About 7 years ago

01/16/2017 - Midnight Reads – A Darker Theme in Obama’s Farewell: Automation Can Divide Us

A Darker Theme in Obama’s Farewell: Automation Can Divide Us
– The New York Times
Underneath the nostalgia and hope in President Obama’s farewell address Tuesday night was a darker theme: the struggle to help the people on the losing end of technological change. “The next wave of economic dislocations won’t come from overseas,” Mr. Obama said. “It will come from the relentless pace of automation that makes a lot of good, middle-class jobs obsolete.”

Robots Will Take Jobs, but Not as Fast as Some Fear, New Report Says
– The New York Times
The robots are coming, but the march of automation will displace jobs more gradually than some alarming forecasts suggest according to new data.

In The Catbird Seat At Wendy’s: Why Fast-Food Wages Are Rising
– Investor’s Business Daily
In today’s tight labor market, restaurants are embroiled in a full-on food fight over workers. The rank-and-file is winning referral bonuses, free meals and days off, and the scarcity of candidates may be raising the minimum wage without help from lawmakers.

Firms Find That Supporting Work-Life Balance Strengthens Retention, Recruitment Efforts
– The Chicago Tribune
More and more employers are making the business case for family-friendly workplace policies. Several top-performing companies already offer six weeks or more of paid leave as they try to retain parents. The issue is getting renewed attention, thanks perhaps to advocacy from President-elect Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka.