Reputation, reputation, reputation
Having spent about five years working on and off on an internal, staff evaluation project that was known colloquially as “Moneyballin’,” I’m skeptical that our movement will adopt these recruitment techniques anytime soon. But employers, generally, really want to know: “will this hire be a good one?”
From Partners
The Center for Effective Government just released this new report on the pensions of the 1/%… as they, of course, lobby for retirement insecurity for the rest of us.
Unite, the UK union, has an app for members to get information about their union—and for non-members to have a quick way to join. Are any US unions doing something similar?
A couple of weeks ago, we linked to EPI’s blog post about robots in the workforce & their impact on wage inequity—here’s the full report, now online. (PS—I don’t blame the robots. I blame the CEOs.)
Sharing, Solidarity & Sustainability
Are ride-sharing services becoming better versions of gypsy cabs? Here are two articles that argue they’re moving away from the “community” model, at least in CA.
So you wanna start a worker-owned co-op of knowledge-based freelancers? Start here.
Uber wants more people to buy cars. Well, until they the can figure out the self-driving car thing. Then, no doubt, they’ll be helping robots get loans.
I only wanna live in a cloud country if we can call it Cloud Cuckooland.
Geeking Out
Sure Apple’s new fingerprint ID is cool—but what if your phone could identify you by the blood vessels in your eyes? Here’s hoping the security on THAT database is at an all-time high.
First, you can have sushi served by a robot in Japan, then jet on over to China for a stay in the robot hotel.
Organizing Theory
Paid sick leave is an important fight that many of us are engaged in right now, and it’s a particularly pressing one for working moms. But what about the fight to know your work schedule in advance?
Want to attack wage inequity? How about a ballot initiative, capping the pay of CEOs to what the president makes? Yes, the President of the United States. It’s gonna be quite a pay cut, for some.
As the parent of a 14-year-old, my involvement in anything makes it less cool. So maybe I won’t start taking 3-finger salute selfies, in the hopes that my kid and her friends WILL be joining this effort by the Harry Potter Alliance.
The Singularity Approaches
Scientists have started using software to comb through thousands of research papers to make connections that can lead to new discoveries, quicker. I guess it’s only a matter of time before software will replace me, in writing this blog!
I can’t wait till I can send a robot to do ALL my work travel for me…
What’s Going on in the Workforce?
The freelance economy is winning—not just in the US—and a cloud-based freelancer system makes an IPO.
Arizona State University is moving to online learning in the classroom—so instead of lecturing, instructors wander the class helping students who are stuck in specific problems. This seems like an interesting hybrid of MOOC and old-school pedantry.
Employee ownership takes many forms. In the tech industry, it gets granted as equity shares in a company. Here’s one approach of how to do it in a way that keeps low-seniority workers invested in staying for the long haul.
Phlebotomists beware—Walgreen’s wants you not to have to deal with rolling veins anymore. Or, really, any blood draws.
You probably wanna use a junk email address to sign up for this one…but MIT Tech Review has a report out about workforce automation.
Americans are really bad at taking vacation. No, Chevy Chase is not involved.
Final Thoughts
So first– a retraction…last week I sent out a story about a 3D printer jam causing a fatal shooting–I didn’t make it up, but someone else did, apparently.
To all our US readers, a very Happy Thanksgiving to you. I hope your turkeys are moist, and your pies applecious!