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Real Wage Trends, 1979 to 2018 [Updated July 23, 2019]
From the Introduction: "Wage earnings are the largest source of income for many workers, and wage gains are a primary lever for raising living standards. Evidence that wage growth has stagnated among low- and middle-wage workers has therefore been viewed with concern and has raised questions about the patterns and magnitudes of these trends. This report addresses such questions by examining real (inflation-adjusted) wage trends over the 1979 to 2018 period. Specifically, it uses cross-sectional data collected from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a nationally representative sample of workers, to estimate real hourly wages at the 10th, 50th (median), and 90th percentiles of the wage distribution in each year, and then explores how those wage levels change over time. The sample comprises employed (full-and part-time), nonmilitary nonfarm wage and salary earners aged 25 to 64 years. Finally, all hourly wages were converted to 2018 dollars using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average (CPI-U)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Bradley, David H.
2019-07-23
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Paid Family Leave in the United States [Updated May 29, 2019]
From the Document: "Paid family leave (PFL) refers to partially or fully compensated time away from work for specific and generally significant family caregiving needs, such as the arrival of a new child or serious illness of a close family member. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA; P.L. 103-3) provides eligible workers with a federal entitlement to unpaid leave for a limited set of family caregiving needs, no federal law requires private-sector employers to provide paid leave of any kind. Currently, employees may access paid family leave if it is offered by an employer. In addition, workers in certain states may be eligible for state family leave insurance benefits that can provide some income support during periods of unpaid leave."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.
2019-05-29
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Paid Family and Medical Leave in the United States [Updated February 19, 2020]
From the Document: "Paid family and medical leave (PFML) refers to partially or fully compensated time away from work for specific and generally significant family caregiving needs, such as the arrival of a new child or serious illness of a close family member, or an employee's own serious medical needs. In general, day-to-day needs for leave to attend to family matters (e.g., a school conference or lapse in child care coverage), a minor illness, and preventive care are not included among family and medical leave categories. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA; P.L. 103-3) provides eligible workers with a federal entitlement to unpaid leave for a limited set of family caregiving and medical needs, no federal law requires private-sector employers to provide paid leave of any kind. Currently, employees may access paid family or medical leave if it is offered by an employer or, in the case of serious medical needs, finance medical leave by combining unpaid leave with short-term disability insurance. In addition, workers in certain states may be eligible for state family and medical leave insurance benefits that can provide some income support during periods of leave."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.
2020-02-19
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Labor Market Patterns Since 2007 [October 3, 2018]
From the Document: "Labor markets are highly responsive to short-and long-term economic influences. For example, total employment, the types of jobs available, their locations, and the skills sought by employers respond in various degrees to changing cyclical and structural forces. Recessions, for example, bring about increased joblessness with stronger impacts for certain worker groups, and changes in production patterns and consumers' preferences for goods and services--examples of structural forces--further influence the size and composition of employment. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this report considers how such changes have affected the U.S. labor market since 2007, examining the performance of labor market indicators like employment, unemployment, and labor force participation; changes in the types of jobs available by industry and occupation; and employment outcomes for different demographic groups. Since 2007, the labor market has been affected by factors such as the Great Recession of 2007-2009, technological innovation, and an aging labor force that have altered the mix of jobs available to U.S. workers. Such trends have been of interest to Congress because they provide information about how the labor force is evolving, the resilience or sensitivity of some jobs to recession, and the changing needs of employers, and thereby inform workforce planning, income support programs, and other potential policy responses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Labonte, Marc
2018-10-03
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Real Wage Trends, 1979 to 2016 [January 30, 2018]
"The focus of this report is on wage rates and changes at selected wage percentiles, with some attention given to the potential influence of educational attainment and the occupational distribution of worker groups on wage patterns. Other factors are likely to contribute to wage trends over the 1979 to 2016 period as well, including changes in the supply and demand for workers, labor market institutions, workplace organization and practices, and macroeconomic trends. This report provides an overview of how these broad forces are thought to interact with wage determination, but it does not attempt to measure their contribution to wage patterns over the last four decades. For example, changes over time in the supply and demand for workers with different skill sets (e.g., as driven by technological change and new international trade patterns) is likely to affect wage growth. A declining real minimum wage and decreasing unionization rates may lead to slower wage growth for workers more reliant on these institutions to provide wage protection, whereas changes in pay-setting practices in certain high-pay occupations, the emergence of superstar earners (e.g., in sports and entertainment), and skill-biased technological changes may have improved wage growth for some workers at the top of the wage distribution. Macroeconomic factors, business cycles, and other national economic trends affect the overall demand for workers, with implications for aggregate wage growth, and may affect employers' production decisions (e.g., production technology and where to produce) with implications for the distribution of wage income. These factors are briefly discussed at the end of the report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Bradley, David H.
