Friday
Smart Ways to Help Low-Wage Workers
Workers trying to support a family on low wages face daunting challenges. They usually can't afford decent day care, for example, so any schedule change at work can wreak havoc as single mothers or job-juggling couples race to find some sort of backup. Virtually any unanticipated event that costs more than even $100 or so, such as a broken car, can mean getting to work late or not at all, jeopardizing the job or money for food and rent. Such precarious existences contribute to a host of social ills, from broken homes to kids who lag behind in school to illnesses that get treated only at the emergency room.
Can employers do anything to help? The obvious answer is to boost wages, but most feel they can't afford to pay above-market rates. Still, plenty of other possibilities exist, such as offering small emergency loans or grants to employees who face sudden crises, helping them with child care, or finding creative ways to make their workdays more flexible.
more..
Can employers do anything to help? The obvious answer is to boost wages, but most feel they can't afford to pay above-market rates. Still, plenty of other possibilities exist, such as offering small emergency loans or grants to employees who face sudden crises, helping them with child care, or finding creative ways to make their workdays more flexible.
more..
