July 9, 2004 - Kids, Summer Camp is About Financial Independence
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What---you expected the pounding surf? No, this summer kids in sunny SoCal are giving up the beach for "Money Camp." A non-profit based in Santa Barbara offers weeklong day camps where kids learn how to become "financially independent." As Work and Family correspondent Sarah Gardner reports, this is capitalism for kids, California-style.

June 28, 2004 - Family Leave a Reality at Last
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Many California workers are about to get a new employee benefit. New for the U.S. -- workers in 139 other countries already receive PAID family leave. The new California law goes into effect Thursday. It guarantees 6 weeks of partially paid leave per year to care for a new child or seriously ill family member. Sarah Gardner has the details.

June 21, 2004 - A Mom's Resume Gap
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Mothers trying to re-enter the workforce often struggle to explain the time they took off from their paid careers to focus on their families. But as Sarah Gardner reports, there's a growing industry of experts available to help them get back into a job.

June 11, 2004 - Clergy Couples and the Almighty Dollar
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This weekend several seminaries across the country hold commencement ceremonies: Northwest Baptist Seminary in Tacoma, Washington, Bethel in St Paul, Minnesota and the world's largest multi-denominational seminary, Fuller -- in Pasadena, California. Many of those graduates will go on to become ministers. A high calling that doesn't offer the highest earthly compensation. When there are two spiritual leaders in the same marriage, the duties often double--while the pay often doesn't.

June 1, 2004 - (Rural Health) Help Wanted
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A little-known program that brings doctors to remote areas of the United States expired today. The so-called "J-1" visa waivers allow foreign doctors who've trained in the U.S. to stay past their visa limits -- if they agree to practice in a rural area. Since 9/11, though, doctors who've applied for J-1 waivers have had a tougher time getting them... and now legislation to re-authorize the program is stuck in committee. Sarah Gardner has our report.

May 24, 2004 - Educating Homeless Youngsters
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It's been a tough year for many public school districts, especially those struggling to meet the standards of the federal "No Child Left Behind" law. By now, most schools have a fairly decent idea of what the government expects them to do. But that doesn't mean it's easy. Take the part about homeless kids. As Sarah Gardner explains, tracking down homeless school-age children can be a full-time job.

May 20, 2004 - Personal Finance - Retirement Tips
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If you're over fifty, you're probably counting down the years before you can retire. What would happen if you worked a couple years more than you've planned? Not a pleasing thought, I know. But personal finance expert Chris Farrell says working longer actually means you have to save less for retirement.

May 19, 2004 - You Want It? You Pay It ...
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There are a lot of people who would like to see new government programs. But who wants to pay for them? From Phoenix, reporter Mark Brodie reports on a unique approach being suggested by Arizona lawmakers to fund full day kindergarten in the state’s public schools.

May 19, 2004 - Working for that Minimum Wage
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Few proposals are as popular as raising the minimum wage. Every four years for some curious reason, congressional Democrats try to raise the minimum wage and congressional Republicans try to stop them. Here we go again. Democrats have introduced a bill to raise the minimum to $7 an hour, from its present $5.15. Some believe it's the time for politicians to stop posing... is overdue.

May 17, 2004 - Marriage Training
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President Bush was in Topeka, Kansas marking the 50th anniversary of the landmark Brown desegregation decision today, when he offered a comment on another issue regarded by some as one of civil rights. The President renewed his call for a constitutional ban on gay marriages. This, as gay and lesbian couples in Massachusetts became the first in the U.S. to be legally wed. That's not the only politically contentious issue surrounding marriage in this election year. Remember the president's plan to promote marriage among heterosexuals? From Marketplace's Work and Family Desk, Cheryl Glaser learns that states aren't just flirting with the idea.

May 7, 2004 - Direct Selling, Mom?
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Psst. Sunday. We hope you've made reservations. Moms across the country are getting ready for a well-deserved dinner out. The flip side: there's a good chance that Mother will be will be picking up the tab. As if Mom doesn't have enough to do already -- direct selling companies are trying to recruit the woman of the house.

