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The big idea: should we work less?

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The big ideaBooksThe big idea: should we work less? A shorter working week could benefit society, the environment – even the economy. Is it time to reassess our relationship with our jobs? Sarah JaffeMon 11 Oct 2021 03.00 EDTLast modified on Mon 11 Oct 2021 03.48 EDTFor the last year and a half, most people have fallen into one of three categories: the unemployed, whose jobs disappeared during lockdown; the work from home brigade, who balanced family responsibilities or solo strain with a workday that extended even longer sans commute; and those who were still going to work but under hazardous, sometimes terrifying conditions, whether in healthcare or grocery stores or meatpacking plants. In so many of these cases, much of what made work enjoyable or at least tolerable was stripped away, and we were left with the unpleasant reality of what our jobs actually were: not a fun pastime, but something we have to do. As Amelia Horgan notes in her book Lost in Work, “We, almost always, need a job more than a job needs us. Our entrance into work is unfree, and while we’re there, our time is not our own.”Yet for all its misery, Covid-19 did show us that it was possible to radically change the way we live and work, and to do it quickly. And it’s worth remembering that working life pre-pandemic wasn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows for many people – a UK poll early …

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Why it’s high time to move on from ‘just-in-time’ supply chains | Kim Moody

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OpinionSupply chain crisisWhy it’s high time to move on from ‘just-in-time’ supply chains K …

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Donald Trump’s own treasury secretary blocked Ivanka World Bank role – report

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Ivanka TrumpDonald Trump’s own treasury secretary blocked Ivanka World Bank role – reportSteven Mnuchin said to have stopped move likely to have upset world leaders, which ‘came incredibly close to happening’ Martin Pengelly in New York@ …

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'We can move quickly': Airline CEO optimistic about mandatory vaccination policies

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The head of a discount Canadian airline is on board with new mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies in the federally regulated transportation sector.

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US wages are going up, and those who don’t adapt to the new reality will fail | Gene Marks

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US small businessUS wages are going up, and those who don’t adapt to the new reality will failLabor is in short supply, so it’s more expensive. It’s simple economics and hankering for pre-pandemic times won’t help Gene Marks@ …

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What the US unemployment rate doesn’t tell you

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US unemployment and employment dataWhat the US unemployment rate doesn’t tell youThe true measure of unemployment depends on who you ask Rashida KamalSun 10 Oct 2021 06.00 EDTLast modified on Sun 10 Oct 2021 06.03 EDTJust how healthy is the US jobs market? On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest jobs report, showing that the US added a disappointing 194,000 jobs last month while announcing that the official unemployment rate fell to 4.8%, the lowest it’s been since its frightening climb to 14.7% when the Covid-19 pandemic first struck the US.The figures seem somehow disconnected and, for some, September’s headline figure is woefully misleading, as it is every month. What if the “true” unemployment rate is actually closer to 22%?Overall unemployment rateWhile most reporting (including our own) tends to focus on the BLS’s monthly headline figure – referred to as the “U-3” – the true measure of unemployment depends on who you ask. Some experts argue the official headline figure hides a far darker picture of the state of the labor market.First, it is important to unpack what this commonly cited statistic does and does not tell us.The headline unemployment rate measures the proportion of the American civilian labor force – anyone over the age of 16 – that does not have a job and is still actively looking for work. It does not include the large number of people who have given up …

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Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen could face retaliation for revelations

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Facebook has recently taken a harsher tone toward whistleblower Frances Haugen, suggesting that the social network giant could be considering legal action after Haugen went public with internal research that she copied before leaving her job earlier this year.

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‘Welcome to the party’: five past tech whistleblowers on the pitfalls of speaking out

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Technology‘Welcome to the party’: five past tech whistleblowers on the pitfalls of speaking outFrances Haugen, the Facebook whistleblower, joined a growing list of Silicon Valley former employees to call out company policies Johana BhuiyanSat 9 Oct 2021 01.00 EDTWhen Frances Haugen revealed she was the Facebook whistleblower who supplied internal documents to Congress and the Wall Street Journal, she joined a growing list of current and former Silicon Valley employees who’ve come forward to call out military contracts, racism, sexism, contributions to climate crisis, pay disparities and more in the industry.California companies can no longer silence workers in victory for tech activistsRead moreIn the past days, the Guardian spoke with five former employees of Amazon, Google, and Pinterest who’ve spoken out about their companies’ policies. The conversations revealed Haugen’s experience has been singular in some respects. Few of them received the international praise bestowed upon her. Some of them said they have faced termination, retaliation, harassment and prolonged litigation.But Haugen is entering a community of whistleblowers that appears tighter than ever, with some working to make it easier for the employees to come forward, through legislation, solidarity funds, and resources.“Welcome to the party, Frances Haugen,” one tweeted.Chelsey GlassonChelsey Glasson left Google in August 2019, alleging pregnancy discrimination and retaliation. She filed a discrimination lawsuit against the company the following year, and her trial is scheduled for 10 January. Years of litigation against a multibillion …

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5 Critical Resources for Working Families

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5 Critical Resources for Working Families

During National Work and Family Month, we’re highlighting the need for equitable practices in the workplace that support all working families. From paid family and medical leave to flexible work hours and access to quality child care, research shows policies that support a healthy work-life balance are good for workers and employers. While there’s much […]

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The jobs data underscores the divide between college graduates and those without degrees.

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The jobs data underscores the divide between college graduates and those without degrees.

  As the economy registered disappointing job growth in September, the divide between those with and without a college education was again stark. Employment for holders of a bachelor’s degree rose by 169,000, and the unemployment rate for that group fell to 2.5 percent from 2.8 percent in August. By contrast, among those with a […]

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