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Work In Progress

Work In Progress

Written by: WorkingNation
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 The nature of work is changing rapidly and dramatically. Advances in technology are eliminating some jobs, transforming others, and, in some cases, creating jobs we never even imagined. In WorkingNation’s weekly podcast Work in Progress, we speak with leaders in business, education, government, and nonprofits about what’s being done to train and reskill American men and women to ensure they can compete for, and qualify for, good-paying, in-demand jobs today and in the future. Work in Progress is hosted and executive produced by WorkingNation Editor-in-Chief Ramona Schindelheim. Produced by Larry Buhl.WorkingNation Careers Economics Personal Success
Episodes
  • As the population ages, the U.S. home caregiving system is tipping toward a crisis

    As the population ages, the U.S. home caregiving system is tipping toward a crisis
    May 27 2025
    In this episode of the Work in Progress podcast, we're talking about the critical role paid and unpaid home caregiving workers play in our society, and the economic, physical, and emotional toll they face on a daily basis. Importantly, we talk about what can be done to support them as they support us. Joining me in the conversation is one of my favorite guests, Paul Irving, a senior advisor to the Milken Institute, a distinguished scholar in residence at the USC Davis School of Gerontology, and the consulting producer for the new documentary Caregiving from executive producer Bradley Cooper. There are more than five million paid home caregiving workers. Many of these workers arewomen and many are immigrants. The days can be long and physical. The pay can be low and the work doesn't always come with benefits. Additionally, nearly 106 million U.S. adults provide unpaid caregiving for children and for ill, aging and disabled family members and friends, often at the cost of their own jobs and careers. As the overall population ages, the American home caregiving system is under more and more stress, tipping toward a crisis. The documentary Caregiving, now streaming on PBS, takes a closer look at the challenges and the triumphs caregivers face every day. It makes the case that they are part of an "invisible army" that is providing a public good and they need our support. Irving – who also appears in the film – tells me that for people taking care of a loved one and trying to hold down a job, the challenges can be particularly difficult. "About 60% or so of family caregivers are also working, and their care responsibilities lead to absenteeism and presenteeism, and it affects their productivity," says Irving. "It affects their personal health in many, many ways. The stresses and strains of this responsibility that often go on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, have impacts across their lives. And we have nowhere near enough support from employers and from policymakers for the challenges that they face." He explains that only about 24% of employers in the private sector offer paid family leave. A relatively small but increasing number also provide other support such as mental health assistance, care navigation assistance, some additional supplemental compensation, and remote or hybrid working arrangements that facilitate care. Irving points out that direct, paid care workers – oftentimes immigrants, women, and women of color – are equally stressed. "They are under-compensated, under-recognized, operate in lonely environments without the kinds of services, and supports, and encouragement, and recognition that they so deserve for taking on these incredibly important roles." "It's easy for any of us to brush this off and say this is somehow unimportant until it affects us and our families, and it inevitably does. So, this is an issue that every single one of us, democrats, republicans, independents, those from all regions of the country, every religion, every race, every gender, you name it, we should all be thinking about it, all be striving to try to address and to address quickly." In the podcast, Irving and I talk about how he thinks we need to address this growing need for caregivers and how we can better support them economically and emotionally. He has a lot to say on the subject and I believe it's something everyone should hear. You can listen to the full conversation here or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find our podcasts on the Work in Progress YouTube channel. Actor, director, executive producer Bradley Cooper decided to bring this important issue to light after he became a caregiver to his father. Irving observes that Cooper is "a highly-educated, smart guy, in addition to being a movie star. And I think he recognized that if the challenges were so significant for him – the frustrations, the loneliness, the learning that needed to be done and all the rest – ...
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Happy, thriving employees are good for business

    Happy, thriving employees are good for business
    May 20 2025
    In this episode of the Work in Progress podcast, Dr. Angela Jackson joins me fresh off the Win-Win Workplace Summit in Chicago. The Summit, co-founded by Jackson and Jamai Blivin, brought together business leaders from around the country to discuss how, as employers, you can better engage your workforce and give them a sense of purpose and dignity. The reason to do so? Thriving employees are good for business. Here's some of what we learned at the Summit and Jackson and I discuss in the podcast: Employers are increasingly focused on getting more out of their existing workforce rather than just hiring new talent, recognizing employees as a powerful but underutilized asset. Leading companies are using data and analytics to deeply understand their workforce, identify skills and growth opportunities, and create personalized development and support for employees. Engaging and empowering frontline managers is crucial, as they have the biggest impact on employee experience and retention. Employers that address employee needs beyond just compensation, such as commute times, caregiving responsibilities, and work-life balance, see benefits in terms of higher productivity, engagement, and loyalty. Measuring the return on investment of investing in employees, through metrics like turnover rates and asset growth, is key to justifying these strategies at the business level. You can listen to the entire podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find our podcasts on the Work in Progress YouTube channel. Dr. Angela Jackson's new book is Win-Win Workplace. She is also the founder of the Future Forward Institute WorkingNation was a media partner on the Win-Win Workplace Summit. Episode 365: Dr. Angela Jackson, author, Win-Win WorkplaceHost & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNationProducer: Larry BuhlTheme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode hereWork in Progress Podcast: Catch up on previous episode
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    23 mins
  • Empowering Native American students through culture-based education

    Empowering Native American students through culture-based education
    May 13 2025
    In this episode of Work in Progress, I'm joined by Casie Wise, senior program manager for the National Indian Education Association (NIEA), a nonprofit advocating and advancing comprehensive, culture-based educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Native Americans have the highest unemployment rate of any racial or ethnic minority group in the U.S.,and lower graduation rates and achievement gaps compared to their white peers. There are manyreasons for this, including long-term and systemic disparities. The NIEA was founded in 1969 to advocate for Native education at the federal, state, and tribal levels, particularly working to ensure appropriate funding and tribal consultation, develop culturally-relevant education programs, and support the sovereignty of tribes to control their own education systems. 95% of Native students are attending public schools. While some are on reservation land, the majority of students are not attending school in a tribal community. Whether public or tribally-controlled, the school is a critical base in the community. Despite progress, Native Americans continue to face disparities in educational outcomes and economic mobility compared to their peers. Casie Wise explains that the NIEA works to address these gaps through policy advocacy, community partnerships, and programs that reconnect students to their cultural heritage and languages. Successful initiatives highlighted include career pathway programs, language immersion, and school-community collaborations. Overall, the NIEA's work is critical to empowering Native students, preserving cultural identity, and building sustainable economies in more than 574 federally recognized tribes. You can listen to the entire podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find our podcasts on the Work in Progress YouTube channel. Episode 359: Casie Wise, senior program director, National Indian Education AssociationHost & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNationProducer: Larry BuhlTheme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode hereWork in Progress Podcast: Catch up on previous episodes here
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    17 mins
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