I was joined by Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and economist Diane Lim on the latest Facing the Future for the “Economist Mom” segment. We discussed real world policy and program strategies that could adapt worker benefits to the evolving economy and changing nature of work.
Lim said in today’s workplace, jobs are not held for entire careers as in decades past, but certain benefit constructs discourage workers from changing employers. Benefits like paid leave, retirement and health care are often tied to or subsidized by the employer.
Breaking the traditional employer relationship and starting a new one often requires vesting periods for many benefits, penalizes people in the gig economy or those that change jobs frequently and reduces mobility in the workforce, she added.
“It makes it difficult for the broad class of Amercians to achieve economic security given that more and more people are not in those traditional relationships these days,” Lim said.
Hear more on “Facing the Future.” I host the program each week on WKXL, NHTalkRadio.com (N.H.), and it is also available via podcast. Join me and my guests as we discuss issues relating to national fiscal policy with budget experts, industry leaders, elected officials and candidates for public office. Past broadcasts are available here. You can now subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play or through RSS.
