Perry Work Report: work&labour news&research, January 29, 2016

January 29, 2016

Announcement:

Industrial Relations Outlook 2016: Labour Relations in a Changing

The Conference Board of Canada is hosting a live webinar on February 9, 2016 entitled Industrial Relations Outlook 2016: Labour Relations in a Changing World. A special low student rate for University of Tornto Employment Relations and MIRHR students is available on request from the CIRHR Library.

Follow us on the CIRHR Library Tumblr and on the CIRHR Library Twitter.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution, which includes developments in previously disjointed fields such as artificial intelligence and machine-learning, robotics, nanotechnology, 3-D printing, and genetics and biotechnology, will cause widespread disruption not only to business models but also to labour markets over the next five years, with enormous change predicted in the skill sets needed to thrive in the new landscape.”

World Economic Forum, January 18, 2016: “The Future of Jobs”

“The report surveyed senior executives and chief human resources officers of various companies Executives were asked about employment trends and their drivers.  The WEF summarizes the trends with:”

“According to many industry observers, we are today on the cusp of a Fourth Industrial Revolution. Smart systems -- homes, factories, farms, grids or entire cities -- will help tackle problems ranging from supply chain management to climate change. Concurrent to this technological revolution are a set of broader socio-economic, geopolitical and demographic developments, each interacting in multiple directions and intensifying each other.”

“The WEF report also stresses that socioeconomic drivers such as changes in work environment (more flexibility, on-demand work, remote work), a growing middle class, and urbanization in emerging markets contribute as much to the changes in employment trends as technology.”

Employers and workers must prepare themselves, the WEF states: “During previous industrial revolutions, it often took decades to build the training systems and labour market institutions needed to develop major new skill sets on a large scale. Given the upcoming pace and scale of disruption brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, however, this is simply not be an option. Without targeted action today to manage the near-term transition and build a workforce with future proof skills, governments will have to cope with ever-growing unemployment and inequality, and businesses with a shrinking consumer base.”

TechCrunch, January 21, 2016: “The World Economic Forum On The Future Of Jobs,” by Roshan Choxi

Fourth Industrial Revolution: Promise & Peril

“There are three myths about Industrial Revolution 4.0. The first is that it won’t really have as big an impact as the previous periods of change, most especially the breakthroughs associated with the second industrial revolution. The second myth is that the process will be trouble free provided everything is left to the market. It is a fantasy to believe that the wealth created by the fourth Industrial Revolution will cascade down from rich to poor, and that those displaced will just walk into another job that pays just as well. [Then there is the] third and final myth: namely that all will be well provided the fruits of an economy dominated by artificial intelligence and smart robots can be redistributed, perhaps through a citizen’s income so that we can all have more leisure time when machines do all the work.”

The Guardian, January 24, 2016: “Fourth Industrial Revolution brings promise and peril for humanity,” by Larry Elliott

Project Syndicate, January 21, 2016: “Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” by Larry Hatheway

“The richest stand to gain more from the introduction of new technology than those in poorer sections of society.... [This] so-called fourth industrial revolution ... will have less of an impact on developed economies, such as Switzerland, Singapore and the UK. Emerging markets -- notably in parts of Latin America and India -- will suffer when artificial intelligence and robots become widely used, reducing the competitive advantage of their cheap labour.”

The Guardian, January 19, 2016: “Fourth industrial revolution set to benefit richest, UBS report says,” by Jill Treanor

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Progress towards Parity

“It will take another 118 years until the global pay gap between men and women is finally closed. That’s the year 2133. So say the authors of the Global Gender Gap Report 2015, who have spent 10 years measuring the economic gender gap between men and women. They found that since 2006, an extra quarter of a billion women have entered the labour force -- and yet the annual pay for women only now equals the amount men were earning 10 years ago.”

The report says:

“The conclusion is clear. If current industry gender gap trends persist and labour market transformation towards new and emerging roles in computer, technology and engineering-related fields continues to outpace the rate at which women are currently entering those types of jobs, women are at risk of losing out on tomorrow’s best job opportunities while aggravating hiring processes for companies due to a restricted applicant pool and reducing the diversity dividend within the company.”