2018-01-30
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COVID-19 Pandemic: Labor Market Implications for Women [December 8, 2020]
From the Summary: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic dramatically disrupted the labor force in early 2020 as businesses closed or reduced operations and consumer demand shifted away from in-person commerce. The swift drop in economic activity translated into widespread and massive employment loss. This report considers the implications for women, who disproportionately lost employment during the early months of the pandemic; as 2020 comes to a close, labor market data suggest that to some degree these losses may be lasting. Women's employment declined by 17.8% (13.3 million fewer women were employed) between January 2020 and April 2020. In contrast, men's employment declined by 14.3% between January and April. Employment loss (as a share of January employment) for Black women and Hispanic women has been considerable and exceeded that of other groups. Women's employment has recovered to some extent since April, with particularly large gains in October. In that month, women's employment was 6% below January values, and men's employment was lower by about 5%. However, with COVID-19 cases spiking and new business restrictions being reintroduced this fall, some of the recent employment gains could reverse in the near term. If so, women may again bear a disproportionate burden of employment losses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Labonte, Marc
2020-12-08
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Real Wage Trends, 1979 to 2019 [Updated December 28, 2020]
From the Summary: "Wage earnings are the largest source of income for many workers, and wage gains are a primary lever for raising living standards. Reports of stagnant median wages have therefore raised concerns among some that economic growth over the last several decades has not translated into gains for all worker groups. To shed light on recent patterns, this report estimates real (inflation-adjusted) wage trends at the 10th, 50th (median), and 90th percentiles of the wage distributions for the workforce as a whole and for several demographic groups, and it explores changes in educational attainment and occupation for these groups over the 1979 to 2019 period."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Bradley, David H.
2020-12-28
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Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Proposed Legislation in the 114th Congress [November 21, 2016]
From the Document: "The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA; P.L. 103-3, as amended) entitles eligible employees to unpaid, job-protected leave for certain family and medical needs, with continuation of group health plan benefits. Through the act, Congress sought to strike a balance between workplace responsibilities and workers' growing need to take leave for significant family and medical events. Subsequently, Congress added new categories of leave that allow eligible employees to address certain military exigencies stemming from the deployment of a close family member to a foreign country and to care for a servicemember with a serious injury or illness who is a close family member. The act has also been amended to expand access to certain legislative branch employees and to clarify eligibility criteria for airline flight crew. FMLA was last amended in 2009."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.
2016-11-21
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Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Proposed Legislation in the 114th Congress [February 9, 2017]
From the Document: "The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA; P.L. 103-3, as amended) entitles eligible employees to unpaid, job-protected leave for certain family and medical needs, with continuation of group health plan benefits. Through the act, Congress sought to strike a balance between workplace responsibilities and workers' growing need to take leave for significant family and medical events. Subsequently, Congress added new categories of leave that allow eligible employees to address certain military exigencies stemming from the deployment of a close family member to a foreign country and to care for a servicemember with a serious injury or illness who is a close family member. The act has also been amended to expand access to certain legislative branch employees and to clarify eligibility criteria for airline flight crew. FMLA was last amended in 2009."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.