May 5, 2004 - Take the Money, or the Days?
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How'd you like to get this memo from the boss: Great work! Now pick a reward: 2 days off, or 2 days of extra money? Well that's the "tough choice" for Procter and Gamble's 90,000 workers worldwide. May be good for morale -- but is it good business?

May 4, 2004 -- The Cost of a Wedding
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If you're one of those people who believes that one white cake, two rings and a sprinkling of relatives is enough to make a wedding... then you're more than a little behind the times. The average American wedding now costs around $22,000... that's about five times as much as one cost 20 years ago. Two professors at the University of Illinois think they know what's happened. From the Marketplace Work and Family Desk, Sarah Gardner reports.

April 16, 2004 -- Searching for a Sitter
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Around our office, the buzz about what picture to see this weekend goes to "Kill Bill 2". That is, if we can scratch up enough spare cash for the tickets and popcorn and the sitter. Someone's got to take care of the kids. Alas, we can't help you with the tickets and popcorn. But at the Marketplace Work and Family Desk, Steve Henn has discovered what might be a workable solution for Moms and Dads in need of a night on the town.

March 31, 2004 -- Unemployment and Childcare Don't Mix
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On Tuesday, Democrats in the Senate passed a bill to provide $6 billion to help low income families pay for childcare. Smart election year move, some would say. Today, prominent Senate Democrats introduced a bill they knew would polarize the Senate, and likely derail the extra money for childcare. Steve Henn asks, do they want the childcare money or don't they?

March 30, 2004 -- Navy Families and Rotation Fatigue
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Recently at the Naval Station in Norfolk, there were hugs and kisses as servicemen and women were reunited with family and friends. The USS Bataan came home from duty in the Persian Gulf region. But the reunions may be short. Once upon a time the Navy kept only three carriers at the ready. Under the new "Fleet Response Plan", it's up to eight. As Sarah Gardner reports, some Navy spouses are worried about the toll the rotations may take on the home front.

March 25, 2004 -- Prescription discount cards
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When during the course of a conversation with an elderly parent or grandparent the talk turns toward the high cost of living, including what they're paying for prescription drugs, you should know you're not alone. Politicians are keenly aware of that particular senior complaint. As part of last year's Medicare reform law, the feds are set to start issuing drug discount cards this June. And on Thursday Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the list of companies that will be offering them.

March 26, 2004 -- The "New" Educational Testing
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Americans must really believe getting a college education helps improve their job prospects. Evidence: 300,000 high school students spent Saturday in one of America's most grueling coming-of-age rituals -- the SAT. Many had some practice filling in bubbles. The SAT used to be one of the biggest standardized tests in the country. But as Steve Henn tells us, this year federal law will require more than 25 million school kids to take a series of state-sanctioned exams.

March 22, 2004 -- Health clubs courting parents and teens to join up
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Many parents are telling their kids to put down their joysticks and join them at the gym. Less than a quarter of American teens genuinely exercise every day and nearly 20 percent are overweight. As Work & Family Desk correspondent Sarah Gardner reports, therein lies a business opportunity: The battle of the bulge has many health clubs marketing themselves to parents who need to keep their kids busy while they try to stay in shape themselves.

March 17, 2004 -- The mystery of the disappearing tuition money
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State-sponsored college savings plans are supposed to help parents save for future tuition costs by allowing them to put away money tax-free. But you may be surprised to learn that the dollars you thought you were getting in these tax free plans are going up in smoke. Now, as Stephen Henn reports from the Work & Family Desk, the SEC is launching a task force to figure out the mystery of disappearing tuition money.

March 17, 2004 -- Commentary - We need to be less macho about our jobs
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Looks like the over-55 crowd landed nearly a million new jobs in the last 12 months. Why? They're more experienced, more productive and don't job-hop much. Work & Family Desk commentator Joe Robinson says it's because American workers have a macho “can-do” attitude -- but it's one that comes with a price tag. "Americans define themselves through the work they," says Robinson. "But it's a false self-esteem…And it's come to bite us back."