Panelists included Melinda Gates, Jonas Prising, Justin Trudeau, Sheryl Sandberg, Zhang Xin, and Lyse Doucet, who spoke about: gender implications of future skills requirements, advanced policies and partnerships, and successful business strategies.

World Economic Forum, January 23, 2016: “Progress towards Parity”

Toddler Wage Gap

“Speaking in the session Progress Towards Parity at Davos, Sandberg said that ‘we have a toddler wage gap.’ She went on to explain this startling claim:”

“We assign our chores to our children in the United States, and it can be worse in other parts of the world... The boys are taking out the trash, it takes less time than cleaning the dishes and they get bigger allowances. We start out in our homes with these very different expectations and the time spent on these tasks is incredibly important.”

“This may sound trivial, but such reflexive biases build up into barriers that have profound effects in the workplace.”

“’We attribute success differently,’ Sandberg said. ‘We attribute a man’s success to his skills, while for women, we attribute it to working hard, help from others and getting lucky. Men are promoted based on potential, women on what they’ve proven.’” 

World Economic Forum, January 22, 2016: “We have a toddler wage gap, says Sheryl Sandberg,” by Ceri Parker

Gender Gap in Finance

“Why do we have so few women in private equity? Why is that a problem? And how can we solve the problem?”

Theresa Whitmarsh, executive director of the Washington State Investment Board and one of the driving forces of a “coalition of the willing” -- a “Women in Private Equity” working group from the World Economic Forum, has worked to answer those questions. The group’s goal is quite simply to increase the number of women in private equity.

“The reason why there are so few women in private equity, they found, is mostly because of a ‘feeder’ problem: PE funds tend to look for candidates primarily at investment banks. The issue is that there too, there are few women. On top of that, the women that do get on board have to work in a corporate culture that is not adapted to them.”

This is a problem because “'a private equity firm is only as strong as its human capital’. Having only 50% of the labor force to choose from, as she already argued, inherently hurts their competitiveness. Second, studies show that ‘diversity of opinions’ in board rooms and other decision-making groups leads to better decisions. And third, as private equity firms tend to be the ones investing in growth companies that ultimately may large public companies, having less women in the former causes a problem down the road too.”

“To solve the feeder problem, PE firms should consider widening the pool of applicants to include those working in consulting firms.... They could also reach out directly to business schools’ career offices, to make it clear they are truly looking for women candidates. To solve the retention issue, PE firms should make sure there aren’t only ‘mentors’ helping associates with advice, but also ‘sponsors’ who make available more senior jobs for women in PE. Finally, PE firms should also change their cultural norms, daring to talk about the issues in private equity openly.”

World Economic Forum, January 20, 2016: “The woman on a mission to close the gender gap in finance,” by Peter Vanham

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Davos -- An Overview

“Are we on the cusp of a Fourth Industrial Revolution? Will it be a force for good or evil? Will it provide new opportunities for all, or will it exacerbate inequalities?”

“It was these questions that framed the four-day meeting, and which were summed up by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a special address on the first day of Davos: ‘We don’t want technology simply because it’s dazzling. We want it, create it and support it because it improves people’s lives.’ But does it?”

World Economic Forum, January 23, 2016: “Recap of Davos 2016,” by Ceri Parker and Stephanie Thomson

“From [this] Fourth Industrial Revolution to feminism, education to Europe, the ideas that dominated this year’s Annual Meeting in Davos also resonated online. Below is a selection of the most read, most shared and most insightful essays from a full collection of nearly 200 expert views.”

You may also view some of the video highlights here.

World Economic Forum, January 23, 2016: “Top Blogs of Davos 2016,” by Ceri Parker

For more detailed recaps from each day see:

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Asbestos: Canada's Top Cause of Workplace Death

“The numbers of cases and deaths from mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused primarily by workplace asbestos exposure, have continued to rise and show no signs of abating, recently updated figures from Statistics Canada show.”\

“There have been thousands of cases and deaths related to occupational asbestos exposure in Canada, the world’s largest producer and exporter of chrysotile asbestos during the last century.”