2017-02-09
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U.S. Income Distribution: Trends and Issues [December 8, 2016]
"Income inequality-that is, the extent to which individuals' or households' incomes differ-has
increased in the United States since the 1970s. Rising income inequality over this time period is
driven largely by relatively rapid income growth at the top of the income distribution. For
example, in 1975, the average income of households in the top fifth of income distribution was
10.3 times as large as average household income in the bottom fifth of the distribution; in 2015,
average top incomes were 16.3 times as large as those at the bottom. […] Over recent decades, income inequality has also increased in most other advanced economies, although most others have more equal income distributions than the United States today and did not experience as much of an increase in inequality as the United States has recently. Households do not necessarily stay in a given quintile from year to year. A new job or profitable investment can propel a household from a lower quintile to a higher one over time; likewise, income loss can result in movement down the distributional ranks. Such movement throughout the income distribution over time is called income mobility. Mobility can be measured in different ways and over different time frames. This report considers analyses of mobility over the shortterm, the longer-term, and across generations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Labonte, Marc; Dalaker, Joseph
2016-12-08
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Guide to Describing the Income Distribution [February 5, 2015]
"The distribution of income in the United States features heavily in congressional discussions about the middle class, program funding and effectiveness, new and existing target groups, government tax revenue, and social mobility, among other topics. Recently, the level and distribution of U.S. income have also been raised in the context of broader macroeconomic issues, such as economic growth. Accordingly, Congress has sought information on the absolute and relative experience of U.S. households, the range of incomes, and their dispersion. […] This report is a guide to various measures, indicators, and graphics commonly used to describe the U.S. income distribution. It examines the complexities of income measurement, outlines important definitional and data considerations to bear in mind when using and interpreting income statistics, and reviews descriptive statistics commonly used in analysis. It also discusses the Gini index, a popular summary measure of income dispersion and an appendix presents information on additional summary indicators of income dispersion reported annually by the U.S. Census Bureau. The report provides descriptive analysis of the U.S. income distribution to illustrate various concepts and data presentation strategies. This analysis reveals broad trends, but does not provide an exhaustive study of the distribution of income in the United States. Importantly, the report does not explore potential drivers and impacts of changes to the shape and span of the distribution."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.
2015-02-05
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Workplace Leave and Unemployment Insurance for Individuals Affected by COVID-19 [Updated March 16, 2020]
From the Document: "This Insight provides a brief overview of the current availability of job-connected assistance to individuals, which may be relevant to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Specifically, this product discusses workplace leave, paid and unpaid, that may be available to workers affected by the virus, as well as unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. It also discusses policy options to amend or expand existing UI programs to be more responsive to the effects of COVID-19."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Whittaker, Julie M.; Donovan, Sarah A.; Isaacs, Katelin P., 1980-
2020-03-16
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Workplace Leave and Unemployment Insurance for Individuals Affected by COVID-19 [March 6, 2020]
From the Document: "This Insight provides a brief overview of the current availability of job-connected assistance to individuals, which may be relevant to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Specifically, this product discusses workplace leave, paid and unpaid, that may be available to workers affected by the virus, as well as unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. It also discusses policy options to amend or expand existing UI programs to be more responsive to the effects of COVID-19."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Whittaker, Julie M.; Donovan, Sarah A.; Isaacs, Katelin P., 1980-
2020-03-06
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H.R. 6201: Paid Leave and Unemployment Insurance Responses to COVID-19 [Updated March 20, 2020]
From the Document: "This Insight provides summary information on the paid leave and unemployment insurance (UI) provisions in the House-passed version of H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, including the technical corrections made by H.Res. 904."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Isaacs, Katelin P., 1980-; Whittaker, Julie M.
2020-03-20
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Job Openings and Labor Turnover Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic [March 10, 2022]
From the Summary: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and recession in early 2020 resulted in the swift and marked deterioration of national labor market conditions, with some lasting effects. While public focus has largely been on headline labor market indicators, such as the unemployment rate and job numbers, pandemic impacts are also reflected in official job openings and labor turnover statistics. As the economy recovers, reports of labor shortages in some sectors have drawn greater interest in these indicators. This report analyzes both long-term and recent trends for U.S. job openings, hires, quits, and layoffs as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) at the national and sector level."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Romero, Paul D.; Nicchitta, Isaac A.; Donovan, Sarah A.
2022-03-10
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Skills Gaps: A Review of Underlying Concepts and Evidence [March 31, 2022]
From this Document: "This report is a response to congressional requests for the Congressional Research Service (CRS) to identify, synthesize, and explain the core components of the skills gap discourse and, to the extent possible, explore and clarify evidence on the existence of skills gaps. The report acknowledges that the skills gap label is often applied to several different circumstances and conditions and explores the varied meanings associated with the term. The report also attempts to shed light on the nature and existence of varied types of skills misalignments and explores their potential policy implications. It opens with operational definitions for three terms--'skills mismatch,' 'skills gaps,' and 'skill shortages'--to help clarify some of the key underlying issues and concepts that are prevalent in the skills gap discourse, and provides a framework for discussing them more precisely. It then offers an overview of the various issues and explanations that commonly surface in the skills gap debate. The next section of the report examines commonly cited evidence of skills mismatches, gaps, and shortages, noting the strengths and limitations of key sources. Although the section notes the likelihood of mismatches, gaps, and shortages in some instances and comments on some expectations for future trends, it does not attempt to draw firm conclusions from the reviewed sources about their presence in the current economy. The report then examines potential employer responses to skills misalignments, and closes with a discussion of federal policies designed to deal with existing or potential misalignments between the skills sought by employers and those possessed by workers. This discussion devotes attention to policy approaches focused on investing in skills as well as other approaches toward addressing misalignments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Stoll, Adam; Bradley, David H. . . .
