On and Off Ramps

On and off ramps refer to the idea of giving women -- and others -- routes to leave their jobs for a given period of time and then return to their job at the same level. Currently, when individuals, particularly women, leave their jobs for a few years, they are forced to return to the workforce at a lower level than they were at before they left. The grand majority of women who leave the workforce intend to return, but women's "earning power" decrease by 28% when they take time off, and the longer time they take off the even more drastic this decrease is.

Proponents of on and off ramps also frequently support the idea of making work more project-based rather than hours-based, so that it is easier for individuals, and particularly women on whom most of the burden falls, to raise families and maintain careers.