See The Globe and Mail’s extensive coverage of asbestos

The Globe and Mail, January 21, 2016: “Asbestos-linked cancer on the rise: Statscan,” by Sheryl Ubelacker

“With the number of asbestos-related deaths continuing to climb across Canada, a B.C. union leader is calling for the urgent creation of a national registry of public buildings and marine vessels containing the heat-resistant fibrous mineral that causes cancer.”

“Asbestos is now recognized as a hazardous material, but workers exposed as long as 40 years ago, when the material was widely used in construction and other industries, continue to be diagnosed with asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer.”

“In a recent statement, WorkSafeBC said the number of asbestos-related fatalities, which was expected to peak in about 2015, is still climbing, and the high number of deaths may continue to grow for several more years.”

“And there are new fears that a younger generation of workers, not as acutely aware of the asbestos threat, are getting exposed in older buildings that contain the material. Of particular concern are those doing renovations and demolitions, where dust containing asbestos fibres can easily be inhaled.”

The Globe and Mail, January 21, 2016: “Union leader calls for national registry to track asbestos,” by Mark Hume

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GTA Goodwill's Sudden Shutdown

“The sudden closure of 16 Goodwill stores and 10 donation centres in the Toronto area comes as no surprise to those who have followed its precarious financial position in recent years.”

“The auditors of Goodwill Industries of Toronto warned the charity’s directors in May 2013 after reviewing financial statements for the 2012 and 2011 fiscal years of ‘material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about the organization’s ability to continue as a going concern.’”

The National Post, January 19, 2016: “Goodwill ‘on life support’: Sudden closure of 26 Ontario locations ‘no surprise’ to charity world,” by Hollie Shaw and Richard Warnica

“While the organization’s closing was abrupt, a Globe and Mail analysis of Goodwill’s operations shows that its decline was long in the making. The group’s financial woes stretch back well over a decade, and the charity weathered a string of major and minor crises for years as it attempted to find a solid financial footing.”

“Goodwill’s failure is a story of numerous poor management decisions set against the backdrop of an increasingly competitive retail environment for second-hand goods. Coming together, the two factors were a fatal combination.”

The Globe and Mail, January 24, 2016: “Charity case: Why Goodwill’s failure in Toronto was anything but sudden,” by Janet McFarland, Jeff Gray and Eric Andrew-Gee

“The closure affects 450 unionized employees. Many had no knowledge of the decision until they showed up to work to find stores with their doors locked, without explanation.”

CBC News, January 19, 2016: “Goodwill closures a blow to those who rely on it most”

The Goodwill of a Tim Hortons Owner

“Mark Wafer knows what it’s like being qualified for a job but being turned down due to a disability. The Toronto Tim Hortons franchise owner has reached out to former Goodwill employees after 16 stores and 10 donation centres in Ontario abruptly closed a week ago leaving 430 workers without jobs.”

“’The reason I reached out to these former (Goodwill) employees is because I know many of them have disabilities,’ Wafer said. ‘The unemployment rate for people with disabilities in Canada today is dismal at about 70 per cent. The participation rate is only about 18 per cent. Therefore those who were let go by Goodwill faced a daunting job search and success would be unlikely. We have a proven track record of inclusion and wanted to make sure those employees knew we were prepared to hire them, assuming they have the skills and/or can be trained to do the job,’ he added.”

The Toronto Star, January 24, 2016: “Tim Hortons owner reaches out to unemployed Goodwill workers,” by Henry Stancu

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Uber is Winning

A CBC News three-part series on Uber:

“A memo to the mayors of Canada’s biggest cities: Uber, whether you like it or not, is going to win. Don’t agree? Talk to your counterparts in New York, Chicago, Portland and more than 350 other cities around the world.”

“In the span of six years, Uber, a tech supernova backed by some of the deepest pockets in Silicon Valley, has all but conquered the U.S. Now, the playbook developed in its blitzkrieg through America is being applied in Canada and the rest of the world.”

CBC News, January 22, 2016: Part 1: “Uber playbook: Why the ride-hailing app will be coming soon to a city near you,” by Paul Haavardsrud 

"A look at how Uber gets what it wants reveals a company whose true expertise lies in identifying cracks in the current system and then prying open those fissures until they’re big enough to drive an app down the middle."