March 15, 2004 -- A look at the economics of learning to share resources
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Where did the idea of private property come from? Even toddlers seem to grasp the concept of "possession." While none of this gets to the historical origin of property rights, when Marketplace Work & Family correspondent Stephen Henn went on paternity leave, he came back with a head full of observations about the origin of playground property rights -- and whether American capitalists are caught in a state of arrested development.

March 12, 2004 -- Truant students' parents being hauled off to court
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Officials in Milwaukee's school district say half of its students are "habitual truants." The city has decided enough's enough, so it's hauling parents of truant kids into court and threatening to arrest those who miss their dates with the judge, as part of an intensified effort to address the problem. But as Marketplace Work & Family correspondent Sarah Gardner reports, it may take more than a big stick to get kids to stay in the classroom.

March 10, 2004 -- Students fight against textbook price hikes
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A campaign to cut the price of college textbooks is gaining steam. While textbook prices have jumped 40 percent in the past six years, students and even some professors are fighting back. And, some legislators are pressing the industry for change, too. But as Sarah Gardner reports from the Marketplace Work & Family Desk, students shouldn't expect to see low, low prices at their college bookstore anytime soon.

February 10, 2004 -- Soldiers to start spending twice as long stationed at same base
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We've all heard self-described "army brats" talk about their peripatetic childhoods, moving from base to base while mom or dad served in the military. Well, some army kids may be sticking around in the same place a bit longer. The U.S. Army has announced troops will remain at their first army base for six to seven years, instead of the usual three. The Army hopes military families will be happier. Marketplace Work & Family Correspondent Sarah Gardner has the story.

February 9, 2004 -- "Unplanned parenthood" has its price for grandparents
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More than 2.4 million grandparents are raising their grandkids in this country. They've suddenly found themselves packing school lunches and attending parent-teacher conferences -- all over again. This new parenthood takes an emotional and financial toll on the elderly, many of whom are living on limited incomes. As Marketplace Work & Family Correspondent Sarah Gardner found out, the added expenses sometimes mean retirement dreams have been put on hold or shattered altogether.

January 29, 2004 -- A proposal to have schools share parents' private donations
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The head of the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District, in California, would like to take a little money from the richer schools in his district and give it to the poorer ones. Affluent parents have become increasingly aggressive fundraisers, and schools in poor neighborhoods just can't compete. Work & Family correspondent Sarah Gardner reports on a seaside community's attempt to level the playing field.

January 28, 2004 -- The hurdles same-sex couples face when trying marry
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Last week, Ohio banned same-sex marriage, evidence that gay unions remain a sensitive issue this election year. Regardless, same-sex couples around the country are struggling to gain the benefits of a marriage license, but they are doing it at the attorney's office. Problem is, no amount of legal paperwork can override the federal tax code or Social Security rules. From Marketplace's Work & Family Desk, Jim Rosenberg reports.

January 14, 2004 -- Bush to spend $1.55 billion to encourage wedded bliss
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The Bush administration wants you to get married and stay that way, and it's planning to spend big to promote such behavior. The idea is that family stability through marriage generates prosperity -- but are these campaigns an effective way to combat poverty? Some say it would be better to spend the money on increasing child-care assistance to low-income families. From Marketplace's Work & Family Desk, Jeff Tyler reports.

January 14, 2004 -- Getting a family review at home
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A tip from the private sector for those of us trying to hold our families together: Give yourself a job review -- at home. A book coming out tomorrow recommends a workplace technique called "360 Degree Feedback." The system rates the boss by asking all co-workers for an evaluation. From the Work & Family Desk, Sarah Gardner reports that some execs are now getting "360'd" at home.

December 11, 2003 -- Tech modifies the arranged marriage
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The concept of finding a date on the Internet has gained legitimacy over the past few years. A growing niche of the $200 million online personals business caters to young professionals looking to find mates of similar ethnic and religious backgrounds in the U.S. or abroad. From the Marketplace Work & Family desk, Catherine Fenollosa reports on ways technology is modifying even that most traditional of transactions: the arranged marriage.

