[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 210 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 210

 Expressing the sense of the Senate that supporting a balance between 
   work and personal life is in the best interest of national worker 
   productivity, and that the President should issue a proclamation 
       designating October as ``National Work and Family Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                July 31 (legislative day, July 21), 2003

   Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Alexander, Mr. 
  Lugar, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lautenberg, Ms. Landrieu, Ms. 
 Murkowski, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Sarbanes, and Mr. Schumer) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

                           September 5, 2003

                        Considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate that supporting a balance between 
   work and personal life is in the best interest of national worker 
   productivity, and that the President should issue a proclamation 
   designating October of 2003 as ``National Work and Family Month''.

Whereas the quality of workers' jobs and the supportiveness of their workplaces 
        are key predictors of job productivity, job satisfaction, commitment to 
        employers, and retention;
Whereas there is a clear link between work-family policies and lower 
        absenteeism;
Whereas the more overworked employees feel, the more likely they are to report 
        making mistakes, feel anger and resentment toward employers and 
        coworkers, and look for a new job;
Whereas employees who feel overworked tend to feel less successful in their 
        relationships with their spouses, children, and friends, and tend to 
        neglect themselves, feel less healthy, and feel more stress;
Whereas 85 percent of U.S. wage and salaried workers have immediate, day-to-day 
        family responsibilities off the job;
Whereas 46 percent of wage and salaried workers are parents with children under 
        the age of 18 who live with them at least half-time;
Whereas job flexibility allows parents to be more involved in their children's 
        lives, and parental involvement is associated with children's higher 
        achievement in language and mathematics, improved behavior, greater 
        academic persistence, and lower dropout rates;
Whereas a lack of job flexibility for working parents negatively affects 
        children's health in ways that range from children being unable to make 
        needed doctors' appointments, to children receiving inadequate early 
        care, leading to more severe and prolonged illness;
Whereas nearly one out of every four Americans--over 45 million Americans--
        provided or arranged care for a family member or friend in the past 
        year;
Whereas nearly all working adults are concerned about spending more time with 
        their immediate family; and
Whereas as an increasing number of baby boomers reach retirement age in record 
        numbers, more and more Americans are faced with the challenge of caring 
        for older parents: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) it is the sense of the Senate that--
                    (A) reducing the conflict between work and family 
                life should be a national priority; and
                    (B) the month of October of 2003 should be 
                designated as ``National Work and Family Month''; and
            (2) the Senate requests that the President issue a 
        proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
        observe ``National Work and Family Month'' with appropriate 
        ceremonies and activities.
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