Brigid Schulte is the author of the bestselling Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time and an award-winning journalist formerly for the Washington Post, where she was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize. She is also the director of the Better Life Lab, the work-family justice and gender equity program at New America. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband and two children.
Over Work Talking Points:
● Redesigning Work to have Time for Quality of life. How to more deliberately prioritize quality of life in our hectic day to day lives, focusing on meaningful work, caring for and connecting with others, and time to rest and play?
That's why it's so critical we create smart and effective work cultures. Drawing from the change agents featured in the book, Brigid can show that, while they use different methods to redesign work for more quality of life, there are key strategies that are universal. The first is articulating a vision of a different future and believing it's possible. The second is recognizing that change happens in a variety of ways, and that individuals, organizations, and policymakers all play a role. (With key takeaways for each)
● Defining what "Good Work" is - a combination of meaning, fairness, and cooperation - and why it's better for everyone – including businesses and the economy.
The U.S., the richest country in the world, ranks 5th among advanced economies in the share of low-wage workers in the workforce – 44 percent. Americans are working harder and harder and feeling like they're falling farther and farther behind. And far from the lazy worker trope, 70 percent of those who receive Medicaid or SNAP benefits work full time. How we can make all jobs good jobs. How one venture capitalist will only invest in companies that provide good jobs. And why, beyond human wellbeing, our economy – and our democracy - depend on it.
● Why Americans work such long hours, what it's costing us and how we can change. Are short work hours the answer?
Knowledge workers work around the clock - even on vacation - in one job and low-wage and hourly workers are taking on multiple jobs and side hustles to survive. U.S. laws and policies that make it hard for workers to organize and demand better reinforce the overwork culture. Surveys show Americans choose more work and money over time off, and that we'd work even if we didn't have to. Brigid can share what she's learned from reporting on efforts to change Japan's work-til-you-die or "karoshi" culture, and how Iceland improved both gender equality and wellbeing - and productivity - with shorter work hours. (Hint: long hours don't make work more productive, time off does.)