December 4, 2003 -- Seniors divorcing to maximize health benefits
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There is a lot of talk about the sanctity of marriage in America, but when elderly couples need nursing home care, many face an almost unfathomable choice: They can stay true to their vows and face impoverishment together -- or they can get a divorce. From Marketplace's Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn explains how Medicaid rules have created one whopper of a marriage penalty for the senior set.

October 9, 2003 -- "Move away" cases stress mom, dad and kids
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Family courts across the country are struggling with an avalanche of "move-away' cases, situations in which the custodial parent, most often the mother, wants to move away toward better jobs or schools. The non-custodial parent, most often the father, fights the move, worried about preserving his bond with the kids. From the Marketplace Work & Family Desk, Sarah Gardner reports on the state of an issue close to home.

September 3, 2003 -- Duroville: a virtual third-world city for farm workers
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In Spanish, the word duro means hard. But Duro is also the name of a man who runs an infamous trailer park in the Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs, that houses poor farm workers. Due to its appalling conditions, many are working to close the park. But some who live there do so because they can't afford to go anywhere else. From the Marketplace Work & Family desk, Jeff Tyler went into the desert in search of a place called "Duroville."

June 13, 2003 -- Supervolunteer Parents
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The school year's almost over, and many teachers are looking forward to a break from all the hard work. So too, though, are all those moms and dads that volunteer at their kids' school. If you've ever had a child, you know there are volunteers -- and then, there are, for lack of a better word, supervolunteers. As Sarah Gardner reports from Marketplace's Work & Family Desk, for these people, their "school work" is like a second career -- except unpaid.

June 11, 2003 -- Welfare & Family Leave
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In 1996, a bipartisan federal commission on the Family and Medical Leave Act discovered something surprising: 1 in 8 women supported themselves on family leave by going on public assistance. The Family and Medical Leave Act requires large employers to offer new parents up to 3 months of leave, but it's unpaid. Today, welfare has changed, but the options for new working parents haven't. From Marketplace's Work & Family Desk, Stephen Henn reports.

June 4, 2003 -- The "Anti-overtime Bill?"
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On Thursday, House Republicans have scheduled a vote tomorrow which would allow workers to voluntarily trade overtime pay for paid time off. But many Democrats and union leaders argue that if this bill passes it would amount to a pay cut for thousands of workers that depend on overtime to make ends meet. From Marketplace's Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

May 29, 2003 -- Loss of Child Credit
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The debate continues on whether higher income Americans will receive more than their fair share of benefits under the new tax bill. Under the new rules, many Americans will see their child tax credit go from $600 to $1,000. But in a last minute change to the bill, congressional leaders decided not to extend those benefits to families surviving on minimum wage. From the Marketplace Work & Family Desk, Jeff Tyler reports.

May 20, 2003 -- Paying For It
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Colleges are facing a harsh, new fiscal reality in this down economy. From Marketplace's Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports on how the current economy is creating trouble for parents planning for their children's' future.

May 9, 2003 -- Commentary - Moms, Not Soldiers
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Roughly half of U.S. soldiers are young parents with kids of their own back home. As Work & Family commentator Ann Crittenden says, the all-volunteer military couldn't get by without them. But while the military offers exceptional, heavily subsidized childcare, Crittenden says single-parent soldiers should have the choice to stay out of combat, if they so desire.

May 8, 2003 -- Domestic Violence & Business
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A new study by the Centers for Disease Control estimates that abuse against women by their intimate partners costs victims $1.8 billion dollars every year in lost wages and time away from work. But believe it or not, the costs of domestic violence to employers is even higher. From the Marketplace Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

May 5, 2003 -- Child Abuse Hearings
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You might not expect a bunch of hard-nosed cops or prosecutors to spend time lobbying Congress for more money for soft-focus social programs like parent coaching, but today, members of a group called "Fight Crime: Invest in Kids" swarmed over Capitol Hill asking for an increase in funding for federal programs aimed at preventing child abuse. From the Marketplace Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

May 1, 2003 -- Military Family Finances
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Bush's announcement that major fighting is over in Iraq will be a relief to the families of U.S. soldiers there, although many have months to wait for a reunion. Some military families are finding life on the home front full of emotional -- and budgetary -- challenges. From the Work & Family desk, Sarah Gardner has the story.

