How Benefits Make Jobs Better

Workplace benefits can provide workers with economic stability in their lives, opportunities for personal and professional growth, and the chance to build wealth in the long term. Yet the field of benefits offered is incredibly diverse. Deep inequalities in access exist, administration tends to be complex for both employers and workers, and there is little shared knowledge about what benefits are most important for workers’ well-being. In this conversation, hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, we begin to build that shared knowledge through an introduction to the promise and potential of workplace benefits to improve job quality. We share findings from recent research conducted by the Future of Work Initiative highlighting challenges faced by workers today. And we hear from an expert panel about the state of benefits today, current innovative approaches to improve access and effectiveness, and ideas about how to build on these in the future. Our speakers include Betsy Biemann (Coastal Enterprises), Tonya Hallett (Amazon), Dr. Angie Kim (Center for Cultural Innovation), Emily Martin (National Women’s Law Center), and moderator Shelly Steward (The Aspen Institute). This event took place on January 9, 2024. For more information — including video, audio, photos, transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources — visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/how-benefits-make-jobs-better/ To read our complementary report, “Benefits Beyond Measure: The Role of Workplace Benefits in Improving Job Quality,” visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/benefits-beyond-measure-the-role-of-workplace-benefits-in-improving-job-quality/ Our next event, “The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy – A Book Talk with Nick Romeo,” will take place at our Washington DC office on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. EST. Learn more and RSVP: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/the-alternative-how-to-build-a-just-economy-a-book-talk-with-nick-romeo/