2022-03-31
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Paid Family and Medical Leave in the United States [Updated June 13, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Paid family and medical leave (PFML) refers to partially or fully compensated time away from work for specific and generally significant family caregiving needs ('paid family leave') or for the employee's own serious medical condition ('paid medical leave'). Family caregiving needs include those such as the arrival of a new child or serious illness of a close family member. Medical conditions that may qualify for medical leave generally must be severe enough to require medical intervention and interfere with a worker's performance of key job responsibilities. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA; P.L. 103-3, as amended) provides eligible workers with a federal entitlement to unpaid leave for a limited set of family caregiving needs, federal law does not require private-sector employers to provide 'paid leave' of any kind. [...] This report provides an overview of PFML in the United States, summarizes state-level family and medical leave insurance program provisions, reviews PFML policies in other advanced-economy countries, and describes recent federal legislative action to increase access to paid family and medical leave."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.
2022-06-13
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Build Back Better Act, Universal Comprehensive Paid Leave Benefit Formula (As in November 3 Text), and State-Level Distribution of Workers: In Brief [November 12, 2021]
From the Document: "On November 3, 2021, the House Rules Committee released text of a modified version of H.R. 5376, commonly referred to as the Build Back Better Act (BBBA). Title XIII, Subtitle A, of the act (titled 'Universal Comprehensive Paid Leave') proposes a new federal cash benefit for eligible individuals engaged in certain types of family and medical caregiving. The November 3 text modifies a similar paid leave benefit program proposed in an earlier version of H.R. 5376 that was introduced on September 27, 2021. This report describes the weekly benefit formula for qualified caregiving as included in the November 3, 2021, version of the BBBA. The weekly benefit formula has a progressive structure (i.e., it is designed to replace a larger share of earnings for individuals with lower earnings and a smaller share of earnings for those with higher earnings)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Huston, Barry F.
2021-11-12
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H.R. 5376 Universal Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefit Formula, and the Distribution of Workers Across Selected Earnings Groups [October 22, 2021]
From the Document: "H.R. 5376 (Title XIII, Subtitle A) proposes a new federal cash benefit for eligible individuals engaged in certain types of family and medical caregiving [hyperlink]. Benefits would be calculated on a weekly basis (paid monthly) for up to a maximum of 12 workweeks of qualified caregiving in a benefit period (generally a 12-month period). The weekly benefit amount would be equal to the product of the 'weekly benefit rate' multiplied by the ratio of the number of creditable caregiving hours in the week to the number of hours in the regular workweek (i.e., weekly benefit rate x [hours of caregiving/hours in regular workweek]). Creditable caregiving hours may not exceed the number of hours in an individual's regular workweek (i.e., the ratio [hours of caregiving/hours in regular workweek] cannot exceed one). For example, an individual who regularly works 40 hours and has annual average earnings of $72,000 could claim a weekly benefit of $922 (based on a weekly benefit rate of $922 calculated as shown below) if they engaged in at least 40 caregiving hours; the weekly claim would be $466 (i.e., ½ x $922) if they provided 20 hours of caregiving."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Huston, Barry F.
2021-10-22
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Build Back Better Act: Universal Comprehensive Paid Leave [December 9, 2021]
From the Document: "The Build Back Better Act (BBBA; H.R. 5376), passed by the House on November 19, 2021, proposes a new federal cash benefit for eligible individuals engaged in certain types of family and medical caregiving (Title XIII, Subtitle A). In particular, the act proposes to amend the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. [United States Code] §§301 et seq.) by adding Title XXII: Comprehensive Paid Leave Benefits, which would entitle eligible individuals to up to four workweeks of cash benefits in each benefit period (generally, a 12-month period). Benefits would be payable starting January 2024, and the program would be permanently authorized."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Huston, Barry F.
