The Department of Labor (DOL) has just released the results of two new surveys on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). These are the first surveys conducted by the DOL on the FMLA in over a decade. Released just in time for the 20th anniversary of the passage of the FMLA, the results give us significant insight into both employer and employee experiences with this pivotal legislation.

By 2014, millions of Americans will be able to access affordable health care for the first time.  ObamaCare is historic legislation that will help workers who could not get affordable care through their employers or were unable to bear the costs of self-insurance.   While there is a lot to celebrate, advocates, low wage workers  and others are concerned about some employers' claims that they will cut workers hours because of the law's focus on coverage for full-time employees.  Press reports have fueled this worry (read this latest 

Deadline: November 9, 2012

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has announced a call for proposals for the 16^th Annual Welfare Research and Evaluation Conference. The conference will be held May 29 – 31, 2013 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. 

OPRE invites proposals for individual presentations and for entire conference sessions. Proposals will be considered based on:

EINet PI Susan Lambert authored this op-ed in the New York Times on the different pressures facing salaried and hourly employees in today's labor market. She calls for a reform of the Fair Labor Standards Act to mandate minimum weekly hours.

Deadline: February 17, 2012

The LERA Program Committee has issued a call for symposia proposals (and papers) for stimulating, creative, and controversial symposia related to the theme of "New Economic Realities: Risk, Inequality and Workplace" as well as other proposals that deal with topics of current interest and the mission of the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA).