Work Life policy is election 2008's pink elephant

It'll be there in the middle of the debate hall Wednesday night at Hofstra University, at the third and final presidential debate. It's really big, and really pink and has everything to do with the economy. But we're not likely to hear much about Senator Obama's and Senator McCain's work life policies.

While the audience might be thinking about their work life juggle; how they are going to keep their jobs, let alone attend to their families, work life issues are generally just given a bit of lip service under the formal platform of the economy.

But the so-called sleeper issue of working families and their work life scenario just received a jolting  wake up call from the Families and Work Institute. The bi-partisan organization's president, Ellen Galinsky, issued a call to action, Work Life: Moving from the Personal to the Political, in which the candidates views on work life policy are detailed like never before.  

In a statement, Galinsky said, "This is the first ever Presidential campaign in which both nominees have formally articulated their positions in this arena."

Both campaigns agreed to conference calls with FWI and more than 100 corporate executives and advocates. With Ellen Galinsky moderating, campaign spokespeople answered questions on burning topics such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, Sick Leave, affordable health care for small businesses, early education, childcare, the aging workforce, gender issues, and women's advancement.  

The economic turmoil has everyone reeling at work, and in their family life.  And the nominees are not immune to the challenges says Galinsky, "While much has been written about how the candidates manage their own work and family lives, these calls move us from their personal to their policy stands on these issues."

Now, back to the pink elephant in the room. When FWI released their findings last week, it fell on the day that the the markets saw a 600 point dive in 6 minutes. So the material, crucial to working families took a back seat to the economic turmoil. Ironically, these work life policy views may very well provide the information necessary for voters concerned with their work life experience, to make an educated decision. There are some stark differences between the views of the candidates.You can read the candidate's views on work life policy by clicking here.