April 22, 2003 -- Kids and Mental Healthcare
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According to a report released this week by the General Accounting Office, every year thousands of American parents voluntarily turn over custody of their children to social service agencies or the police because there is no other way for them to get their kids the mental healthcare they need. From Marketplace's Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn has more.

April 8, 2003 -- Women's Salary Study
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It's an increasingly common dilemma for working women who want to have children: Do they have babies early on, when there are fewer risks involved, or wait until they can provide a better income for their family? Cynthia Ingle reports that new data adds arguments to both sides of the equation.

April 4, 2003 -- Twentynine Palms Families
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Twentynine Palms, Calif., is home to the largest Marine Corps base in the U.S., and Marines and their families account for 70 percent of the population. When a war comes, local businesses brace for hard times. During the Persian Gulf War, dozens closed down after military spouses went home to family. Now, the Marines want the spouses to stick out the war here. From the Marketplace Work and Family desk, Sarah Gardner reports on how this military town is trying to keep Marine families from deserting their desert town this time around.

April 3, 2003 -- Unemployment Numbers Jump
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While Wall Street has been fixated on news about war in Iraq, the U.S. job market has suffered significant setbacks. The Department of Labor has announced that new claims for unemployment insurance soared during the first week of the war to their highest level in 50 weeks. Not a good omen for Friday's monthly unemployment figures. From the Marketplace Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

March 7, 2003 -- Commentary - Leadership By Women
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Mothering doesn't require a degree in rocket science -- but it does require leadership skills. A study by Wellesley College Center for Women shows that women leaders compare their skills to mothering, and that they learned these skills from their time at home. The study says that moms saw power in their ability to lead warmly, to focus on the positive, and to take care of their subordinates. From the Marketplace Work & Family Desk, commentator and leadership expert Robin Gerber says mothers are "building leadership one child at a time."

February 13, 2003 -- White Collar Unemployment
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Compared to past recessions, the unemployment rate isn't as bad. That is, unless you're a college-educated professional. From the Marketplace Work & Family Desk, Stephen Henn has more.

February 12, 2003 -- Family Business Ethics
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This week's probe into Enron caps what has been a year of scandal in big business. It's turned off some folks from investing in big business. But is a small mom and pop operation more ethical? From the Work and Family Desk, Reporter Sarah Gardner takes a look.

February 3, 2003 -- Surviving the Tragedy
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As NASA combs east Texas looking for clues as to why Columbia broke apart on re-entry, the families of the shuttle's crew are now forced to confront wrenching questions, such as how they will face the future emotionally and financially now that a loved one is gone. From the Work & Family Desk, Marketplace's Stephen Henn reports.

January 15, 2003 -- Costly Rural Childcare
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If you're driving home from work, you may have contemplated how much time spent in the daily commute -- time that might otherwise be spent with the kids. That's a big part of the appeal of family farming, where work and family life are often one in the same. But there's a very dangerous side to keeping children that close. From Marketplace's Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

January 8, 2003 -- Adelphia Compensation
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The troubled cable company Adelphia has hired a new group of executives charged with turning the company around. Critics, however, say their large pay package is just another sign of where Adelphia is going wrong. From the Marketplace Work and Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

December 24, 2002 -- Pregnant Job Seekers
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As if finding a job isn't hard enough in the soft economy, imagine if you were pregnant. From the Marketplace Work & Family desk, Steven Henn reports on this most challenging of job searches.

December 23, 2002 -- Toys from Tots
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Marketplace's Jocelyn Ford in Beijing and reporter Sarah Gardner in Los Angeles track toys made in China by children under sweatshop conditions, all the way from the factory floors in China to the store shelves here in America.

