New Rules Would Help Women Balance Work and Family Obligations

New rules drafted by the National Science Foundation are designed to make it easier for women to balance their research with family obligations. Under the proposal, men and women would be able to suspend research grants for up to a year in order to care for a new child, tend to an elderly parent, or deal with other urgent family matters.

In a White House annoucement, First Lady Michelle Obama voiced her support for the new rules: “You shouldn’t be penalized or lose a chance to advance in your career because you are taking care of a new child. If we take some practical, common-sense steps, we can keep these women in the pipeline where we so desperately need them.”