CBC News, January 23, 2016: Part 2: “How Uber is waging war by winning hearts and minds (Kate Upton edition),” by Paul Haavardsrud

"Working for its own narrow self-interest, the company’s systemic disregard for regulations -- a stratagem termed 'corporate nullification' -- can undermine the laws of the land that everyone else follows."

“'This isn’t just an Uber problem. If they get away with it, every company will do this; every company will become a platform and just say ‘oh, the laws don’t apply to us.’ If we enter into that stage, then it’s game over for vast swathes of business regulation: environmental, insurance, civil rights, worker protection, consumer protection, that’s all gone,' said Frank Pasquale, a law professor at the University of Maryland."

CBC News, January 24, 2016: Part 3: “Uber discussions need to go beyond the fact it offers a cheaper ride,” by Paul Haavardsrud 

Current Social Science Research Network papers on Uber are available here

Edmonton Legalizes Uber

“Toronto now has a taxi template for legalizing and regulating Uber, after Edmonton became the first Canadian city to do so.”

“Mayor John Tory, who has been under fire from taxi drivers since declaring ‘Uber is here to stay’ in November 2014, and refusing to order the service be shut down, welcomed Edmonton blazing a path.”

The Toronto Star, January 28, 2016: “Edmonton legalizes Uber, paving way for Toronto,” by David Rider

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Emerging Stronger 2016

“Emerging Stronger is a five-year agenda aimed at spurring growth and prosperity in Ontario. It is the product of extensive consultation conducted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Mowat Centre and Leger.”

“This fifth and final installment of Emerging Stronger looks back at the progress we’ve made over the past half decade, the challenges we still face as a province, and sets out a new consultation process, LeadON, that will help us chart an economic course for the next five years.”

“In some areas, we have made significant progress. For example, Ontario is making much needed investments in infrastructure that will translate into productivity gains.”

“In other areas, however, Ontario faces significant challenges. Ontario’s debt is approaching $300 billion. Interest payments on that debt now represent the third largest area of provincial spending after health and education.”

The Mowat Centre, January 26, 2016: “Emerging Stronger 2016: Measuring Progress, Charting a New Course” (36 pages, PDF)              

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Academic Accommodations and Student Privacy

“Navi Dhanota knew she needed some help to score top grades in university but this time, she wasn’t prepared to return to a psychiatrist’s chair to get it.”

“She didn’t think any student should have to disclose their private mental-health diagnosis for the privilege of academic accommodations like getting extra time to hand in an assignment or test.”

“So when York University demanded she name a specific mental-health disability to register for academic supports, Dhanota put her foot down. She had been through a similar system during undergrad at another school where she was diagnosed with six conditions just so she could write her exams in a smaller room instead of the gym, where the sounds of hundreds of people furiously writing created an enormous distraction. This time around, she decided to push for systemic change, filing a human rights complaint against York.”

“After a two-year battle that ended with intervention from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the sides last week announced a settlement.”

“Dhanota worked with ARCH Disability Law Centre, the university and the commission to rewrite the university’s guidelines for accessing academic accommodations.”

“Effective immediately, Dhanota and hundreds of other students seeking supports at York won’t have to label their illness to get help. The school still requires an assessment from a licensed doctor to confirm the student has a legitimate condition that may require faculty flexibility or other supports, but the focus is now on determining how the disability affects their learning. For example, some students may need to take tests at a particular time of day because medication makes them drowsy.”

The Toronto Star, January 13, 2016: “York University student wins mental-health fight,” by Diana Zlomislic

A Research Project for Province-Wide Changes to Academic Accommodation

“The materials on this site are the result of a project carried out by researchers from St. Lawrence College and Queen’s University. Funding for the project was provided by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities under the Mental Health Innovation Fund. The project had three goals:

  1. To develop province-wide standards and guidelines for the kinds of documentation that post-secondary students must provide when they are seeking academic accommodations for a mental health condition. These standards and guidelines are described in the RECOMMENDATIONS. The Recommendations for Documentation Standards and Guidelines are based on extensive research, consultations and a review of the literature.
  2. To develop training for students, faculty, access/disability advisors, student leaders and administrators, on how best to accommodate post-secondary students with mental health disabilities. The project team has produced eight videos dealing with various topics related to the accommodation process. Click HERE to access the videos.
  3. To develop an information and resource handbook for students with mental health disabilities in postsecondary education. The handbook contains information on the accommodation process, rights and responsibilities, how to manage your mental health on campus and mental health and the law.  View the Handbook.”

