National Infertility Awareness Week

 April 18-24, 2021 is National Infertility Awareness Week

In honor of our industry members

who seek fertility support to start their families

we are committed to raising awareness

and working toward more inclusive health care.

First Step: Raise awareness and set intentions

Resolution to Research

Health Insurance Inclusive of Assisted Reproductive Care

Presented by the delegates to the 2019 District 2 Convention

Representing The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839

Whereas members struggling to become parents are faced with a lack of assistance from our collectively bargained health plans, as those plans do not provide sufficient or any coverage for infertility care;

And whereas there is an existing precedent for American medical plans offering assisted reproductive therapies such as in vitro fertilization, egg freezing, and fertility treatments;

 

And whereas our union includes diverse membership with varying reproductive needs (including the LGBT community, members undergoing medical treatments which can harm fertility, such as radiation or chemotherapy, and members with medical conditions which affect fertility);

 

And whereas the nature of our industry can make it difficult for members to combine work and parenthood, leading some members to choose to postpone parenthood through egg freezing or fertility treatments;

 

We resolve to explore options for including the above coverage in our health insurance and present them to the appropriate leaders and members of Boards of Directors for inclusion in our plans.

 

Second Step: Show support and share your story

Actions you can take this week:

• #WearOrange to raise awareness this Wednesday, April 21st
• Share your story here
• Read personal stories to better understand infertility experiences  

 

Visit the NIAW website to learn more!

#TAG #Resolution #AnimationIsFamily #WearOrange #infertility

You're invited: Neurodiversity panel discussion

BRAIN WORK: INDUSTRY PARENTS ON RAISING THE NEURODIVERSE CHILD

February 21, 2021 at 12:30pm

RSVP: tinyurl.com/IATSERSVP

The IATSE Hollywood Women's Committees have joined together to host an autism-focused panel discussion about raising neurodiverse children. Specialists will discuss what parents can do to support their children and ways to get the most out of what MPI has to offer. Co-moderated by The Animation Guild's own super mom and animator, Megan Kreiner. BONUS movie watch party: Life, Animated.

Need help?

OPTUM can help.

Call or log on 24/7 to talk with someone for free.

TODAY: CAREGIVERS' SUPPORT GROUP

You're invited:

Our first-ever Caregivers' Support Group virtual meet-up is today, Saturday, September 12th at 4:00pm PST. Guild members, families, and friends are welcome. We'll be discussing childcare solutions, including ideas for employer-sponsored childcare, as well as discussing ways to cope with elder care and partner care during COVID and beyond.

RSVP for a Zoom link: animationisfamily@gmail.com

Meet Silvana Arzeno Toledo - THIS Saturday via Zoom

Meet our SPECIAL GUEST 

Silvana Arzeno Toledo

EVP of Global Partnerships 

at WRK/360

Saturday, July 11, 2020
10:00 am - 11:00 am

Silvana will be joining our FAM Committee meeting to answer your child care questions and provide support for work/life balance during COVID and beyond.

Read more about Silvana and WRK/360 here:
https://wrk360.com/about/

RSVP for a Zoom link: animationisfamily@gmail.com

Cover Up, LA County!

Thanks to

the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

for sharing this cute info-graphic:

Stay safe, TAG family and friends!

#CoverUp #TAGFAM

WFHWK: Online Support for Working Parents and Parents-to-be

1) Coronavirus Course For Expecting, New & All Working Parents

COVID-19 is rapidly changing the lives of expecting and working parents. This mini course addresses concerns for employees and their managers to discuss during this crisis from planning for leave, returning to work and working with kids. Course link here: https://www.wrk360programs.com/courses/free-coronavirus-course-planning-for-leave-returning-to-work-working-from-home-with-kids

2) Virtual Group Coaching Session for Working Parents 
Connect with other parents to discuss how to make work ‘work’ during this time of #WFHWK (work from home with kids ;). Led by WORK/360’s CEO and Master Working Parent Coach, Mary Beth Ferrante, expect to learn new tools for managing the day, how to communicate with work during this time and new tools for communicating at home during WFHWK. Registration link here: https://wrk360.ck.page/843fd69faf

For more WFHWK support, check out The Animation Guild's blog post: https://animationguild.org/working-from-home-while-juggling-kids/

#WFHWK #WRK360 #support #TAG #animationisfamily

New Year, New Goals

Welcome to 2020! Now, let's set some goals.