December 10, 2002 -- Pension Reform
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The Bush administration is releasing a new set of rules to make it easier for workers to take their pensions with them if they leave the company. From Marketplace's Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports the change could cost older workers billions of dollars, even as businesses save money.

December 5, 2002 -- Domestic Law
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The American Law Institute has come out with a report recommending an overhaul of family law across America, and some of their recommendations are sure to draw the ire of social conservatives. Stephen Henn reports. The American Law Institute has come out with a report recommending an overhaul of family law across America, and some of their recommendations are sure to draw the ire of social conservatives. Stephen Henn reports

November 27, 2002 -- Free Market Principles and Public School
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An element of market choice could be coming to a public school district near you. It's part of new federal rules to fix failing schools around the country. From the Marketplace Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

November 14, 2002 -- Getting Your Children into the "Right" Preschool
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The latest story today culled from the e-mails of Citigroup stock analyst Jack Grubman is that Grubman may have helped his twins get into nursery school by saying more positive things about a stock. If true, this story says something about analysts' conflicts of interest, and about the difficulty of getting into the right school. From the Marketplace Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

October 25, 2002 -- Senator Paul Wellstone and Children's Rights
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The news riveting this part of the country is not the markets, but a plane crash that took the life of Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone. Wellstone, his wife Sheila and daughter Marcia were also killed, along with four others, when his turboprop went down in the northern part of the state. The cause of the crash isn't clear. Wellstone was also known as an ardent defender of the rights of children. Stephen Henn has more from the Marketplace's Work & Family desk.

October 18, 2002 -- Pensions and Protecting Retirement Plans
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The story of how employees at Enron watched helplessly as their 401(k) plans melted to just a small puddle is as familiar as a fairy tale. We all remember how the rank and file were prevented from selling their company's stock by a management-imposed lockout. But despite the public outrage, Congress never quite managed to pass a pension reform bill. Tomorrow, there's word that President Bush will use his bully pulpit -- and his Saturday morning radio address -- to remind Americans that Congress -- specifically, the Democratically controlled Senate -- failed to act. And, he will announce a couple of new rules aimed at protecting retirement plans. From Marketplace's Work and Family Desk, Stephen Henn reports.

October 17, 2002 -- Unscheduled Absenteeism
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"I can't make it in today." There's evidence that phrase costs companies $789 a year per employee. "Unscheduled absenteeism" is what they call it. Stephen Henn has more from the Marketplace's Work and Family Desk.

October 14, 2002 -- Government Wasted Children's Health Insurance
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Across the country, there are close to 9 million American kids without health insurance. So, you wouldn't expect a federal program that provides free insurance to kids from low-income families to have an enormous kitty of unspent cash. But as Stephen Henn reports from the Marketplace Work and Family Desk, state governments failed to spend more than $1.2 billion from the federally subsidized Children's Health Insurance Program. Now, all that unspent federal cash is reverting back to Uncle Sam.

September 5, 2002 -- Dead Beat Dads
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More and more single moms are turning to private collection companies to extract delinquent child support payments from "dead beat dads." The women have turned to private agencies because federal programs that do the same thing for free have failed them. But as Marketplace correspondent Stephen Henn reports, the private firms don't deliver either.

September 2, 2002 -- The Big Squeeze
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More and more companies are seeing the positive impact of family-oriented benefits on employee morale and overall company health. But as corporations face hardships in the current economic downturn, family-friendly perks, such as onsite day care, paid family leave and adoption reimbursement, may get squeezed out. Marketplace correspondent Stephan Henn has the story.

August 29, 2002 -- Paid Family Leave in California
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California is close to becoming the first state to offer workers family leave with pay. From Marketplace's Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

August 28, 2002 -- Family Medical Leave
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A former Maryland State trooper named Kevin Knussman has been awarded more than $600,000 in damages for being unfairly denied family medical leave. He's the first person in the country to sue successfully using the federal law on this. From the Marketplace Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn has more.