Academic Accommodations and Mental Health Disabilities [website]

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Pornographic Video and Allegations of Sexual Harassment

“The town of Spaniard’s Bay was plunged into turmoil after two-thirds of its fire brigade abruptly resigned, bringing to a head a dispute that had simmered for weeks.”

“Brenda Seymour, a town councilor and the only female member of the brigade, said she’s been threatened, intimidated, overlooked for promotion, and exposed to sexually inappropriate behaviour and comments within the department.”

“[Linda Ross, the] president of the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women says allegations of intimidation and harassment by the lone female firefighter in Spaniard’s Bay are not surprising and more needs to be done to prevent harassment in the workplace:”

“We are aware that sexual harassment happens, it doesn’t just happen in Spaniard’s Bay ... it happens in numerous workplaces whether it’s paid employment or volunteers. Women going into what are traditionally male dominated fields is a difficult pill for many men to swallow and it’s not age related ... it goes across ages.”

CBC News, January 25, 2016: “Spaniard’s Bay harassment allegations not unique, says women’s council”

“The resulting media coverage generated an immediate and critical response.”

“Inside the community, much of its citizenry appears to have turned against Seymour, with hundreds showing up in support of the ex-firefighters during a public rally. Almost 1,000 people joined a Facebook page in support of the fire department, and there is even a petition calling for Seymour’s removal from the fire department.”

CBC News, January 26, 2016: “Porn, persecution and pigheadedness: A week to forget in Spaniard’s Bay,” by Terry Roberts

Pornography in the Workplace

“Employers face an increased concern over the propriety of employees’ digital conduct at work. In the school context, especially, it is essential that student safety is protected and the school’s reputation is upheld.”

“Labour arbitrators in Canada have addressed these issues in the context of employees accessing pornography on work-issued computers, during work hours, and/or with students as the subjects of the images. While the principles in the decisions are similar, the outcomes have varied depending on a range of circumstances.”

“Arbitrators appear to be taking a fairly strict approach to pornography in the workplace. While traditional labour principles of employee history, employer warnings, and proportional responses are still central, accessing pornography at work is generally seen as significant misconduct for which discipline is usually warranted. Each case will be assessed based on its individual facts and circumstances.”

“However, employers must handle incidents   with proper protocols and measured responses. Although the school context requires strong protection regarding student safety and well- being, teachers and school staff are still entitled to fair treatment to properly protect their livelihoods.”

Lexology, January 21, 2016: “Pornography in the Workplace: Trends and Developments,” by Maddie Axelrod

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New Urgency for Employment Insurance

“The number of Canadians receiving employment insurance benefits rose 9.2 per cent in the year ending in November 2015, according to new data from Statistics Canada, with most of the newly unemployed in Alberta. There were sharp increases in new applicants from Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, bringing the total receiving EI to 544,200 people.”

“Alberta has also seen job losses in finance, administration and management categories.”

“Statistics Canada says the number of new claimants has levelled off in the past few months. Despite that, Saskatchewan saw a 4.6 per cent rise in claimants in November, Alberta was up 2.7 per cent and Manitoba was up 1.9 per cent.”

CBC News, January 21, 2016: “EI claims rose 9.2% in the year to November with Alberta hardest hit"

Statistics Canada’s The Daily, January 21, 2016: “Employment Insurance, November 2015“

Employment Insurance Reforms

“Liberal campaign promises to deliver a more generous EI program are taking on a greater sense of urgency after the Bank of Canada warned this week that the shifting economy is delivering a direct and personal toll on Canadians.”

“In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Employment Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk said the government will act quickly on its promised reforms. Specifically, she said Ottawa wants to address the fact that the percentage of Canadians who qualify for EI when they lose their jobs has slipped below 40 per cent.”

“The minister noted that the EI program adjusts automatically to rising regional unemployment, but the government is open to further changes if necessary.”