Goal #1: Support our DCCs (Dual Career Couples)

Who are DCCs? 89% of women and 70% of men, Forbes reports. According to the 2019 McKinsey Report: Making It Work, "managing two careers is the norm for most families... Factor in caretaking and most families are juggling a combination of two-day jobs, childcare, and caretaking for elderly family members." 

"[T]o recruit and retain the best talent, businesses need to make their workplaces welcoming for employees in DCCs." 

What can employers do? Businesses can begin with a wholistic approach, by looking at their entire team - including corporate, union, and subcontracted team members. Supportive strategies can be improved in three easy steps:

1. Provide supportive managers
2. Make Leadership Possible
3. Promote a culture that encourages work-life balance

"Through this report, McKinsey is showcasing the need for all companies to begin having this long-overdue conversation across all employees," writes Mary Beth Ferrante for ForbesWomen. "Whether couples both need to work or choose to work is irrelevant. We need to provide solutions that support all DCCs in their pursuit of managing multiple careers and family. After all, it is the new normal, and quite frankly it's been this way for a while now."

We agree. And, we're eager to support our DCCs! The Animation Guild's Family And Membership (FAM) Committee offers family-friendly opportunities for members to socialize, network, and learn. Please join us in 2020! For information about upcoming events, check the TAG Calendar. To join the FAM Committee email list or to suggest an event idea, email us at: animationisfamily@gmail.com

#TAG #DCC

Featured Panelist: Dr. Carrie Dilley

Join us for lunch!

Lunch & Learn: Autism Support

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

12:00 noon - 2:00 pm 

at The Animation Guild

Panel Discussion / Q&A / Resources

Introducing Featured Panelist: 

Dr. Carrie N. Dilley
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

 Dr. Carrie Dilley is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who is co-owner with her husband, Dr. Joe Dilley, of Synergy Psychological Inc., a private psychology practice in Sierra Madre, California. She has specialized for the past 18 years working with infants, children, adolescents, and adults with neurodevelopmental delays including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing/Regulation Disorders, Learning Differences, Attention Deficits, and Behavioral Challenges.  

Dr. Dilley completed her masters and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary’s Graduate School of Psychology. She obtained her specialty training at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, at The Help Group’s non-profit specialized school for children with autism and related disorders, and working as the program director for a local DIR® Floortime Program. 

The Synergy team provides comprehensive psychological services including individual, family, and group therapy, psychological and neuropsychological assessments, school consultations, and IEP support for parents of children with special needs services. Dr. Dilley was the founder and Chair for the initial five years of the Child and Adolescent Development Special Interest Group for the San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association (SGVPA).

DrCarrie@SynergyPsych.com

(626) 539-2001 x 2

www.SynergyPsych.com

Meet Dr. Dilley and all our panelists on the 23rd!

RSVP@tag839.org

Autism Support: Playgrounds for All Abilities

This week we highlight

the city of Carson

for breaking ground on 

a new playground for children of all abilities,

including those on the autism spectrum!

For more info on local autism support
for Guild members and families

mark your calendar for the upcoming

Lunch & Learn: Autism Support

at The Animation Guild

October 23, 2019 from 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm.

All Guild members and families welcome!

RSVP@tag839.org

August 10th - Summer Playdate in the Park

You're Invited:

Childcare: Modern Solutions for Modern Families

🎈🍭 Happy Memorial Day Weekend! 🍔🍻

Long weekends and holidays like this one are often celebrated as family fun-days. But what happens when the kids are out of school, daycare is closed, and mom and dad still have to work? We've got you covered with 10 Out-of-the-Box Childcare Options, for holidays or everyday, that may help your modern family thrive.

#holiday #childcare #work #family #tag

SAVE THE DATE: April 9th

What to Expect When You're Expecting

in Animation

A Lunch & Learn Presentation

at

The Animation Guild

Panelists:

Teri Cusumano - Animation Mom

Neil Graf - Animation Dad

Silvana Toledo - Childcare Specialist

Kristin Donner - Family Leave Advocate

Join us for:

FREE lunch, panel discussion, PowerPoint presentation, Q&A
Raffle of family-friendly services and swag
provided by La La Land Indoor Playground and FIT4MOM

Open to:

Guild members

RSVP:
rsvp@tag839.org

#lunchandlearn #TAG #panel #expecting #familyleave #parent

California's New Governor Prioritizes Family Leave

Governor Newsom has just proposed the longest family leave in the nation.

