No One Should Lose Their Job for Taking Care of Family: New Guidance on Caregiver Discrimination Policies
Every day, millions of workers across the country make impossible choices—between earning a paycheck and caring for the people they love. For too long, outdated workplace policies and unchecked bias have penalized family caregivers, pushing people—especially women, LGBTQ+ folks, and people of color—into economic insecurity.
At the State Innovation Exchange (SiX), we believe that care is essential, and caregiving should never be a cause for discrimination. That’s why we’re excited to share our new Family Caregiver Discrimination Policy Guidance, a resource for state legislators and advocates working to end this all-too-common form of workplace bias.
What’s Inside the Guidance?
This new resource outlines:
- What caregiver discrimination looks like, from denied promotions to job loss based on caregiving responsibilities—not job performance.
- The current legal landscape, highlighting gaps in federal and state protections.
- Policy solutions, including examples of state laws that prohibit discrimination and offer job accommodations for caregivers.
- The benefits of reform, from advancing gender equity and reducing poverty to improving mental health and boosting workplace retention.
Why It Matters
Whether it’s parenting, caring for an aging parent, or supporting a loved one with a disability, most people will be caregivers at some point in their lives. But the burden of discrimination falls heaviest on those already pushed to the margins—especially Black, brown, and low-income women.
Caregiver anti-discrimination laws are a crucial step toward economic justice and gender equity. They ensure that people can show up for their families without being punished at work—and that our policies reflect the realities of people’s lives.
A Tool for Change
This guidance isn’t just a document—it’s a tool to support proactive policymaking. Legislators can use it to craft stronger protections for workers. Advocates can use it to build campaigns grounded in lived experience. And all of us can use it to reimagine workplaces where care is valued, not penalized.
Want to collaborate or learn more about how to use this guidance in your state? Get in touch with the SiX team—we’re here to support state leaders in building a future that honors both work and care.