Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 88 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Why Japan's Jobless Rate Is Just 2.6% While the U.S.'s Has Soared

Ben Dooley Hisako Ueno

June 20, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan

Japan's unemployment has barely grown during the COVID-19 crisis, thanks in large part to a business culture that prizes employees' interests over short-term profits. Much of the country's economy remained open in the pandemic's early months. But the jobless picture was aided even more by policies based on a tradeoff between ordinarily high demands on workers in return for job security. The same policies have produced a tight job market that can make companies risk averse in their hiring. But the net effect during the crisis has been much less economic pain inflicted on workers.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Martha Is Eliminating Tipping. What Does That Mean?

Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme

June 18, 2020 |

Philadelphia Magazine |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The elimination of tipping has allowed one Philadelphia bar to give their employees health insurance and ensure an equal distribution of income amongst all employees. Typically servers in the front of house make much more in tips than those working in the kitchen. The owners of Martha are instituting a 20 percent service fee in lieu of optional tipping, providing a more stable source of income for all employees.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How custodians in Durham Public Schools were granted paid emergency leave

Victoria Johnson

April 09, 2020 |

The Daily Tar Heel |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

In March 2020, North Carolina’s Board of Education, in response to COVID-19, approved paid emergency leave for all school employees – but with 100% pay only going to those that qualify as “high risk.” With many of the affected employees being Spanish-only speakers explanations of the detailed leave policies were not comprehensive, making the roll out of the relief confusing and inaccessible.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Bartenders and Wait Staff Are Making Up for Lost Tips During COVID-19 Quarantine

Oscar Perry Abello

March 24, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

Bartenders and restaurant workers rely heavily on tips and often work off the books, which puts them in a unique disadvantage when trying to collect financial aid during this pandemic. Some have thought of creative ways to stay in touch with regular customers to ask for tips and others have sought relief from Restaurant Opportunities Centers United which has a membership of 30,000 restaurant workers and has provided half a million dollars in funding. The organization has sought to provide immediate help and is also pushing for long-term structural change such as paid sick leave.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Less is more: Lithuanian company's experiment with shorter working hours

Domantė Platūkytė

March 12, 2020 |

Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Lithuania, Vilnius

A company in Lithuania cut back the work day from eight to six hours and noted an increase in morale without any negative impact on productivity. Employees reported a better work-life balance, reducing their stress and exhaustion and allowing them more time for activities that boost personal wellbeing.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Paid to Stay Home: Europe's Safety Net Could Ease Toll of Coronavirus

Liz Alderman

March 06, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: France, Paris

Europe's generous social policies, such as allowing employees to retain their salaries while taking sick time to care for themselves or family members, may help to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak while also safeguarding the economy. Although the long-term impacts are yet unknown, in the short term, government-provided incentives are helping people and businesses stay afloat.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How a Cincinnati manufacturer is changing lives & slashing turnover

Katie Ellington

January 29, 2020 |

Richland Source |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cincinnati, Ohio

At Nehemiah Manufacturing, more than 80% of the employees are "second-chance" workers: people with a criminal record, a history of drug abuse, and such. Not only does the company bring more jobs to the city of Cincinnati, but it also connects employees with resources in the community, such as job training, housing assistance, food assistance, or mental-health counseling. Turnover rate is only 15%, and employees themselves describe how the job changed their lives.

Read More
Go to Original Story
What happens when people win this basic income raffle? They have time to find meaning in their lives

Julia Hotz

December 02, 2019 |

FastCompany |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Germany, Berlin

A nonprofit in Berlin tests the success of the Universal Basic Income structure, which is founded on the idea that a monthly stipend awarded to all individuals can create an invigorated labor force and allow people to do what they love. The organization called Mein Grundeinkommen (My Basic Income), has found that recipients of the monthly cash stipend have become less anxious and more curious and willing to reimagine their dream job.

Read More
Go to Original Story
CA Business Owners Spread Wealth By Selling Their Companies To Their Workers

David Wagner

October 31, 2019 |

Southern California Public Radio (KPCC) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

As of 2017, more than 130 California-based construction companies have created Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) as a way to ensure the future viability of a small business and ensure stability and buy-in for their employees. While ESOPs are rare, support for the strategy is growing - and the model has both progressive and conservative champions who see it as a way to make business run better.

Read More
Go to Original Story
DIY: Cleveland Comes Back

Daniel J McGraw

August 22, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

In Cleveland, Ohio, Evergreen Cooperative is a worker-owned business that includes a laundry business and a greenhouse operation, originally created to prevent laundry jobs from being outsourced and to keep jobs in the city. It is unique in that over half of employees are “worker-owners,” and other cities are paying attention. Evergreen Cooperative is working to help Chicago and New Haven bring similar models to their cities, all with the hopes of creating and retaining meaningful jobs that will benefit the local communities.

Read More
Go to Original Story