employment

Arby's is among seven fast-food chains that have agreed to stop limiting their workers' ability to take jobs at other restaurants in the same chain.

National

Fast-Food Chains Back Away From Limits On Whom They Hire

6:44pm July 12, 2018

by Yuki Noguchi

Seven fast-food franchises, facing potential prosecution from the state of Washington, abandoned a practice critics say hurt workers' chances of earning more and moving up the ladder.

Last year, 10.1 percent of the workforce was independent contractors, down from 10.7 percent in 2005, according to a new survey by the Labor Department.

Economy

1 In 10 Workers Is An Independent Contractor, Labor Department Says

4:50pm June 07, 2018

by Yuki Noguchi

It says last year, 10.1 percent of the workforce was independent contractors, down from 10.7 percent in 2005. Those figures appear to go against other surveys showing huge growth in contract work.

Queue Listen Now

Civilian unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, for black Americans and for the overall U.S. population (January 2000 to May 2018)

Economy

The Most Surprising Number In Friday's Jobs Report

6:36pm June 01, 2018

by Charlotte Norsworthy

Black unemployment fell to a record low 5.9 percent, suggesting that African-Americans are benefiting from the booming economy. And the gap between white and black unemployment has never been smaller.

Starbucks is closing more than 8,000 U.S. stores on the afternoon of May 29 to conduct racial-bias training.

Starbucks Training Focuses On The Evolving Study Of Unconscious Bias

3:30pm May 17, 2018

by Yuki Noguchi

Scientists and leadership trainers says it's nearly impossible to train people out of their biases, but organizations can develop ways of mitigating the effects of it. Often, it involves teamwork.

The lunch and helmet of a Venezuelan iron worker lie on a table during lunch break, in Ciudad Piar, Bolívar state, Venezuela.

World News

Many Venezuelan Workers Are Leaving The Job, And The Country

8:07am May 12, 2018

by John Otis

The country's economic crisis has an unexpected effect: Employees are either quitting or regularly skipping work.

Nina Irizarry says she was sexually harassed in various jobs as a contractor, but didn't have a human resources person to turn to or an employer to sue.

National

Unequal Rights: Contract Workers Have Few Workplace Protections

2:18pm March 26, 2018

by Yuki Noguchi

Across a diverse set of industries, contract work is booming, and that is raising concerns about a lack of anti-discrimination, harassment and other legal protections for those workers.

According to a recent NPR/Marist poll, 30 percent of Americans do something else for pay in addition to their full-time jobs.

When A Full-Time Job Isn't Enough To Make It

4:29pm February 02, 2018

by Emily Sullivan

An NPR/Marist poll finds that 30 percent of Americans do something else for pay in addition to their full-time jobs. But those extended workdays can mean giving up an important social support system.

Queue Listen Now

Demonstrators including French trade union leader Philippe Martinez, center, protest against President Emmanuel Macron's fast-tracked labor law reforms on Sept. 12 in Paris.

World News

Why French Unions Aren't Taking To The Streets Like They Used To

4:09pm February 01, 2018

by Eleanor Beardsley

Hard-line unions once wielded tremendous power and made French presidents quake in their boots for decades. Here's how President Emmanuel Macron is defeating them.

Alex Belfiori, 28, is a contract worker at Dick's Sporting Goods near Pittsburgh. An NPR/Marist poll shows 65 percent of contract workers are men and 62 percent of such workers are under 45.

The Mystery Of Contract Work: Why So Many Guys?

5:25pm January 23, 2018

by Uri Berliner

An NPR/Marist poll shows 65 percent of contract workers are men and 62 percent are under 45. Contract workers gain flexibility, but when business goes down, they're often the first to be fired.

Queue Listen Now

John Vensel is a contract attorney at the Orrick law firm in Wheeling, W.Va. He says contract work is today's economic reality.

Freelanced: The Rise Of The Contract Workforce

11:23pm January 22, 2018

by Yuki Noguchi

One in five workers is a contract worker, according to a new NPR/Marist poll. Within a decade, contractors and freelancers could make up half of the workforce, a shift with far-reaching implications.

Queue Listen Now