Editing Working poor (section)

===Wages and benefits===
In the conclusion of her book, ''[[Nickel and Dimed]]'' (2001), Barbara Ehrenreich argues that Americans need to pressure employers to improve worker compensation.<ref name=Ehrenreich />  Generally speaking, this implies a need to strengthen the [[labor movement]].  Cross-national statistical studies on working poverty suggest that generous welfare states have a larger impact on working poverty than strong labor movements.  The labor movements in various countries have accomplished this through political parties of their own (labor parties) or strategic alliances with non-labor parties, for instance, when striving to put a meaningful [[minimum wage]] in place. The federal government offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that's administered through workplaces.

If a job offers an FSA (also known as a Dependent Care Account), one can put aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars to pay for child care expenses. If both you and your spouse have an FSA, the family limit is $5,000—but you could get as much as $2,000 in tax savings if your combined contributions reach the maximum.<ref name="care.com"/>