needs.
  

• States to receive $1.5 billion in incentives to start paid family-leave programs.

Employees, and the HR and corporate wellness coaches who look out for them, should stay on top of changes to Federal and State law in 2009. One source for information is nationalpartnership.org
And of course, stay tuned to get updates that effect you and your employees right here.