New America’s Better Life Lab Welcomes Paid Leave Policy Expert at a Moment Ripe for Progress
Press Release
New America / Gabriella Demczuk
April 4, 2019
The Better Life Lab at New America is pleased to announce that Vicki Shabo has joined as Senior Fellow for Paid Leave Policy and Strategy. Shabo was formerly Vice President of Workplace Policies and Strategies at the National Partnership for Women & Families. She is one of the nation’s leading experts on paid family and medical leave, and has served for nearly a decade as a key advisor to federal, state and local policymakers, advocates, businesses and journalists on issues affecting women and families.
Shabo’s appointment as a senior fellow at New America comes at a time when policymakers, advocates and researchers are considering paid leave in more robust and bipartisan ways than ever before. Already this year, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have entertained multiple policy solutions and three bills have been introduced; the president’s budget request includes a proposal for the third consecutive year; multiple state legislatures are considering new policies; and nearly every declared or potential Democratic presidential candidate has staked out a position on the issue as has President Trump, teeing it up for the 2020 campaign cycle.
The following statement can be attributed to Vicki Shabo, Senior Fellow for Paid Leave Policy and Strategy for the Better Life Lab at New America:
“My vision for the not-too-distant future is that every working person in this country will have access to paid family and medical leave, no matter where they live or work, their serious family or medical need or their job. It is past time for the United States to recognize that our country will be stronger when working people and families are able to support themselves and their loved ones through life’s happiest and saddest moments. At New America, I’m thrilled to begin a new chapter of innovative analysis and strategic advocacy, spending the next year collaborating with progressive and conservative policymakers and advocates, learning from other movements and studying state paid leave campaigns and implementation experiences. Comprehensive paid leave is something that more than eight in 10 voters want and that a record number of federal lawmakers support. I truly believe the country is at a watershed moment and there’s no time to waste.”
The following statement can be attributed to Brigid Schulte, Director of the Better Life Lab at New America:
“We’re delighted to have Vicki Shabo join our Better Life Lab team to offer new, innovative and strategic approaches to the Lab’s focus on work and care. Vicki and her former colleagues at the National Partnership for Women & Families have long been allies of the Better Life Lab and it’s exciting to join forces with Vicki as we seize and expand on momentum to revolutionize the way families live and work.”