Pathways to Happiness

for communities that score low in work-life

balance

Pathways to Happiness are ways communities can increase

our w

ork-

life balance

100= happiest

Communities everywhere

score low in

time balance.

Let’s look at one aspect of Time Balance:

The balance of time we spend between work &other activities

Overall we do not feel like we have work-life balance

a score below 40 means are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied and 60 means we feel indifferently

Courageous Policies 5

sick leave laws

a few cities with sick leave laws: D.C., San Francisco, Seattle

US is the only developed country without national sick leave laws

model laws and more information: www.paidsickdays.org

vacation laws

US is the only developed country without a national vacation law

The Case for Paid Vacation from Take Back Your Time: https://www.takebackyourtime.org/the-case-for-paid-vacation/

family leave laws

US and Papua New Guinea are the only nations in the world without paid maternity leave

many of the happiest nations in the world offer paid family leave

State Family and Medical Leave Laws from National Conference of State Legislatures website: http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-family-and-medical-leave-laws.aspx

flex time and job sharing

laws that prohibit restrictions on flex time or job sharing

more forward thinking companies that allow both and prohibit repercussions

Sample Flextime Policy by Workforce: http://www.workforce.com/2002/09/05/sample-flextime-policy/

Job Sharing and/or Part Time Work Arrangements Guidelines from Manitoba Civil Service Commission: http://www.gov.mb.ca/csc/pdf/jobshare.pdf

telecommuting

if telecommuting is an option for you – take it!

laws that prohibit restrictions on telecommuting

Telework policy from California Department of Human Resources: http://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/telework-policy.aspx

babies at work

laws that prohibit restrictions on bringing your baby to work

Babies at Work Template policy (download): http://www.babiesatwork.org/Babies-at-Work%20Template%20Policy.doc

These companies decided to let employees bring their babies to work every day by Catey Hill: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-would-you-do-if-parents-brought-their-babies-to-the-office-every-day-2016-04-22

childcare + elder care

combine childcare and elder care ( “sandwich care”)

intergenerational info: www.gu.org

Seattle Preschool in a Nursing Home 'Transforms' Elderly Residents from ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/seattle-preschool-nursing-home-transforms-elderly-residents/story?id=31803817

What’s it going to take?

men’s attitude on gendera sh

ift in

shift in the way men regard and are regarded in terms of women, dating, care-giving and feeling & expressing emotions

a shift in values

language is the DNA of culture

talk, write, speak about happiness as an inalienable right

Calling on Companies

to use happiness indicators alongside profit metrics to measure the impact of these policies

make the case for community and employee well-being

and talk about it - a lot

at TEDx talks and other venues

be visible

talk, blog, share your

thoughts

experience

values

be patient and persistent

as we work together for the happiness revolution

Other policies in the Pathways to Happiness tool seriesCampaign finance reformGuaranteed basic income

Media reformMassive public transportation

Local food relianceVillage living (cities and rural)

Multi-use zoningPublic spaces

Political festivalsParticipatory governance

Participatory budgetingAnti-corruption policies

Transparency in governmentCompassion training for policeCommunity-based monitoring

Sousveillance Vote holiday

Vacation laws & Vacation IncentivesFamily & Sick leave laws

Flex time and job share lawsTelecommuting policiesBabies at work policiesIntergenerational care

Department of NeighborhoodsVolunteer programs

Mindfulness practice in schoolsSocial justice awareness raising

Mental health –priority counselingSame Sex Marriage Laws

Public child careAge-friendly cities

Loneliness awareness campaignHeritage Programs

Rural CollegesArts & Culture Policy

Lifelong Learning ProgramsWar on Adult illiteracy

Low Cost & Tuition Free College

We envision a world where all beings can thrive.

Can you envision it too?happycounts.org