| Surviving the Middle Class Squeeze EAP EAP Hotline Documents |
The standard of living for the middle class has become a much aligned issue during the past decade. Nearly eight out of every
ten Americans say it is more difficult for them to get by then it was just five years ago. A majority of Americans believe they
have not moved forward during the past five years or that they have fallen behind and no longer feel secure in being able to
maintain their lifestyle. If you are like the majority of Americans the major issues confronting the middle class today are the
following:
• Access to a Reliable Fair Paying Job- Unemployment numbers remain high, income disparities are increasing,
and people with jobs are finding that they are having to work more hours with increased productivity while earning
less.
• Access to Health Care- More middle class Americans are without health care today than at any other time in
history. People are going without coverage because it is too expensive, or they are working extra to pay their health
care premiums.
• Access to a Safe and Stable Home- Home foreclosures are at twenty year highs, and more middle class people are
cashing out equity in their homes to meet basic living expenses. Having access to affordable housing is becoming
less and less of a reality for a growing number of Americans.
• Access to Quality Education- Quality education for children of the middle class, as well as the opportunity of
higher education for the middle class is becoming less and less of a reality as the middle class replace work with
education as a means for staying ahead.
• Time Off Work for Illness, Vacation and Major Life Events- Nearly 46 million employees do not have sick
leave, 86 million do not have paid leave to care for sick children, while 1 in 5 adults are now also caring for their
parents or other relatives.
• Retirement Security- Retirement plans have been drastically affected by the economy during the past decade. The
days of company run and paid retirement plans are gone and the threat of Social Security being cut is constantly
being discussed.
Americans are experiencing a great deal of anxiety about the economy and their own personal economic futures. The middle and
lower class have been hit the hardest and feeling the pains of the economy the worst. Now more than ever is the time to be
patient, to stretch the dollars you do have, and to keep your long term goals in mind as much as possible.
ten Americans say it is more difficult for them to get by then it was just five years ago. A majority of Americans believe they
have not moved forward during the past five years or that they have fallen behind and no longer feel secure in being able to
maintain their lifestyle. If you are like the majority of Americans the major issues confronting the middle class today are the
following:
• Access to a Reliable Fair Paying Job- Unemployment numbers remain high, income disparities are increasing,
and people with jobs are finding that they are having to work more hours with increased productivity while earning
less.
• Access to Health Care- More middle class Americans are without health care today than at any other time in
history. People are going without coverage because it is too expensive, or they are working extra to pay their health
care premiums.
• Access to a Safe and Stable Home- Home foreclosures are at twenty year highs, and more middle class people are
cashing out equity in their homes to meet basic living expenses. Having access to affordable housing is becoming
less and less of a reality for a growing number of Americans.
• Access to Quality Education- Quality education for children of the middle class, as well as the opportunity of
higher education for the middle class is becoming less and less of a reality as the middle class replace work with
education as a means for staying ahead.
• Time Off Work for Illness, Vacation and Major Life Events- Nearly 46 million employees do not have sick
leave, 86 million do not have paid leave to care for sick children, while 1 in 5 adults are now also caring for their
parents or other relatives.
• Retirement Security- Retirement plans have been drastically affected by the economy during the past decade. The
days of company run and paid retirement plans are gone and the threat of Social Security being cut is constantly
being discussed.
Americans are experiencing a great deal of anxiety about the economy and their own personal economic futures. The middle and
lower class have been hit the hardest and feeling the pains of the economy the worst. Now more than ever is the time to be
patient, to stretch the dollars you do have, and to keep your long term goals in mind as much as possible.
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