Oxfam: Unseen Work, Unmet Needs: Exploring the intersections of gender, race and ethnicity in unpaid care labor and paid labor in the U.S.
Proposal Overview
Name: Oxfam: Unseen Work, Unmet Needs: Exploring the intersections of gender, race and ethnicity in unpaid care labor and paid labor in the U.S.
Year: 2024
Sponsoring Organization and Key Author(s):
Sponsoring Organization:
Oxfam is a global confederation of charities fighting inequality, poverty, and injustice.
Key Authors:
Annette Jacoby, Anamika Sen, Gina Kelley, Alejandra Montoya-Boyer, Rebecca Rewald, and Kaitlyn Henderson
Program Details
Overview: This report explores disparities in unpaid care and the inequities in the paid labor force. It focuses on the disproportionate challenges women of color face in both paid and unpaid labor. The report offers policy recommendations based on research findings to address these inequities.
Major Legislative Recommendations
Expand/Enhance Caregiver Programs
Medicaid
Recommends increased federal funding for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services
Financial Supports for Family Caregivers
Tax Credit/Deduction for Caregiver Expenses
Recommends making the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit fully refundable; providing monthly payments; including mixed-status families with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers; and reaching more families who need and benefit from tax credits. It recommends a broad and holistic care credit not tied to employment or income.
Workplace Supports
Expanded Family Medical Leave
Recommends creation of a national sick day standard. Supports the Healthy Families Act to create a national legal right for working people to earn up to seven days of paid sick time per year. Recommends closing gaps in the Family and Medical Leave Act by implementing the Job Protection Act and the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act. This would establish a federal program allowing workers to take up to 12 weeks off for eligible needs.
Protections Against Discrimination
Recommends including antiretaliation measures in paid leave programs.
Other
Recommends flexibility for caregivers in the workplace, including fair and flexible scheduling, and remote and hybrid work options.