Working at Home Could Boost Layoff Risk, Some Fear

This essential question needs to be answered, but it's complex

(NEWSER) - We toss around the phrase all the time, but how do we define what makes a “good job” good? It’s a key question—and a complex one—as we look to the future of our economy, writes Michael Lind in Salon . Among the factors:

• Unions: We often call manufacturing jobs “good” ones, but that wasn’t the case until they were unionized. Service-sector jobs, meanwhile, are often seen as "bad" jobs, but they might see huge benefits from unionization.

Health benefits of becoming employed depend on job quality: study

(NEWSER) - Studies have found that unemployment is bad for a person's mental health, but new research has discovered that having a lousy job can be as bad or worse. The researchers studied thousands of people of working age and found that while getting a good job after a period of unemployment significantly boosts mental health, the mental well-being of those who entered jobs with terrible pay, no security, and no workplace support dropped below that of people who remained jobless, the Chicago Tribune reports. More»

Uncertainty is the 'new normal' in America

(NEWSER) - For many Americans, "recovery" feels a lot like recession—and it may take a decade for that to change, finds the New York Times . At the current rate of job creation, for instance, it would take nine years to recapture jobs lost thus far. Home prices, meanwhile, are down 20% since 2005; even assuming 2% inflation, it would take 13 years for the market to reach pre-crisis levels. Everywhere, offices sit empty. More»

Recession left 'gaping wounds' says IMF head

(NEWSER) - To those who think the worst of the recession is over, the head of the IMF has this to say: "We are not safe." An astounding 30 million jobs have been lost since the beginning of the financial crisis , three-quarters of those in richer economies, a new report shows. This "wasteland of unemployment," now at 210 million worldwide, puts both the United States and Europe at serious risk of a social revolt, says the IMF's Dominique Strauss-Kahn . More»

You'd think so, but the answer isn't that easy

(NEWSER) - Unless your idea of fun happens to include "exhaust, tiny workspaces, dress codes, and wasting your time," telecommuting is fantastic, writes Brian Palmer in Slate . Studies have shown that it's also "a win-win" for employers and employees in terms of productivity and quality of work. And it's greener, right? Maybe. "Unfortunately, the environmental benefits aren't quite as clear," he explains. More»