The Globe and Mail, January 21, 2016: “Ottawa looks to speed up EI reforms as job losses mount in West,” by Bill Curry

A Shovel-Ready Economic Stimulus

“...Economists are split between the need for ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure spending and longer-term investments. Alongside this debate are calls for stimulus targeted to oil-producing provinces, especially Alberta. That debate misses the fact that the most shovel-ready and targeted fiscal stimulus is employment insurance. Meaningful infrastructure spending can take months or years to get off the ground, but unemployed workers get (and spend) EI benefits within weeks. Money flows directly to hard-hit communities exactly when they need it."

“Increasing access to benefits will make the stimulus more effective and equitable. The Liberals’ EI election promises aren’t scheduled to take effect until January, 2017, but some would be straightforward to implement now."

  • “Eliminate the eligibility requirement of 910 hours of insured employment for new entrants and re-entrants to the labour market.”
  • “More staff needs to be hired to make sure that benefits flow without delay.”
  • “Scrap the 2012 changes to EI, such as reversing the three tiers of workers, returning to the previous definition of suitable employment and restoring the “best 14 weeks” pilot programs that created a single national standard for determining benefit levels.”
  • “An increase of $200-million to fund provincial literacy and essential-skills training aimed at those who don’t qualify for EI. While it’s not part of EI, it would be help where it’s needed most.”

The Globe and Mail, January 23, 2016: “Shovel-ready economic stimulus? That’s employment insurance,” Angella Macewar

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Income and Mobility of Immigrants

The Earnings Advantage of Landed Immigrants

“Immigrants who had skilled work experience in Canada before becoming permanent residents had a large initial earnings advantage over economic immigrants who were selected for permanent residency directly from abroad.”

“In contrast, economic immigrants who had non-skilled work experience in Canada prior to becoming permanent residents had similar earnings in the first full year after landing as economic immigrants without any prior Canadian experience. Furthermore, immigrants with non-skilled work experience had lower earnings growth over subsequent years and, 10 years after landing, earned significantly less than immigrants without any prior Canadian experience.”

Statistics Canada’s The Daily, October 23, 2015: “Study: The earnings advantage of landed immigrants who were previously temporary residents in Canada, 1982 to 2011“

Statistics Canada, October 23, 2015: “The earnings advantage of landed immigrants who were previously temporary residents in Canada, 1982 to 2011,” by Feng Hou and Aneta Bonikowska (36 pages PDF) or (HTML)

“The immigrant taxfilers who landed in Canada since 1980 as principal applicants under the Canadian experience class and skilled workers categories earned more in 2013 than other immigrants. Their median employment income was estimated at $49,000 and $48,000 respectively, while it was $29,000 for those admitted under the family and refugee classes.”

“The median employment income of immigrant taxfilers who landed in 2003 was estimated at $15,800 in 2004 (one year after landing). For the same cohort, it increased to $26,000 in 2008 and rose to $32,000 in 2013. The median employment income of refugees who landed in 2003 also increased over the same period. While it was $13,800 in 2004, it increased to $18,600 in 2008 and rose to $23,000 in 2013.”

Provincial data can be found here:

Statistics Canada’s The Daily, December 7, 2015: “Income and mobility of immigrants, 2013”

Labour Market Participation of Immigrant and Canadian-Born Wives

“Immigrant wives participate less often in the labour market than Canadian-born wives, and about half of the observed difference is attributable to socioeconomic characteristics, according to a new study.”

“From 2006 to 2014, 76% of immigrant wives ... participated in the Canadian labour force. The corresponding proportion for their Canadian-born counterparts was 11 percentage points higher at 87%.”

“Two factors account for about half of this difference. Immigrant wives generally come from countries where the labour market participation of women is lower than that of men. In addition, immigrant wives tend to have larger families than their Canadian-born counterparts.”

