For Indiana employees interested in workplace issues, the following items should be noted: President-Elect Obama plans to double funding for after-school programs, expand the Family Medical Leave Act, provide low-income families with a refundable tax credit to help with their child-care expenses, and encourage flexible work schedules.

• Expand the Family and Medical Leave Act: Currently, the FMLA covers only employees of employers with 50 or more employees. The Obama administration will expand it to cover businesses with 25 or more employees. They will expand the FMLA to cover more purposes as well, including allowing workers to take leave for elder care needs; allowing parents up to 24 hours of leave each year to participate in their children's academic activities; and expanding FMLA to cover leave for employees to address domestic violence.
• Encourage States to Adopt Paid Leave: As president, Obama will initiate a strategy to encourage all 50 states to adopt paid-leave systems. Obama intends to provide a $1.5 billion fund to assist states with start-up costs and to help states offset the costs for employees and employers.
• Protect Against Caregiver Discrimination: Working moms, especially those with family obligations, often are discriminated against in the workplace. Obama states he will enforce the recently-enacted Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines on caregiver discrimination.
• Expand Flexible Work Arrangements: President-Elect Obama will create a program to inform businesses about the benefits of flexible work schedules; help businesses create flexible work opportunities; and increase federal incentives for telecommuting.

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