Glossary
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family-friendly policies. Policies
and programs offered
by employers that help
employees meet their family
responsibilities. (18)
family life cycle. The six stages
of change through which
families pass as they expand
and contract in size. (14)
feedback. Communicating to
another person how you feel
about what was said. (9)
fetal alcohol syndrome. A pattern
of mental and congenital
disabilities often present in
children born of alcoholic
mothers or mothers who
drink during pregnancy. (7)
fi nance charge. The dollar
amount the use of credit will
cost, consisting primarily of
interest payments. (25)
fi ne-motor development.
Improving ability to use the
small muscles, such as those
of the hands, fi ngers, feet, and
toes. (16)
fi xed expenses. Costs that are
predictable and that recur
regularly. (25)
fl exible expenses. Costs that
fl uctuate in amount and may
occur less regularly. (25)
fl extime. Option allowing the
worker to choose his or her
own working hours, subject to
certain rules. (18)
follow-up message. Brief letter
sent after a job interview to
thank the interviewer and
show continued interest in the
job position. (5)
fontanels. Open spaces between
the bones of a newborn’s head
that allow the bones of the
baby’s skull to move together
and make birth easier. (16)
foster parenting. System that
provides children with
substitute families while their
parents are unable to care for
them. (14)
401(k) plan. Retirement savings
plans that many employers offer
to their employees as part of
employees’ fringe benefi ts. (24)
fringe benefi ts. Nonwage extras
provided by an employer
in addition to a regular
paycheck. (18)
functional family. Family
system in which all family
members fulfi ll their roles and
responsibilities. (14)
G
genetic counseling. Advice given
by a physician to prospective
parents on matters of
heredity. (15)
genital warts. Sexually transmitted
infection caused by a virus. (8)
given role. Role acquired when a
person is born into a family,
such as son, daughter, sister,
or brother. (14)