Where Hard Work Doesn’t Pay Off: Policy Recommendations
In June, Oxfam published research that features a robust new index comparing US labor laws to those of economic peer nations. “Where Hard Work Doesn’t Pay Off” tracks 56 policies across 38 nations in three key dimensions: wages, worker protections, and rights to organize.
The US should take inspiration from our peers, and move toward a labor policy landscape that prioritizes care: policies that care for and protect our workers, that enable them to care for their families and themselves, and that provide the vital social supports they need.
Each policy tracked in the index presents a model for the US government to consider. While the US has a long way to go in enhancing federal policies on wages, worker protections, and rights to organize, below is a selection of recommendations for federal policymakers to help us build a more caring and just economy.