And, it's about time! 

Equality
Not only does Governor Newsom's proposal expand existing leave for dads, it also incorporates benefits for non-traditional families. Under this plan, each parent/caregiver would be entitled to three months of paid leave, for a combined total of six months. This is an improvement of current policy, which restricts the majority of leave - and childcare responsibilities - to birth moms. When men [and secondary parents] also have - and take - family leave, gender equality grows both at home and in the workplace. This is good news for children, parents, and employers alike.

Health
Public health and economic research shows that providing up to six months of paid parental leave—the norm in most developed countries—leads to positive health and educational outcomes for children, [and] greater economic security for parents...reports Newsweek. Countries incorporating longer leave policies have already shown they are paying dividends far into the future.

Support
While California's current Paid Family Leave benefits are employee-funded, many employers are already pitching in additional resources - and Americans support that. Approximately 80% of Democrats AND Republicans are already in favor of employer-funded paid leave. Working Mother's 2018 list of the 100 Best Companies shows what's possible: an average of 11 fully paid parental leave weeks, back-up childcare, flexible work arrangements, and fertility/surrogacy support.

Happiness
Expanding paid leave should bring a smile to everyone's face. After studying happiness levels in 22 countries, sociologists found the biggest happiness predictor to be the presence of family policies making it less stressful and less costly [to] combine childrearing with paid work. And such policies seemed to increase the happiness level of childless individuals as well.

Family Leave is a win for everyone.

Tell Governor Newsom you support his proposal.

For more stats in support of family leave, check out this presentation created by TAG's own Family Leave Subcommittee.

#newsom #familyleave #california #animationisfamily

FORD leads the industry with improved Parental Leave - Personal Days - Wellness Policies

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

During this 1st week of 2019 we're highlighting

FORD MOTOR COMPANY

for it's newly improved 

parental & personal leave & wellness policies.

But Ford makes cars, you say. What's that got to do with animation? Here in the Family & Personal Leave Subcommittee, we read press releases from employers across the United States to follow trends in family & personal leave and wellness. When we see an industry standard begin to shift, we take note. When a policy improves for union workers, we downright celebrate! With improved corporate wellness policies in 2017 and 2018, and union negotiations just around the corner, we're following the trend at Ford.

Here's the scoop for Ford employees in 2019:

Wellness at work - Employees now benefit from yoga on campus, quiet rooms for prayer or meditation, and ergonomic workstations.

Flexible sick leave - Now all 10 sick days can be used for personal leave, too. This includes caring for a sick child or family member or for attending personal appointments. No restrictions. (Note: TAG's Negotiation Committee proposed flexible sick days/personal days to the AMPTP in 2018.)

Flexible work schedules for new parents - Now when new parents return to salaried work at Ford, they'll have the option of working part-time at full pay for their first month back. This adjustment period will support worker wellness, as well as company production.

Fully paid parental leave - Salaried employees now receive 8 fully paid weeks of parental leave, with birth moms receiving an additional 6-8 weeks of fully paid disability leave. (Note: TAG's Negotiation Committee proposed fully paid leave to the AMPTP in 2018.)

In an interview with Fortune, chief human resources officer Kiersten Robinson shared Ford's primary goal: What was really important to us was that the leave provision applied to both men and women. We wanted to make sure that everyone felt as though this was a priority and they had the flexibility to take this time with their new family.

Hourly employees are next in line. Improved policies are under consideration for the next time the automaker negotiates its collective bargaining agreement with the United Automobile Workers union, said Julie Lavender, Ford’s director of personnel relations and employee policies. Ford executives and labor affairs are already discussing how they might adapt the policy to hourly workers by adding to union members’ medical leave time off and offering the one month “ramp-up” period back to work. 

It's about wellness, says Ford. 

These improved policies signify a shift from offering just a standard health plan to a more holistic approach focused on individual well-being.

