Does FRD mean that parents and other caregivers should get preferential treatment in the workplace?
No. Caregivers should be treated just the same as any other employee, without regard to their caregiving responsibilities. If an employee would hold open the job of a man who is recovering from a heart attack or back surgery or other temporary medical condition, then the employer should also hold open the job of a woman who is on leave for childbirth. If an employer allows some employees to take time off during the week to play golf, teach, or participate in volunteer activities, the employer should also allow employees to take some time off during the week for child-related activities or to take an aging parent to the doctor. If, on the other hand, an employer has a policy that is applied to everyone even-handedly, such as providing light duty assignments only to employees who are injured on the job, the employer does not have to treat caregivers differently (such as give light duty to a pregnant employee).
Related Questions
- Are foster parents given preferential treatment if a former foster child re-enters foster care or the child becomes available for adoption?
- When all is said and done, doesn Affirmative Action really mean preferential treatment for women and members of minority groups?
- Does FRD mean that parents and other caregivers should get preferential treatment in the workplace?
