Work

How High Schools Shaped American Cities

Public education and its traditions united communities. But “school choice” could put that legacy at risk.

• Amy Lueck
• October 23, 2018

Everyone Cares About Pregnancy Discrimination

Conservatives and liberals, feminists and anti-abortion activists have teamed up to advocate for pregnant women’s rights in the workplace—but their reasoning is very different.

• Ashley Fetters
• August 3, 2018

The Forgotten Everyday Origins of ‘Craft’

A new book explores the fascinating medieval history of a word whose current meaning has little to do with skill or labor.

• Sarah Archer
• February 25, 2018

One Way to Ensure Equal Pay for Men and Women

The private sector doesn’t compensate women fairly. Can it learn anything from the federal hiring process?

• Alexia Fernández Campbell
• November 1, 2016

The Unionizing of Graduate Students

According to a new federal ruling, those who work as teaching or research assistants at private universities can now collectively bargain.

• Matt Vasilogambros
• August 23, 2016

A Conservative Push for Paid Family Leave

Breaking with Republican orthodoxy, a right-leaning think tank has proposed new federal benefits for the working poor when they take time off to care for a newborn or manage an illness.

• Russell Berman
• August 15, 2016

Equality Takes Work

Fairness on the job isn’t something that happens naturally. It has to be built.

• Iris Bohnet
• April 12, 2016

How Can the U.S. Make Life Less Draining for Workers?

The problem isn’t so much not having it all, but having way too much.

• Rebecca J. Rosen
• March 23, 2016

Is McDonald's Responsible for Its Franchise Workers?

A court case in New York City between McDonald’s and its workers could change the way employees negotiate their pay.

• J. Weston Phippen
• March 11, 2016

The Ethnic Groups That Still Believe in the American Dream

Hispanics and Asians, more than might be expected, tend to trust that they have a fair shot at getting ahead.

• Matt Vasilogambros
• March 8, 2016

Minorities, for Rent

The satirical website Rent-A-Minority is a biting indictment of how people in business often talk about diversity.

• Matt Vasilogambros
• February 19, 2016

Between a Detention Center and a Home of One's Own

In Chicago, a few undocumented immigrants find shelter and work as they wait, sometimes years, for a court date.

• Matt Vasilogambros
• February 6, 2016

Reno Is Gambling It All on Tech

With Tesla and Switch moving to town, the city unveils its tech ambitions.

• Emily DeRuy
• February 3, 2016

LinkedIn Is Not a Dating Site

The case against your dad’s favorite social-media platform being used to “connect” with younger women

• Sophie Gilbert
• September 10, 2015

A 2015 Labor Day Reading List

A roundup of recent stories on the changing nature of work in America

• Matt Thompson
• September 7, 2015

In Praise of the Humble Workplace Safety Video

The poor production values and overly emphatic voiceovers define an art form that is timeless, sometimes terrifying, and quintessentially American.

• Sophie Gilbert
• July 2, 2015