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A note from EPI’s Kirstyn Flood: Hear from EPI experts and allies on hazard pay, unemployment, and what economic institutions can do to address systemic racism and the exclusion of Black economists.
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A new survey commissioned by the Economic Policy Institute finds that only 30% of people working outside their home are receiving “hazard pay,” meaning 70% are not receiving a wage increase or bonus in spite of greater risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The share of workers receiving hazard pay is far less than the share perceiving coronavirus risks from working outside their home. The survey’s authors, EPI Distinguished Fellow Lawrence Mishel and Evergreen State College Professor Emeritus of Political Economy Peter Dorman, used findings from other recent surveys conducted by the National Employment Law Project, The Washington Post–Ipsos, and the Roosevelt Institute on the pervasive safety fears among those at work, with Black, Hispanic, and low- and middle-income workers having, by far, the greatest concerns. Read the report »
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A majority of workers are fearful of coronavirus infections at work, especially Black, Hispanic, and low- and middle-income workers
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According to a new blog post, the U.S. Department of Labor’s most recent unemployment insurance (UI) claims data show that another 1.5 million people filed for regular UI benefits last week and 0.7 million for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the new program for workers who aren’t eligible for regular UI, such as gig workers. As we look at the aggregate measures of economic harm, it is important to remember that this recession is deepening racial inequalities. Black communities are suffering more from this pandemic—both physically and economically—as a result of, and in addition to, systemic racism and violence. To mitigate the economic harm to workers, the next federal relief and recovery package should include worker protections, investments in our democracy, resources for coronavirus testing and contact tracing, an extension of the $600 increase in weekly UI benefits, and substantial aid to state and local governments. Read the blog post »
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This letter from The Sadie Collective Community is about whether you will choose to stand on the right side of history as your Black colleagues are hurting. Every day we do our best to show up for work, despite understanding that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted our communities. Additionally, over the past weeks, the proliferation of news highlighting the plight of unjust police brutality plagues us. Many of us attempt to cope with the current reality and still show up for work, an all too familiar lifestyle of double consciousness, coping with the current reality of our broader lives while showing up, always at our “best,” in the workplace. This letter is not a plea for your sympathy, but rather a call to action for allies who understand the systemic violence that has led to dozens of protests across the United States. Endorse the letter here. Read the blog post »
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EPI hosted a bipartisan panel on June 1 of the nation’s top economists to discuss the urgent need for federal aid for state and local public services—including public safety, health, and education—to mitigate the economic harm caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The group of panelists, moderated by EPI President Thea Lee, took media questions about the state of our economy and discussed the importance of adequate aid to individuals, businesses, and state and local public services to speed and sustain a robust recovery. Watch the video »
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COVID-19 is acting as a magnifying glass to the deep-seated systemic inequities ever-present in the United States. EPI hosted a webinar on June 1 with the Insight Center; the Women’s Institute for Science, Equity, and Race; the Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights; and Economic Education. The webinar included findings from EPI’s new report on black workers, followed by a discussion on strategies to build an inclusive economy that centers on the needs of Black and Brown women and their communities. Watch the video »
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EPI President Thea Lee joined a panel of experts on May 27 for a discussion of life after the economic crisis and what we must do about it. Lee; Robert Pollin, co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute; and Noam Chomsky, renowned linguist, historian, and philosopher discussed their projections of how the crisis will unfold in the months and years to come. This webinar is a part of the Just Transition Listening Project, launched by the Labor Network for Sustainability and partners. Watch the webinar »
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EPI hosted authors William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen on May 27 for a discussion of From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century. Through their assessment of the intergenerational effects of white supremacy on Black economic well-being, Darity and Mullen confront the injustices of slavery, Jim Crow, and modern-day discrimination to make the most comprehensive case to date for economic reparations for U.S. descendants of slavery. EPI economist Valerie Wilson moderated the discussion. Watch the video »
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Amid their statements of support for Black Lives Matter, brands’ mistreatment of their Black employees is coming to the surface thanks to vocal employees. Read more »
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Workers are fearful of coronavirus infections, but few get hazard pay
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