August 16, 2002 -- Under-Funded Pension Plans
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The crisis in corporate confidence and the swooning stock markets have left many workers counting on their 401ks feeling a bit weak in the knees. All of a sudden those old dinosaurs called "defined benefit pension plans" are starting to look pretty darn good. But from the Work & Family desk, Marketplace's Stephen Henn reports that more than half of all public pension plans are under-funded.

August 14, 2002 -- Family Planning in Downturn
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How have families adjusted their spending and financial planning in the midst of a downturn? How are they handling expenses like buying a house, a car or paying for college? Marketplace's Stephen Henn reports on how some families are developing unusual ways to make it through tough times.

July 17, 2002 -- Working Mothers and Child Development
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A study released today by two Columbia University professors found that kids develop more slowly if their moms work full-time during the first year of a baby's life. From the Marketplace Work and Family Desk, Stephen Henn reports.

June 27, 2002 -- A Market-Oriented Education System?
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The Supreme Court's ruling on public school students vouchers may signal a more market-oriented era for education. From Marketplace's Work and Family Desk, Stephen Henn reports.

June 24, 2002 -- Voices of Discrimination
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One man who has the rare ability to mimic a variety of voices and accents is using his gift to fight housing discrimination. From the Marketplace Work and Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

June 20, 2002 -- Obese Children
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Battling a child's obesity is a matter of battling the marketing wizards for junk food makers. From the Marketplace Work and Family desk, Stephen Henn looks at the grocery store grapple.

June 17, 2002 -- Tips and the IRS
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The U.S. ruled that the Internal Revenue Service can estimate how much people are making in tips -- and charge employers based on the estimate. Marketplace's Stephen Henn reports.

June 14, 2002 -- Paternity
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What about a few months off from work for new fathers? Sounds like a great idea for both fathers and children, but some experts contend that it may not be a very smart career move.Marketplace's Stephen Henn has the story.

June 12, 2002 -- Estate Tax Vote
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The Senate may decide whether to eliminate the estate tax forever. Last year, Congress agreed to phase out the "death tax," and last week the House voted in favor of making those changes permanent. With the expected vote in the senate still too close to call, we were wondering if the elimination of the federal estate tax could put estate planners out of business. Marketplace's Stephen Henn reports.

June 10, 2002 -- Disabilities and Job Safety
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Marketplace's Stephen Henn reports that the Supreme Court ruling that the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn't force companies to hire disabled workers for jobs that could endanger the employee's life may open the door for well-meaning, but overprotective, employers to keep disabled workers out of jobs they could do safely.

June 7, 2002 -- Long-Term Unemployed
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It looks like good news. The unemployment rate in May fell to a surprising 5.8 percent. but Marketplace's Stephen Henn digs deeper into the often misleading employment statistic, and profiles Americans who've been out of work for more than 6 months.

May 23, 2002 -- Poverty On The Rise
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The last 10 years have been good to most of America's children, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual "Kid's Count Survey." However, the report claims the number of kids from working families who are living at or near the poverty line is on the rise. From the Marketplace Work and Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

May 13, 2002 -- Ag-Biz Kingpins Rejoice?
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A new farm bill signed into law will cost nearly $190 billion over 10 years, through guaranteed subsidies to farmers. It increases government money for agriculture by 80 percent. Under the new system, America will spend more per capita subsidizing farmers than it does supporting welfare recipients. From the Marketplace Work and Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

April 3, 2002 -- Housing Discrimination
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The federal government estimates as many as 2 million families are victims of housing discrimination every year, but only a fraction ever report it to fair housing advocates, or the government. From Marketplace's Work & Family desk, Stephen Henn reports, while bias in the housing market persists, recognizing discrimination when it happens to you isn't always easy.

March 13, 2002 -- Daycare Workers Earning Low Wages
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average child care worker makes just seven dollars and forty-three cents an hour. That's less than short-order cooks, bartenders and bellhops. In the third and final installment of our series on America's chilcare crisis, Marketplace Work and Family Desk reporter Stephen Henn looks at the business of being in the child care business.

