A story out of WNYC this morning highlights the emergence of worker cooperatives. Within these businesses, member-owners participate in democratic-style decisions that gives workers greater control over business decisions that directly effect them. According to the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, cooperative businesses “provide better working conditions and wages for typically low-wage work, and increase household wealth for low-income workers.” The New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives has a listing of 40 cooperatives in the New York City area, ranging from webdesign and production to food services, clothing shops, bookkeeping to law services. 

You can listen to WNYC’s report here: Working Without a Boss for Better Wages.

A report from New York City Comptroller, Scott Stringer, talks about the growing need for, and use of, flexible work arrangements (FWAs) that create alternatives to the traditional 9-to-5 work schedule. Families and Flexibility: Reshaping the Workplace for the 21st Century explains how changing workforce demographics (women who both work and take on the majority of childcare responsibilities, low-wage workers who have less control over their schedules, single-parent workers, workers who care for elderly/disabled family members, etc.) have highlighted the increased need of FWAs. In addition to providing examples of successful work-day restructuring at corporate offices (Aetna saved $78 million in real estate costs in 2012 by introducing FWA), the report also highlights unintended benefits including increased employee satisfaction and morale, and a reduction in overall employee stress/fatigue. You can read the full report here: