A New York Times Magazine profile details a new app designed by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs that targets the income volatility and anxiety faced by many Americans in the low-wage workforce. The company, called Even, developed an app to “smooth[] the irregular, up-and-down paychecks of hourly workers into the steady flow of a simulated salary. On good weeks, when users outearn their Even salary, the company banks the surplus into a separate, Even-managed savings account. On bad weeks, when users fall short, they still get their salary, thanks to past surpluses or to interest-free credit from Even.” While the app can’t help those without a bank account or at least some form of income, it hopes to ameliorate the unpredictability caused by flexible scheduling and stagnant wages, especially for workers covering multiple jobs to make ends meet. The article points out how rare it is for a Bay Area tech company to be focusing on problems faced primarily by low-earners.
Lydia DePillis reports in the Washington Post on a new poll finding that most Americans support the right of fast food workers to unionize. The poll shows that Americans’ opinions on labor unions in general have recovered from the dip during the Detroit auto bailout in 2008, with 48% of Americans now viewing unions favorably (compared with 39% unfavorably). It also found that 62% of Americans support the right of fast food workers to unionize—though that figure was lower than retail sales workers (68%), public school teachers (71%), and manufacturing workers (82%).
The living wage campaign is spreading to Capitol Hill, with a group of Senate Democrats calling on the Rules Committee to give preference to Senate office building contractors “that provide a living wage, fair healthcare and other benefits and that give employees a voice in their workplace.” According to the Washington Post, the letter comes over a year after President Obama raised the hourly minimum wage for federal contract employees to $10.10.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Department of Labor proposes to roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by public defenders over a union’s Gaza statements, and Philadelphia’s largest municipal union is on strike for first time in nearly 40 years. On Monday, the U.S. […]
June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]
June 27
Labor's role in Zohran Mamdani's victory; DHS funding amendment aims to expand guest worker programs; COSELL submission deadline rapidly approaching
June 26
A district judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking agencies from implementing Trump’s executive order eliminating collective bargaining for federal workers; workers organize for the reinstatement of two doctors who were put on administrative leave after union activity; and Lamont vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers.
June 25
Some circuits show less deference to NLRB; 3d Cir. affirms return to broader concerted activity definition; changes to federal workforce excluded from One Big Beautiful Bill.