Blog

Labor policy's "unintended consequences"

In The Upshot, a New York Times blog, yesterday: “When Family-Friendly Policies Backfire.” These policies aim to help women stay in the workforce after starting families, but they “often have unintended consequences.” The post provides several examples from Europe — women are paid less, get fewer full-time jobs, and are less likely to become managers. […]

Wages vs pension promises: A bird in the hand . . .

David Goldstein links to the news that the Illinois Supreme Court has found certain pension reforms in that state to be unconstitutional. The New York Times reports, The changes would have curtailed future cost-of-living adjustments for workers, raised the age of retirement for some and put a cap on pensions for those with the highest […]

Looking on the budget bright side . . .

In 2013, Oregon had reformed its public pension system, including by repealing certain cost-of-living adjustments. Yesterday the state Supreme Court ruled that that was unconstitutional. The Oregonian has a delightfully scathing editorial: Unfortunately, the majority party has spent much of the current legislative session on a counterproductive, far-left policy bender. . . . Thursday’s court […]

In Focus this week: Free trade, minimum wage for actors, and rent control

Follow-up on minimum wage for actors in L.A.

The New York Times reports that the actors union, Actors’ Equity, will force at least some small theaters L.A. to begin to pay minimum wages to actors. (I blogged yesterday about desire of many local union members to keep actors in small theaters exempt from the minimum wage.)  The national union representing stage actors has […]

Actors fight their union over minimum wage in L.A.

An interesting in the Monday New York Times describes a fight going on in Los Angeles  concerning the application of the minimum wage to actors working in very small theaters: The willingness of Los Angeles actors to perform for a pittance, hoping to hone their craft and, maybe, to catch the eye of an agent […]

In Focus this week: Exchange enrollment, wage inequality, and tipping

Moving away from tipping in Seattle

Seattle’s new minimum wage ordinance takes effect on Wednesday. From the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog: Most Capitol Hill food and drink owners will only be required to raise employee wages by less than a dollar if they aren’t already making $11 an hour plus tips. But over time, the phased in wage hike could bring about fundamental changes to […]

Minimum wage links

The University of Washington won’t be complying with Seattle’s new minimum wage ordinance, at least to begin with: But whether a city can set wages for the UW, the state community colleges, Seattle Public Schools, King County, the Port of Seattle and other public entities is still up for debate. Some of those agencies have […]

In Focus this week: Employment, franchisees, and WRC annual dinner