2021-12-09
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Overview of the Employment-Population Ratio [May 27, 2015]
"The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) defines the employment-population ratio as the ratio of total civilian employment to the civilian noninstitutional population. Simply put, it is the portion of the population that is employed. The ratio is used primarily as a measure of job holders and to track the pace of job creation, relative to the adult population, over time. The employment-population ratio has several properties that make it an attractive indicator for labor market analysis. It is easy to interpret and can be used to make meaningful comparisons across time and groups with dissimilar population size. Because it takes into account both the impacts of labor force participation and unemployment, it is a useful summary measure when those forces place countervailing pressures on employment. Like all labor market indicators, it has limits. For example, it does not distinguish between part-time and full-time employment, and it is silent on wages, benefits, and job conditions. Trends in the employment-population ratio also do not provide information about job flows (i.e., whether a drop in employment represents more people exiting employment or fewer new entrants). […] These patterns should be taken in the context of shifting demographics and other recent developments in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.
2015-05-27
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Provisions Related to Universal Paid Family and Medical Leave Developed by the House Committee on Ways and Means in Response to Reconciliation Directives [September 13, 2021]
From the Document: "The reconciliation language developed by the House Ways and Means Committee in response to reconciliation directives included in S.Con.Res. 14 includes provisions related to universal paid family and medical leave. The reconciliation language, often referred to as the Build Back Better Act, proposes a new federal cash benefit for eligible individuals engaged in certain types of family and medical caregiving (including self-care). The reconciliation language would amend the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. [United States Code] 301 et seq.) by adding Title XXII: Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Huston, Barry F.
2021-09-13
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FY2022 NDAA: Parental Leave Benefits [Updated December 15, 2021]
From the Background: "The House passed a Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (FY2022 NDAA, H.R. 4350) on September 23, 2021. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) reported a version of the bill (S. 2792) on July 21, 2021. On December 7, 2021, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees released the text of a negotiated agreement ('bicameral agreement,' S. 1605) based on the two versions of the bill. The House passed the bicameral agreement on the same day. This report discusses provisions in the FY2022 NDAA related to parental leave provisions for uniformed servicemembers and federal civilians[.]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.; Donovan, Sarah A.
2021-12-15
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FY2022 NDAA: Parental Leave Benefits [November 18, 2021]
From the Background: "Leave authorities for uniformed servicemembers are specified under Chapter 40 [hyperlink] of Title 10, and Chapter 9 [hyperlink] of Title 37 United States Code. Annual leave accrues at a rate of 2.5 days per month of active service, and individuals may accrue up to 60 days of leave or up to 120 days under certain circumstances. [...] In addition to other leave, a uniformed servicemember designated as the primary caregiver (typically the parent giving birth) is authorized [hyperlink] up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave (including up to six weeks convalescent leave) in connection with the birth of a child, or up to six weeks for adoption. Individuals designated as secondary caregivers are authorized up to 21 days of leave in connection with a birth or adoption. [...] The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020 NDAA, P.L. [Public Law] 116-92, as amended by the FY2021 NDAA, P.L. 116-283) amended the Family and Medical Leave Act [hyperlink] (FMLA, P.L. 103-3) to provide a new paid parental leave benefit to most federal civil service employees. Covered federal employees may use up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for the arrival of a new child by birth, adoption, or foster care placement and for bonding with that child. The leave is available for children born to or placed with the employee on or after October 1, 2020, and must be used within 12 months of the child's arrival."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.; Donovan, Sarah A.
2021-11-18
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U.S. Employment-Based Immigration Policy [June 22, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Each year, the United States grants lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, or 'green cards,' to 140,000 'employment-based (EB) immigrants' and their family members. LPRs can live and work permanently in the United States and can become U.S. citizens through the naturalization process. This pathway is part of a broader permanent immigration system established by federal law--as part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)--that limits annual worldwide permanent immigration to 675,000 persons. Exemptions from this limit and the granting of LPR status to qualified refugees, asylees, and others results in roughly 1 million foreign nationals receiving green cards each year. [...] This report begins by explaining the permanent employment-based immigration system, its numerical limits, and its processes. It next describes key employment-based immigration trends, including a brief review of relevant economic and demographic trends. The report then discusses several categories of nonimmigrant (temporary) workers that are intertwined with the permanent immigration system. It continues with a review of policy proposals for revising employment-based immigration, including the key findings of a 1997 congressional commission on immigration reform. The report then discusses key elements of prominent immigration reform bills introduced since 2000 that pertain to employment-based immigration. It ends with concluding observations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kandel, William; Wilson, Jill, 1974-; Donovan, Sarah A.
