The U.S. is the only developed country in the world that does not have a national paid leave policy, and around 40 million Americans do not get paid sick days.
Those are just a few of the issues that are hindering gender equality in the workplace, according to Valerie Jarrett, former senior adviser to President Obama.
“Women are graduating from college at higher rates, and graduate schools at even higher rates, than men. So the pipeline [of qualified employees] is there,” Jarrett told Cheddar in an interview at SXSW in Austin, Tex.
“We just have to make sure that the pipeline continues into the workplace and up to the highest level within organizations. There is a glass ceiling there.”
Since leaving the White House, Jarrett is now focused on tackling these issues, and she’s drawing from her own experiences to do it.
“Part of it is my life experience as a single mom trying to balance my responsibilities in a pretty high-powered career with the most important thing to me, which is to be a good mother,” Jarrett revealed.
“That experience really informed a lot of the work that I did at the White House...and the work that I’m doing going forward.”
The Democrat supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, but despite her loss Jarrett is optimistic that things can still change. She believes in encouraging culture changes at the top of companies and actions at the state level.
“There’s so much that we can do that doesn’t involve the federal government,” said Jarrett. “States and private employers around the country, cities, are now passing...important laws.”
“We need to recognize that our voices are going to offer a different perspective and that’s important. You make better decisions when you’re talking to people who see the world from a different lens.”
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/valerie-jarretts-next-act).
Israel bombarded Gaza early Friday, hitting areas in the south where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town in the north near the Lebanese border, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil.
The Justice Department has secured a $9 million settlement with Ameris Bank over allegations that it avoided underwriting mortgages in predominately Black and Latino communities in Jacksonville, Florida, and discouraged people there from getting home loans.
Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes on Thursday, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, and the country's defense minister told ground troops to “be ready” to invade, though he didn’t say when.
Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden has made his case for major U.S. backing of Ukraine and Israel in a time of war.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that inflation remains too high and that bringing it down to the Fed's target level will likely require a slower-growing economy and job market.
Despite deepening opposition, Rep. Jim Jordan is expected to try a third vote to become House speaker, even as his Republican colleagues are explicitly warning the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump that no more threats or promises can win over their support.
Donald Trump is winning over swing state voters including in several states even leaning toward President Joe Biden, according to a recent poll by Bloomberg and Morning Consult.
A Russian-American journalist working for a U.S. government-funded media company has been detained in Russia and charged with failing to register as a “foreign agent,” her employer said Thursday.
Lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to reduced charges Thursday over efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, becoming the second defendant in the sprawling case to reach a deal with prosecutors.
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan failed again Wednesday on a crucial second ballot to become House speaker, the hard-fighting ally of Donald Trump losing even more GOP colleagues who refused to give him the the gavel.
