Paid Leave, a Living Wage & Transparency as an Organization Fighting Poverty

The US remains slow-moving in its implementation of fair employment policies, opposite of most developed countries.  One example is paid family leave–an installment that can reinvent our relationships and ensure a self-sustaining rate of pay without the “punishment” of expanding a family.  This sluggish federal action plan is especially present in the nonprofit world, a sector already riddled with stigmas including that those who chose the nonprofit life are ultimately “sacrificing” their means for economic growth.  As a part of theSkimm’s call to action and transparency among organizations, the #ShowUsYourLeave campaign is especially important to us because our work is embedded in fighting poverty.  City of Dreams is proud to be a part of the handful of organizations that prioritize the wellbeing of our staff, particularly so by offering opportunities for paid leave and more than just a living wage.  In an effort for transparency and to destigmatize the notion that nonprofit workers are forced to sacrifice economically, below are some of our policies.

City of Dreams Policies Include: 

• In compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employees are granted up to 12 weeks of paid leave with continued health benefits under the same conditions as if the employee was continuously at work 

• No limit on the amount of PTO employees can take.  Minimum time off is recorded and 14 days off each year is required.  The organization tracks vacation time to ensure all employees receive the minimum time off. 

• Employees are encouraged to use at least the legal amount for PTO

• Unlimited vacation leave policy.  To ensure employees avoid exhaustion and burn-out, full-time employees can take as much time as they need.  The policy is based on mutual trust between employer and employee.