Jobs for the Future (JFF)’s Post

#Change is here. ChatGPT, Artificial Intelligence, robots, digital transformations, inflation, mass migration, U.S. population shortages, etcetera… There is no denying that the fabric of our world and our country is changing, and fast. Contrary to the dominant narratives that frame immigrants as the problem, it is #Immigrants that will help the U.S. navigate change faster, but will we let them, and how can we best do it? A diverse and innovative workforce makes our country stronger. Immigrants of all different skill levels are critical to securing a resilient and prosperous future for all Americans. A considerable portion of our past national and global advantages stem from cross-pollination from foreign students and workers. “Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. billion-dollar companies (unicorns) were founded or cofounded by immigrants or the children of immigrants.” Forbes In sectors where workforce development and innovation are a rising concern, including manufacturing, older employment and retention practices are hindering key industries and municipalities from benefitting from immigrant advancement. We are going to start to see private-public-government partnerships rise to the occasion and begin the work together to create systems change that will create win-win solutions that lift all boats. “Recent work from the Manufacturing Institute notes that the United States could have as many as 2.1 million unfilled jobs in 2030. And without having access to the workers they need, the U.S. economy will suffer. The same report projects a loss of $1 trillion resulting from unfilled jobs… Employers are going to need more flexibility in adapting to changes in the workforce.” The Hill #OnePercentforAmerica #CitizenshipisProgress #ImmigrantAdvancement #privatepublicgovernment #partnerships #workforcedevelopment #immigrantequity #systemicchange

Our platform creates automated hearing summaries from all levels of government. These aren't generic summaries, they're customized to our client's goals. We are seeing a rise in issues impacting the #gigeconomy and check out a sample of the Briefing from the MA Legislature. Hearing on Initiative Petitions Relating to Ride Sharing Industry Expert Testimony: Dr. Hillary Robinson: - Gig economy is new due to smartphone advances. - Drivers choose to "log on" for managerial control. - Platform classifies drivers as independent contractors despite employee characteristics. - Data shows flexibility concerns are unfounded. Leah Palla Gashvili: - Gig economy expands job opportunities with most workers treating it as mere gigs. - Reclassifying workers as employees will likely reduce gig jobs without corresponding W-2 gains. - Focus on improving worker position while providing flexible benefits. Dr. Veena Dubal: - Platform worker misclassification has proliferated due to legal and policy changes. - Empirical research shows basic employment standards do not restrict worker flexibility. - App-based work is inherently dangerous due to employee protection deficiencies. Proponents of Initiative H4253 (Unionization) Roxana Rivera: - Drivers face low wages, unfair terminations, and on-the-job dangers. - Drivers seek a union for collective power. - Call for stakeholder collaboration to resolve issues. Kaitlyn Locke: - Status for unionization purposes is distinct from employment law status. - Ballot initiative gives drivers a meaningful chance to organize and bargain, regardless of legal status. Priscil Polanco: - Drivers want a union for better conditions. Fears of flexibility reduction are unfounded; drivers already face limits due to wages and expenses. Policymaker Testimony: - Majority (75%) prefer independent contractor status. - Law allows flexible scheduling in both independent and W-2 models. - Concerns over flexibility and earning potential with employee status. - Questions on municipal regulations and tax revenue impacts. - Recognition of legislative need. Discussion Points: - Independent contractor vs. employee status differences in work control and flexibility. - Liability, insurance, and labor relations implications of employee status. - Technology's role in flexible scheduling and diverse work patterns. - Balancing flexibility with fair treatment for workers. "In no other industry do workers pay for all their materials, from vehicles to gas to tolls. In no other industry do workers suffer not only from outrageously low wages but also from falling wages, as drivers tell us again and again. In no other industry are corporate bosses so willing to terminate a worker's livelihood instantly." Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, Grubhub

Last week, our #GoodEmployment news highlighted: 🔵 Business leaders and unions collaborate to Make Work Pay The UK Government initiates its Plan to Make Work Pay, aiming to enhance workers' rights and economic growth. Business leaders and unions collaborate with the Government in a landmark meeting, marking a new era of partnership to improve working conditions and boost living standards. 🔵 NIHR issues £33.2m in student research funding across England The NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) has allocated £33.2 million in funding across England as part of the INSIGHT scheme, supporting research training and engagement for students and early-career professionals. This investment aims to attract future researchers by offering fully-funded Master's programmes and engagement activities, particularly for those in healthcare, social work, and public health professions. 🔵 New legislation on workplace defibrillators New legislation in September 2024 will increase oversight on workplace defibrillators (AEDs) and the responsibilities of Guardians. Companies may need to reconsider in-house AED maintenance, as errors could lead to heightened legal and financial risks. Outsourcing AED management to specialists could provide necessary support, ensuring compliance and protecting both Guardians and organisations. Read more: https://ow.ly/clAU50T0Rvu

The new Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, set to roll out in UK on July 1, 2024, ensures that every penny in tips goes directly workers! This legislation is expected to enable them to keep an additional £200 million a year in tips. 🙌 Here are the facts: - 100% of gratuities will now flow straight to workers, with no deductions for admin costs. - Fairness! Tips are to be shared among front-of-house AND back-oh house staff. - Prompt allocation of tips, no more waiting around. For employers, this means revising policies and possibly rethinking how tips are distributed to align with this new standard of fairness. It’s about fostering a positive work environment where every member of the team feels valued and fairly compensated. As we navigate these changes, businesses must stay informed and prepared. The introduction of a statutory Code of Practice will guide employers on fair allocation, ensuring clarity and compliance.

