ABSTRACT
To understand the importance of leave policy access and to see the inequity in current United States policies and practice, it is necessary to know the history of leave development, and the international scene for current leave of absence policies. This chapter presents the complicated history and the current status of leave policy from which the glass handcuffs emerge. While the concept of taking extended time away from work is not new, the development of leave policies in the United States has made it very difficult for many women and most men to step out of their jobs for a time, even when serious health or caregiving needs arise. Advocates for leave reform argue that the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) does not do enough for employees. The FMLA was the first national policy in the United States that aimed to balance work and family conflict.
