Leanne Ricchiuti, who was pregnant at the time, struggled to find day care options for her son. Despite speaking to 40 different day care centers, there were no available spots and wait-lists were more than a year long. The situation put Ricchiuti’s job at risk and she faced the difficult decision of choosing between continuing her career or staying home to care for her child. The pandemic has only exacerbated this issue for working parents, with many experiencing the challenge of juggling work and child care responsibilities. Advocates and policy experts are pushing for more affordable and accessible day care, inclusive paid parental leave, and flexible work schedules to prevent another “she-cession” and encourage more women to remain in the workforce. The American Rescue Plan provides opportunities for child care grants and tuition assistance, and the proposed American Families Plan could provide even more relief with $225 billion toward guaranteed 12 weeks of paid leave and flexible work schedules.
Changes Needed for Today’s Working Parents
