By Rae Ellen Bichell, KHN Economists and public health experts alike say paid sick leave is an essential tool — like testing, masks and vaccines — in the effort to prevent COVID-19 infection and keep workplaces safe. Yet the U.S. is in the midst of another COVID holiday season, and federal laws that offered COVID-related paid sick […]
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Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
Supply chain problems — from salsa to sheet metal — are hampering Colorado businesses’ coronavirus recovery
Salsa -maker Amy Lasley used to throw away the disposable gloves she wears during food preparation. But as the price of nitrile gloves skyrocketed in recent months, she’s started to disinfect them with bleach and reuse them for cleaning outside the kitchen. Other items are more expensive, too: The glass jars she packs her salsa […]
Posted inBusiness, News
Amazon hiring for 3,000 jobs in Denver; offering $100 to vaccinated hires
NEW YORK — Amazon is seeking to hire 75,000 people across the nation — 3,000 specifically in the Denver metro — in a tight job market and is offering bonuses to attract workers, including $100 for new hires who are already vaccinated for COVID-19. The jobs are for delivery and warehouse workers, who pack and […]
Posted inColoradans, COVID, Economy, Education, News
Three Colorado college programs aim to help people with disabilities join the workforce. The state is opening doors, too.
GREELEY — On a recent Friday afternoon in Greeley, Brendan Balmes stops by Crabtree Brewing Company for a beer and to say hello to his boss, Jeff Crabtree. The 28-year-old works here as an intern, but the pandemic has put things on hold for now. That does not stop Crabtree from giving Balmes a pop […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: The American dream will fade without public investment in health, education
Even before the pandemic, economic prospects for many Colorado families were dwindling into stagnation. COVID-19 has only further widened the gulf between working families and Colorado’s wealthiest. As our state looks to recover (and recover better than before), new evidence published by the Bell Policy Center supports what we have seen throughout American history — […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Half of state employees don’t think equity, diversity and inclusion are prioritized. Here’s how Colorado is responding.
Colorado surveyed its roughly 30,000 state employees last year and asked if they thought leadership was making workforce equity, diversity and inclusion a priority. Only a little more than half of Colorado’s workers who responded said yes. “That number should be much higher,” said Kara Veitch, the executive director of Colorado Department of Personnel and […]
Posted inCartoons, Opinion
What’d I Miss?: Trickle up economics
Myra has missed 30 years of her life, due to a coma, but has found a new friendship with her young neighbor, Ossie. Together, they both are searching for their place in this world. < Previous | Start from the beginning | More cartoons from The Colorado Sun
Posted inBusiness, Opinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: How your employer uses perks like wellness programs, phones and free food to control your life
Companies offer all sorts of benefits and extras to attract the most favored workers, from health care and stock options to free food. But all those perks come at a price: your freedom. There’s a reason labor historians call these perks “welfare capitalism,” a term that originated to describe company towns and their subsidized housing, […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Women are rising in the conservation movement, but still face #MeToo challenges
The #MeToo movement has caused profound shake-ups at organizations across the U.S. in the last two years. So far, however, it has left many unresolved questions about how workplaces can be more inclusive and equitable for women and other diverse groups. In its latest twist, over the last month a series of top executives have exited The Nature Conservancy, the largest […]