September 1, 2020

Too Early Retirement

For some, early retirement is a chance to do something else, to spend more time with family, or pursue a passion put off by work.  But for others, early retirement, also known by the euphemistic “involuntary separation,” has been an unwelcome occurrence and reminder of people’s status within the workforce, and this trend has been increasing in recent times. Now, this year, as many businesses shed jobs in a cost-saving effort related to the pandemic, employers are using the pandemic as an excuse to force early retirement on employees reports the New York Times.

According to economists the once vaunted “experience” of older employees resulted in higher salaries and greater security. But this has been eroding in the face of a changing economy and a lack of enforcement of age-related employment discrimination laws. This trend has accelerated rapidly since March when the pandemic forced many companies to cut costs, shift to remote work, or shut down completely. Indeed, since March, according to figures, almost 3 million workers between 55 and 70 have left the job market and are not seeking work, with another million projected to follow suit by the end of the year. Researchers say this is twice the rate departure from the job market that the same age cohort experienced during the 2007-2009 recession.

As we’ve noted time and again, unemployment has been particularly devastating to women and people of color and older workers in those groups are experiencing great difficulty with many raiding their savings or retirement funds just to pay rent or buy groceries. Additionally, older workers in some industries, such as hospitality, construction, and education have seen significant job loss. When you add on top of this the tremendous burden of weighing health against employment, older workers are in a uniquely fraught position.



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Is the Third Stimulus the Beginning of a Guaranteed Family Income?

March 11, 2021
Gender Discrimination
Tucked into 2021’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package is a provision that could have life-changing effects for families with children: an expansion and reworking of the child tax credit. Championed solo for nearly two decades by Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the idea to expand the child tax credit has gained a new lease on life and more admirers as the pandemic and lockdowns have had a deleterious impact on families and children.

“She-cession” Global, Not Local

March 10, 2021
Gender Discrimination
Whether it is increasing the number of hours spent working, picking up the slack in domestic life, being forced to quit to take care of children or other family, or leaving the job market entirely, women in the US have taken the brunt of the pandemic’s resulting economic crisis, so much so that it has been dubbed the first “she-cession.” The Financial Times has released a survey demonstrating that this is an issue for women internationally, not just in the United States.

Alex Berke Quoted in New York Times Article on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

March 5, 2021
Pregnancy Discrimination
The pandemic may be creating a path for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which was first introduced in 2012 to become law. This law will help clarify and define the rights of women to receive accommodations in the workplace.

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