The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced new employer guidelines to determine whether the individuals who work for them should be classified as employees or independent contractors. The Treasury Department estimates that companies are misclassifying millions of people every year, classifying them as independent contractors when the law says… Read More»
Walmart is not only the world’s largest retailer and private employer; it’s also the overseer of one of the largest supply chains in the world. Walmart exerts enormous pressure on its suppliers and even has million-plus square foot warehouses just for its own products. Even though Walmart exerts an enormous… Read More»
The first-ever study on service sector scheduling practices in Washington, D.C. was released yesterday, with researchers concluding that erratic and unpredictable work hours negatively impact employees and their families. The report was released during a briefing in D.C.’s Wilson Building, with community groups packing the room to hear the results… Read More»
A new report released by researchers at Rutgers University Center for Women and Work breaks new ground in studying the growing field of care work by asking home-care consumers to define “quality” care and describe how care-worker training affects the quality of care they receive. Through interviews with both care… Read More»
On December 12, 2014, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced its adoption of a final rule to modernize and streamline the process for resolving union representation disputes. The long overdue rule, taking effect on April 14, 2015, will reduce a number of obstacles working people face when trying to form… Read More»
We’ve all heard about the meteoric rise of student debt: it now totals over $1.2 trillion and affects more than 40 million Americans. And while stories often focus on the unsustainable rise in college tuition costs and the incredible pace at which this debt multiplies, we must also pay close… Read More»
The call for outsourcing or contracting out of government services is often made through an appeal of cost savings to taxpayers. Since the Great Recession, state and local governments facing budget challenges are increasingly shifting the delivery of public services – from school bus drivers to accountants and trash haulers… Read More»
Public employees and their unions are frequent scapegoats when elected officials seek to score political points or contract out government services. But despite what you may have read, there are many examples of productive labor-management relations in the public sector. A new report released by the Jobs With Justice Education… Read More»
A new white paper details Walmart’s extensive and systematic efforts to silence associates who speak out for better jobs. The paper features the stories of workers like Cindy Lee, a model employee and active OUR Walmart member who reports being fired for calling in sick after she was publicly involved… Read More»
The federal agency charged with protecting employees’ rights to collectively improve their job standards is in limbo. That’s great news for unscrupulous employers who want to take advantage of workers, but it serves as a wake-up call for those of us who care about workers’ rights. In January 2013, the… Read More»
Jobs With Justice produces research that supports campaigns to raise standards for workers, as well as research that informs the public discourse on workers’ rights and an economy that works for everyone. Our recent research has been used to underscore the need for immigration reform, expose employer abuses of workers’ rights, and highlight ways in which public employees have improved how government runs. Our research is regularly used by policymakers, mentioned by major news outlets, and cited by workers’ rights advocates. Additionally, through the management of the Labor Research and Action Network, we connect labor scholars with practitioners, enabling them to provide credible research and expertise that can make a difference in the lives of workers.