#animationisfamily #familyleave #ford #union #collectivebargaining #labor #health #family

Thanksgiving Ideas: Recipes, Restaurants, Crafts, and Movies!

🍂🍁🍂

Happy Thanksgiving

to all our Animation

Friends & Family!

🍂🍁🍂

'Tis the season for catering, cooking, and crafting! You may already have a perfect event fully orchestrated, but just in case you need a few last minute tips, we've got you covered:

Not a chef at heart? No problem - take a gander at these Quick and Easy Thanksgiving Recipes. Looking to avoid your kitchen entirely? These are the best places for Thanksgiving dinner in Los Angeles. 

Got a house full of friends & family or feeling a bit crafty yourself? For holiday fun (and to keep the kids entertained), check out these 36 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts. If you've got grown-ups in the mix, you may prefer this variety of Holiday Crafts, ranging from table center piece ideas to wine cork art. Feeling Earth-friendly? These Quick Nature Crafts embody traditional seasonal elements that you just might find in your own garden.

Wondering what to do with your guests once the feasting is finished? Check out these 15 Thanksgiving Movies to Watch After Your Big Meal.  

And, most important of all, have a safe and happy holiday!

#thanksgiving #animationisfamily #crafts #recipes

 

YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL: Co-Working & Childcare Spaces

Hey Employers, Event Organizers & Parents:

YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL.

Co-Working spaces provide focused work time for parents,

and provide engaging play, learning,
and care for children. 

THE RESULT: 

A productive, healthy, and diverse workforce,

not to mention a more happy and inclusive society.

BRICK AND MORTAR CO-WORK/CHILDCARE:

Wiggle & Work
 

POP-UP CHILDCARE FOR OFFICES, EVENTS & CONFERENCES: 
Collab & Play

#cowork #animationisfamily #collabandplay #wiggleandwork

Kids Don't Damage Women's Careers - Men Do

Medium author, Jessica Valenti takes a close look at new statistics and comes to a conclusion some working moms might have predicted:

kids don't damage women's careers - men do.

In her recent article, subtitled Stop blaming motherhood for a problem created by fathers, Valenti presents that [s]tudies from 2017 led some analysts to come to the conclusion that the wage gap was almost entirely attributable to motherhood. Men, on the other hand, tend to see more money once they have children.

Studies also show that fathers continue to have significantly more leisure time than mothers and that mothers use their off time to do chores and child care while fathers use time off for hobbies and relaxing. This, too, is about careers: We know that people who have more leisure time and time for creative activities tend to perform better at work.

The real problem, Valenti asserts, is...that there’s no chance of equality at work while there’s inequality at home.

If workplace equality is our goal, what are our next steps? The TAG Family Leave Subcommittee proposes this plan of action:

1. Support family leave for ALL parents and caregivers at your studio. How does your crew react when a co-worker requests leave? If it isn't positive, help brainstorm how to fix that. Contact your shop steward for support.
2. Support your studio in maintaining quality nursing room facilities for working moms. Does your studio have a nursing room? Have you noticed moms forced to use bathrooms as lactation accommodations? Point this out to your studio's HR dept. or talk with your shop steward. The Animation Guild will work with your studio to establish a safe and healthy nursing room option.
3. Support equal opportunity caregiving. Does your studio offer diaper changing stations in men's, women's, and gender neutral bathrooms? If not, submit a request or talk with your shop steward about possible improvements.

Contact The Animation Guild office for a list of shop stewards or to request support.

Together, we can achieve workplace equality. 

#animationisfamily

FREE Babysitting Swaps through Wana!

This week we're highlighting

WANA FAMILY NETWORK.

Finding childcare in Los Angeles can be a challenge! No one knows this better than entertainment industry families - so we're particularly excited to highlight a babysitting solution created by an industry mom right here in LA: Wana Family Network.

Through Wana, you can swap babysitting time with other families in your neighborhood. Convenient, community-building, friendly, and free...this could be the babysitting solution you've been waiting for.

"You play! They play! 

Trade babysitting with families in your neighborhood."

California neighborhoods included so far...

• Irvine
• LA Crescenta Valley
• LA Eastside
• LA South Bay
• LA Westside

Don't see your neighborhood? Start your own Wana Family Playgroup!

#animationisfamily #babysitting