2022-06-22
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Potential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Income Security of Older Americans [November 24, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected many aspects of the U.S. economy. The National Bureau of Economic Research determined that the United States entered a recession in February 2020. The pandemic and related recession are likely to affect income sources, assets, and spending for Americans aged 55 and older, including both older workers approaching retirement and current retirees. [...] This report discusses how the pandemic may affect the income, assets, and non-health-care spending among older workers approaching retirement and current retirees. It also explains potential concerns about the income security of older Americans during and after the pandemic and discusses related issues for Congress to consider, including how legislation might help to improve income security among older workers and current retirees during and after the pandemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Li, Zhe; Cooper, Cheryl R.; Davies, Paul S., 1970- . . .
2020-11-24
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Families First Coronavirus Response Act Leave Provisions [April 2, 2020]
From the Document: "This In Focus examines the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA; P.L. 116-127) leave provisions, as amended by the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security] Act (P.L. 116-136), and regulations published by the Department of Labor (DOL) on April 1, 2020. The FFCRA created two new and temporary leave benefits for eligible employees: (1) emergency Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave to care for the employee's minor child whose school or place of care is closed, or whose care provider is unavailable due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency (such leave is paid leave after an initial 10 days of unpaid leave), and (2) paid sick leave for certain COVID-19 related needs. The FFCRA included tax credit provisions to help employers (including the self-employed) cover costs related to paid leave. Both paid leave benefits took effect on April 1, 2020, and apply to leave between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Shimabukuro, Jon O.
2020-04-02
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Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Federal Employee Leave [April 24, 2020]
From the Document: "The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA; P.L. 116-127) established two types of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) related leave for employees: [1] Division C of the FFCRA, titled the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA), amended the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to make FMLA leave available to an employee unable to work or telework because a child's school or place of care is closed or a childcare provider is unavailable for COVID-19-related reasons. The first 10 days of this new emergency FMLA leave may be unpaid leave, but an employer must provide paid leave, up to a possible 10 weeks, for leave taken after 10 days. [2] Division E of the FFCRA, titled the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA), requires employers to provide paid sick time to an employee unable to work or telework for specified COVID-19-related reasons, such as being subject to a quarantine or isolation order. Although the paid sick time provided by the EPSLA is available for most federal employees, emergency FMLA leave is available only for certain federal employees. This In Focus explores the differences in federal employee coverage under the EFMLEA and the EPSLA, and discusses how the EFMLEA's amendment of the FMLA created coverage for only a subset of federal employees."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Shimabukuro, Jon O.
2020-04-24
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What Does the Gig Economy Mean for Workers? [February 5, 2016]
From the Summary: "The 'gig economy' is the collection of markets that match providers to consumers on a gig (or job) basis in support of on-demand commerce. In the basic model, gig workers enter into formal agreements with on-demand companies (e.g., Uber, TaskRabbit) to provide services to the company's clients. Prospective clients request services through an Internet-based technological platform or smartphone application that allows them to search for providers or to specify jobs. Providers (i.e., gig workers) engaged by the on-demand company provide the requested service and are compensated for the jobs. Recent trends in on-demand commerce suggest that gig workers may represent a growing segment of the U.S. labor market. In response, some Members of Congress have raised questions, for example, about the size of the gig workforce, how workers are using gig work, and the implications of the gig economy for labor standards and livelihoods more generally."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Donovan, Sarah A.; Bradley, David H.; Shimabukuro, Jon O.
2016-02-05
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Paid Family and Medical Leave: Current Policy and Legislative Proposals in the 116th Congress [June 3, 2020]
From the Document: "Lawmakers in the 116th Congress have been exploring various paid family and medical leave policy options. In the House, the Committee on Ways and Means has held hearings on paid family and medical leave. In 2019, the Senate Finance Committee established a bipartisan Finance Committee working group to 'consider the issue of federal paid family leave policy.' As discussed in this report, there are several legislative proposals designed to either provide or promote access to paid family or medical leave. [...] This report provides an overview of current federal family and medical leave policies. It then discusses proposals in the 116th Congress, including proposals that would create a new social insurance program, proposals related to the federal workforce, and tax policy proposals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sherlock, Molly F.; Donovan, Sarah A.; Huston, Barry F.
2020-06-03
