It’s probably not news to you that workers in the United States are the most overworked and underpaid among developed nations. Nor is it likely news that most U.S. households can no longer subsist on a single income.
But it might surprise you to know that U.S. workers are working way more for much less despite record-setting productivity. Since 1950 U.S. worker productivity has increased by 400%, and is the highest in the world. But the benefits of increased worker productivity have distributed mostly upwards:
· Most U.S. workers work more than 40 hours per week, and far more hours than workers in other developed nations. Unlike 134 other countries, the U.S. has no laws limiting the hours in a workweek.
· Of all of the developed countries in the world, the U.S. is the only country that provides no paid parental leave.
· The U.S. does not mandate paid sick leave.
· Unlike every other industrialized country, the U.S. does not require employers to provide paid vacation or annual leave.
Workers in the U.S. could wait interminably for laws improving their conditions of work. And they should not expect employers to adopt significant reform by their own impetus. As employers most typically act to increase profits, treating labor as an expense, better conditions of work require organized employee effort.
Workers can form affinity groups around conditions in need of change. Workers might form work-life balance, healthy-living, or parenting affinity groups to persuade their employers to adopt sound policies and practices. But change will not come of its own accord.
Learn more about workplace matters here.
But it might surprise you to know that U.S. workers are working way more for much less despite record-setting productivity. Since 1950 U.S. worker productivity has increased by 400%, and is the highest in the world. But the benefits of increased worker productivity have distributed mostly upwards:
· Most U.S. workers work more than 40 hours per week, and far more hours than workers in other developed nations. Unlike 134 other countries, the U.S. has no laws limiting the hours in a workweek.
· Of all of the developed countries in the world, the U.S. is the only country that provides no paid parental leave.
· The U.S. does not mandate paid sick leave.
· Unlike every other industrialized country, the U.S. does not require employers to provide paid vacation or annual leave.
Workers in the U.S. could wait interminably for laws improving their conditions of work. And they should not expect employers to adopt significant reform by their own impetus. As employers most typically act to increase profits, treating labor as an expense, better conditions of work require organized employee effort.
Workers can form affinity groups around conditions in need of change. Workers might form work-life balance, healthy-living, or parenting affinity groups to persuade their employers to adopt sound policies and practices. But change will not come of its own accord.
Learn more about workplace matters here.
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