EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

[Patricia Hendel - cont.]

Of course, if the law is not communicated—if people don’t know
about it—it won’t do a whole lot of good. We also have to have
regulations that don’t thwart the intent of the law.

We’ve already done the same process on the subject of sexual
harassment. Supervisors in the public and private sectors had to learn,
because they didn’t want lawsuits against them.

■ Domestic violence has become a national problem that affects
all aspects of our daily lives.

We’ve had some success in the registration of convicted sex
offenders, stalking laws, prohibition of discrimination against victims
(as can be the case with car insurance), hand gun restrictions.... We’re
finally finding some aspects of child support enforcement. Almost
every state has something on child identification.

■ Health is a burgeoning legislative issue, although the national
health plan sidetracked it and prevention still is not a priority.

HMO ’ s and other efforts toward cost-effective health care policy
are being driven by things other than medical care. Some insurers are
saying, for example, before women can have a С-section, they have to
go through regular delivery for some undefined number of hours.

Women also are concerned about the portability of health
insurance and about having dependent children covered.

This kind Oflegislation isn’t adopted in a vacuum. It’s usually in
response to a publicly acknowledged need.

Beginning legislation does not always solve the problem. Law-
making is a dynamic process. Laws frequently need to be modified.
And that takes public understanding. So, we have to create an informed
public by sharing information on how things get done.

■ The U.S. Department of Labor has initiated a Working Women
Count—a benchmark study of female employees’ concerns. More than
1,600 groups helped distribute the survey, which generated more than
250,000 responses. The replies established a strong consensus.

The respondents indicated they are concerned about improved pay
and economic security. Women worry about adequate health and child
care. They want training and the flexibility to balance work and family.

The Bureau now has developed an honor roll, recognizing
employers who are addressing one of these issues in the workplace.

■ Concern about such issues has expanded to the world, as
exhibited in last year’s U.N. Women’s Conference in Beijing.

Issues can vary from point to point. In every case, however, an
active, informed public is the best vehicle to face the challenges.

Only through communication, outreach, education and grassroots
participation—including voting—can we address the issues now
affecting work and family.