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Fmla Vs Vietnam

Decent Essays

The following is an exploration of how the United States family/leave policies compare and contrast to the leave policies of Vietnam. Currently, our nation is experiencing longer work days than most European countries (though less than most Asian countries) (Top Universities). In addition, addressing the fundamental need of our nation’s workforce as it relates to work/life balance is an important issue for all Americans amid considering the shift in the gender composition of the labor force late in the twentieth century. Consequently, the challenge of providing fair and equitable support of women as well as single parents in the workforce is steadily becoming a prominent concern for the masses. Moreover, the established predominance of …show more content…

In ascertaining how the FMLA legislation came to fruition requires a fundamental comprehension of the historical context whereby an existing need evolved into an identifiable issue; which, in turn set up the foundation for the FMLA. As the rate of women in the workforce expanded, so did the need for flexibility as a means to better accommodate those who experience duality in roles of acting as both a family provider along with being a family caregiver. It is the wide perception (or misperception) that the ability to balance work/family, or alternatively, forcing employees to choose between work/family, is a “women’s issue”. In turn, the legacy of gender roles asserts that, in order for women to achieve true equality in the workplace, the workplace must adjust to family needs. Following this logic requires a paradigm shift in the mindset of family complications solely classifying as issues affecting women to adopting a gender-neutral leave policy (Bovee 6). Additionally, employers’ voiced their concerns about the rising costs of employees' benefits. Given this, policy makers grappled with how to address these burgeoning tensions in addition to finding an equitable medium which would accommodate the burdens of employees as well as employers (Westat …show more content…

Although, the requirement that employers offer temporary disability programs, which cover pregnancy as it would cover any other disability, became the law with the commencement of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1979. However, the PDA does not encompass the totality of concerns the majority of women have when deciding whether or not to take leave. Next we had the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which forbids discrimination against disabled people in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities – this was also an imperative advancement for Americans in the workforce (U.S. Department of Labor DOL ). Comparatively speaking, it is necessary to acknowledge that some (but not all) employees had access to leave programs through union contracts, employer policies, or state legislation regarding leave policy. However, the coverage proposed under these stipulations was rarely as inclusive as the provisions harnessed under the

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