March 12, 2002 -- The Big Squeeze
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Family-friendly benefits grew out of the intense competition to attract top employees in the mid-to-late 1990's. But as Stephen Henn reports, the economic squeeze isn't putting the squeeze on family-friendly benefits. Most employers say there's no going back.

March 12, 2002 -- Daycare Costs Keeping Families On Welfare
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The market for quality childcare in this country is such that spots are few and the costs can be high. For the working poor, that can be a idsaster. In the second of a three-part series on America's daycare crisis, Work and Family Desk reporter Stephen Henn finds the lack of affordable child care is one of the biggest obstacles to parents who are trying to leave the welfare rolls behind.

March 11, 2002 -- The Difficulties Of Finding Daycare
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Across the country, childcare advocates report shortages of spots available in daycare for infants and toddlers. There's a growing consensus that America's market for childcare is out of whack. Marketplace's Work and Family Desk reporter and new father Stephen Henn has the first report in a three-part series on daycare.

February 26, 2002 -- Job Training, Marriage, And Welfare Reform
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President Bush today unveiled his plan for the latest chapter of welfare reform, saying he wants to strengthen work requirements, spend $300 million a year encouraging families to get married and help states that start innovative job-training programs. From the Marketplace's Work and Family desk, Stephen Henn reports.

February 19, 2002 -- Marriage As A Means Of Reducing National Poverty?
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The Bush Administration's is asking Congress for $100 million for experimental programs promoting marriage as a means of reducing poverty. Stephen Henn reports from the Marketplace's Work and Family desk.

January 31, 2002 -- Chopping Block For Pell Grant
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The Bush administration could shift $1.3 billion away from some local school and community programs. The administration says it needs the cash to pay for Pell Grants, which helps low income students afford college. But which programs will be cut -- and how will this affect students and families? From the Marketplace Work and Family desk, Stephen Henn has the details.

January 25, 2002 -- What Makes A Great Employer?
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While being on "Fortune" magazine's "Top 100" used to be the best way to lure the brightest employees, these days more executives may be preoccupied with staying afloat. But according to the authors of the "Top 100," the definition of what makes a great company to work for hasn't changed -- even if the standards employees are using to judge their employers have. From the Marketplace Work and Family desk, Stephen Henn explains.

January 14, 2002 -- College Tuition Hike
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With the slowing economy and the aftereffects of Sept. 11th, many state universities and colleges are struggling to make ends meet. The solution? Higher tuition prices for the spring semester. Marketplace's Stephen Henn has the story.

January 11, 2002 -- Ford Motor Company Closures
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Stephen Henn reports on families' reactions to Ford Motor Company's announcement that it will be closing its North American factories.

January 8, 2002 -- Schools and Economies
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Beyond grooming tomorrow's leaders, the strength of a school system turns out to be the major engine for developing local economies, as Stephen Henn reports from the Marketplace Work & Family desk.

January 7, 2002 -- Family Savings
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Experts like to hector American for not saving much. The savings rate is around 1 percent today, compared to about 8 percent in the 1980s. But a new analysis confirms long-held suspicions that the way we measure family savings is flawed. From Marketplace's Work and Family Desk Stephen Henn reports.

January 4, 2002 - Underemployment
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There's a hidden recession that millions of Americans feel -- either because they're underemployed, or have lost work-related benefits. And Wall Street is only cautiously optimistic after the number of underemployed part-timers shot up close to 350,000. From the Work & Family Desk, Marketplace's Stephen Henn reports.

December 18, 2001 - Demand for Shelter
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A survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors details a surge in demand for emergency shelter -- up an average of 13 percent in cities across the country. But many shelters report a shortage of beds, food and clothing. From the Work & Family Desk, Marketplace's Stephen Henn reports.

December 17, 2001 - Marketing to Kids
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Marketplace Work & Family Desk correspondent Stephen Henn reports.

December 11, 2001 - Young Worker Contributions
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A Presidential commission has unanimously recommended allowing younger workers to invest a portion of their Social Security contributions in the stock market. But will Washington act on this recommendation anytime soon? Marketplace Work & Family Desk correspondent Stephen Henn reports.