🌟 Digital literacy is gaining recognition as a core component of adult education!🌟   This significant development comes as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is poised for reauthorization through the A Stronger Workforce for America Act (ASWA).   Key highlights of ASWA: - Nearly 50% of funding is dedicated to upskilling through individual training accounts, on-the-job learning, and industry-relevant initiatives. - Enhanced pathways to economic opportunity for youth, formerly incarcerated individuals, and community college students.   While the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) has expressed valid concerns about the bill’s potential to promote economic vitality in local communities, this act represents a significant step toward building a more skilled and adaptable workforce. Upskilling and reskilling are more critical now than ever.   What do you think about these changes? How can we ensure they genuinely benefit our communities and businesses?   #WorkforceDevelopment #Upskilling #DigitalLiteracy #WIOA #ASWA https://lnkd.in/epeA6Y_D

Back in 1929 when the market crashed and the Great Depression began, Uber, TaskRabbit, and the gig economy were almost a century in the future. So why are the laws we use to protect the workers who power those businesses unchanged from 100 years ago? Listen to this lively #KSQD Be Bold America! podcast with #AlexandreaRavenelle, professor at #UNC at #ChapelHill. How do Americans on the margins survive today? Government policies have not kept up with the changing nature of how we work, and too many people—the forgotten jobless of the gig-economy who don’t qualify for government assistance—are falling through the cracks. While the relief money provided during the pandemic was a godsend for millions, for others, namely workers like drivers, delivery people, and handymen, that vital assistance never came due to archaic and pro-business unemployment laws.  #KSQD #alexandrearavenelle #gigeconomy #beboldamerica https://lnkd.in/g-aqJHes

The results of this year's general election are in, and it's a Labour win with a significant majority. They have committed to introducing legislation to Parliament within the first 100 days of its opening, indicating imminent progress on various Labour topics. Few key Labour topics include: - Day-one rights: Basic rights like unfair dismissal, sick pay, and parental leave to become day-one entitlements. - Flexible working: Default flexible working for all workers from day one, except where infeasible due to nature of work. - Sick pay: Enhancing Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) availability and eliminating waiting periods. - Single status of "worker": Ensuring all workers receive the same fundamental rights and protections. - Strengthening rights: Including protections for pregnant workers, whistleblowers, and redundancy situations. - Self-employment: Introducing a right to a written contract for self-employed individuals. - Wage reforms: Removing age bandings, reforming the Low Pay Commission, and banning unpaid internships. - Tackling harassment: Mandating harassment-free workplaces by employers. - Family-friendly policies: Making parental leave and bereavement leave day-one rights. - Addressing zero-hours contracts: Ensuring fair contracts after 12 weeks of regular work and notice for shift changes. - Fire and re-hire practices: Strengthening information and consultation procedures to safeguard workers. - Wellbeing initiatives: Supporting workers' physical and mental health. - Right to switch off: Introducing a new right to disconnect and safeguarding workers from remote surveillance. - Artificial intelligence (AI): Collaborating with various stakeholders to understand the impact of AI on work, jobs, and skills. - Enforcement rights: Extending the time limit for bringing employment tribunal claims to six months. Exciting times ahead as Labour moves forward with these progressive initiatives!

Euan Blair writes in his insightful Sun article, ''if we focus too much on fixing the problems of yesterday, we risk failing to fix the problems of tomorrow." He's absolutely right, and the research the Jobs Foundation will be launching later this month, a report entitled Two Million Jobs: How Businesses Play a Crucial Role in Helping People from Welfare into Work, backs his thesis up. Unless there is a focus on skills and training, the UK workforce risks getting left behind. Any workers' rights package put forward by the Government needs to take into account what will help or hinder employers creating the jobs of the future. You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eFzYcpxu

Sooooooo happy about this. The new Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act is a game-changer for the hospitality and service industries in the UK. As the founder of an app that helps hourly workers track their earnings, I’ve seen how many employees are unaware that their tips are often used to cover company costs instead of going directly to them. This long overdue legislation ensures workers have the right to transparency on tipping practices and can take action if tips are unfairly distributed. It’s a big step towards fairness and proper compensation for workers who deserve every penny they earn. We need to ask why so many businesses relied on tips to cover their operating costs in the first place. It’s shocking that tips meant for workers were being used to fund the business itself. This law highlights how unethical those practices have been and shows the need for real change. Tips aren’t a subsidy - they’re a reward for the hard work of people who are often already underpaid. It's time workers get the full benefit of what they’re owed. #workersrights #fairpay #tipping #newlegislation #ceo

🚨 Labour in Britain: Possible Big Changes Ahead? Here is a quick summary for my Project Brains Future of Work Community of The Labour Party's proposals for new UK work laws led by Deputy Leader Angela Rayner: • Single worker status, potentially re-looking at the boundary since IR35 • Support for self-employment, including timely payments • Ban contracts that give flexibility to business, but not to workers, like many Zero Hour Contracts • Link minimum wage to cost of living, and remove adult age bands • Make Internships Paid Again • Day one rights, e.g. against unfair dismissal or for flexible working • Strengthen code against fire-and-rehire • Strengthening collective bargaining, including through unions • Pay gap reporting to include ethnicity and disability • Right to switch off, e.g. in remote work • Creating a single workers rights enforcement body • Champion responsible use of AI and other technology These proposals aim to modernise employment law for the changing nature of work; and provide greater power to the worker. But they would inevitably present challenges, for many businesses and some workers, in terms of choices, costs and administration. NB: This summary is based on proposals, not enacted legislation. Any actual implementation depends on who wins the election, with what majority and how consultation on bills goes. But, what do you think about these proposals? How might they impact your careers, company or industry? And what does it mean for your voting plans? #FutureOfWork #EmploymentLaw #UKPolitics #WorkplaceRights #ProjectBrains #AngelaRayner #Labour Image Inspo: Josh Greenway, founder of BIZL, the #sme #finance champion