The pandemic has made a bad situation worse. Some of these struggles only public policy can solve. I wrote in @HarvardBiz about the 4 federal policies all US families need:

paid leave
affordable, quality childcare
fair work schedules
living wages https://hbr.org/2020/11/the-free-market-has-failed-u-s-working-parents

Evidence to support these policies is abundant and straightforward. I cite work by a bunch of great sociologists: @dannyjschneider @KristenHarknett @pettsric @DanielCarlson_1 @CoffeeBaseball @JakeRosenfeld1 @BuddyScarboro @leahruppanner @lclandivar @LytteltonThomas @DrEmmaZang

Scholars and researchers in economics, public health, public policy, and law are in consensus on them, too. I include work by @ProfCatherine @dwschanz @heymann_jody @WaleMaye @heckmanequation @econyorch @Waldfogel @JuliaWolfe24 @janellecj @metaCoop @JoanCWilliams @YannetYannet

Expert journalism and reporting (linked) by @BrigidSchulte @VShabo @clairecm @christianna_j @RhituC @AndyKnny @allyson_renee7 @Quantanamo @lrmongeau @NPWF @BetterLifeLab @NewAmerica show that these work-family policies are commonsense, widely desired, and long overdue.

The sociologist Erik Olin Wright once wrote,

“The degree to which people are deeply dissatisfied with the existing conditions of life depends in part on whether they believe viable alternatives are possible.”

The rest of the OECD shows us that a better set of policies exists.

So let’s advocate for those alternatives—as parents, partners, workers, employers, citizens. It’s time to push politicians for real, lasting change. 86% of U.S. adults become parents. Imagine the political power of that group if they mobilized as a constituency with shared goals.