Statistics Canada’s The Daily, January 7, 2016: “Study: Labour market participation of immigrant and Canadian-born wives, 2006 to 2014"

Statistics Canada, January 7, 2016: “Labour market participation of immigrant and Canadian-born wives, 2006 to 2014,” by Rene Morissette and Diane Galarneau (10 pages, PDF) or (HTML)

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Top 100 Companies for Working from Home

“As technology gives us the freedom to work from anywhere, more and more people are prizing the ability to do so. Many companies are responding with flexible work schedules, and seeming to acknowledge the trend, the Department of Labor just announced that in 2017 it will resume its contingent workforce survey, which was last conducted in 2005.”

“The third annual list is based on an analysis of more than 40,000 companies and the jobs they posted on FlexJobs in 2015. (Check out the 2015 and 2014 lists.)”

“Overall, the site saw a 36% increase in the number of remote listings, with computer and IT jobs topping the list of fields offering such opportunities, followed by medical and health, sales, administrative, customer service, education and training, and finally, marketing.”

“Some of the most popular telecommuting jobs included writer, engineer, marketing manager, healthcare consultant, case manager, development director and recruiter.”

Forbes, January 27, 2016: “Work From Home In 2016: The Top 100 Companies For Remote Jobs,” by Laura Shin

Government Accountability Office, April 2015: “Contingent Workforce: Size, Characteristics, Earnings, and Benefits” (74 pages, PDF)

Professional Employees (DPE) AFL-CIO April 2014: “Professionals in the Contingent Workforce” (12 pages, PDF)

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The Mine Wars

“In the first two decades of the 20th century, coal miners and coal companies in West Virginia clashed in a series of brutal conflicts over labor conditions and unionization. Known collectively as the ‘Mine Wars,’ the struggle included strikes, assassinations, marches, and the largest civil insurrection in the United States since the Civil War.”

“Coal was the engine of American industrial progress at the beginning of the 20th century. It powered locomotives, factories, and home furnaces, and it helped to purify the steel used in erecting skyscrapers all over the U.S. Nearly three quarters of a million men across the country spent 10 to 12 hours a day in coal mines blasting, hand-picking, shoveling, and loading the indispensable rock onto railway cars bound for destinations across the country. Miners everywhere suffered deplorable working conditions, but between 1890 and 1912, miners in West Virginia suffered the highest death rate in America. Local business management was also not favorable to the miners; coal operators ran both the mines and the local towns, or camps, and often paid workers in company currency, forcing mining families to shop exclusively at the local company store, where operators set the price of everything to assure a profit.”

“By 1900, to help improve the work lives of American miners, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) had successfully recruited coal miners from Pennsylvania to Illinois and had established itself as one of the strongest unions in the nation. However, in the rapidly expanding coal industry of southern West Virginia, the mine operators fought back against unionization, sometimes violently.”

“The story of small people going up against very big forces for a better nation. 'The Mine Wars' premieres on American Experience January 26 at 9/8c [on PBS]."

Watch a preview here

The Charleston Gazette-Mail, January 24, 2016: “PBS ‘Mine Wars’ documentary tells a complex tale,” by Douglas Imbrogno

PBS, January 2016: “Introduction: The Mine Wars“

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Book of the Week

Corporate Social Irresponsibility, by Paula Alexander. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015. 413 p. ISBN 9780415721462 (pbk.)

From the publisher: "Corporate Social Irresponsibility focuses on ethical failures in order to relate corporate responsibility to business ethics, corporate governance, and organization effectiveness. The book advocates a strategic approach to CSR – ethical management cannot, and should not, be divorced from effective management. Corporate social responsibility has transitioned from oxymoron into a defining challenge of the twenty first century. Taking the recent financial crisis as a starting point, Alexander examines the underlying ethical and legal crises these events expose in the business world. The problems that have come to light go beyond issues of firm financial performance into the integrity of the manufacturing and marketing processes, and relations with consumers. As such, the book presents a model that resolves the apparent conflict between maximizing shareholder value, and meeting the interests of other firm stakeholders. Alexander presents a balanced view, contrasting her model with alternative approaches. The book also covers the impact of globalization on management, the ethics of outsourcing, the limits of regulation, as well as poverty alleviation and social entrepreneurship. Blending a comprehensive theoretical framework with a broad range of cases, this book covers the latest major changes in US legislation, as well as recent corporate scandals making it a valuable accompaniment to any course in CSR, business ethics, or business, government and society."

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