Jennifer Ludden

Pushed Off The Job While Pregnant

Jennifer Ludden — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:26:00 +0000

At a time when most pregnant women work, there are new efforts to keep companies from unfairly targeting employees because of a pregnancy. The allegations of pregnancy discrimination persist and have even risen in recent years despite a decades-old law against it, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Advocates say those most vulnerable are low-wage workers like Natasha Jackson, a former account representative at Rent-A-Center in Charleston, S.C.

Joblessness Shortens Life Expectancy For White Women

Jennifer Ludden — Thu, 30 May 2013 18:57:00 +0000

At a time when many people live longer, it's been a mystery why white women without a high school diploma have been dying increasingly earlier those with more education.

A study in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior tries to understand this growing mortality gap, and finds two key factors: smoking — already well known as detrimental to life expectancy — and, more surprising, unemployment.

The study used data the National Center for Health Statistics had collected on more

Alimony Till Death Do Us Part? Nay, Say Some Ex-Spouses

Jennifer Ludden — Tue, 28 May 2013 07:46:00 +0000

Alimony dates back centuries. The original idea was that once married, a man is responsible for a woman till death. But that notion has shifted in recent decades, as more women have jobs and their own money. Now, a number of states are considering laws to end lifetime alimony.

During his two-decade marriage, Tom Leustek's wife earned a Ph.D. and landed a job that paid as much as his. He's a college professor in New Jersey.

But she quit to start her own psychology practice, and her salary plummeted. Then they split.

Stay-At-Home Dads, Breadwinner Moms and Making It All Work

Jennifer Ludden — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:32:00 +0000

The next time you see a father out shopping with his kids, you might need to check your assumptions.

"I'll get the, 'Oh, look, it's a dad! That's so sweet!' "says Jonathan Heisey-Grove, a stay-at-home father of two young boys in Alexandria, Va., who is pretty sure the other person assumes he's just giving Mom a break for the day.

Attorney For Notorious Clients A Quiet Defender

Jennifer Ludden — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:34:00 +0000

Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and Arizona mass shooter Jared Loughner all have one thing in common: defense attorney Judy Clarke. With her help, all three avoided the death penalty.

Clarke routinely faces an enraged public, top-notch prosecutors and difficult, often disturbed clients.