Giving Compass' Take:

• This B the Change post explains how B Corporations build more inclusive work environments through better health benefits and more flexible schedules at every level of employment.

• How might other companies take some cues from B Corps' example? In what ways can we support more paid family leave within the private sector?

• Here's how to improve health outcomes among factory workers.


Two of life’s most important priorities  —  health and family  —  also can create the most concerns for part-time and hourly workers. These employees typically don’t qualify for company benefits or have access to flexible scheduling to deal with family needs. Concerns about money often mean they can’t afford to buy health insurance on their own and can’t afford to take time off from work to care for themselves or others. Many businesses, however, rely heavily on the dedication and performance of part-time and hourly employees.

Providing health insurance  —  which can improve worker well-being and ease some financial concerns  —  and allowing flexible schedules for part-time workers can create a more equitable workplace and boost worker morale. They also create a more equitable and just business economy, one where all work is recognized as vital to the success of an organization. Just as a restaurant couldn’t run without a CEO guiding the way, it would certainly fail if the cooks and waitstaff  —  often paid hourly by their shifts with tips compensating the shortfall to minimum wage  —  weren’t present to serve patrons their meals.

Understanding this business-structure inequity, several participating companies in the B Corp Inclusive Economy Challenge have put improving the conditions for part-time and hourly workers at the forefront of their impact improvement efforts. Hundreds of participating companies are using their businesses to build an inclusive economy, and they’re sharing their learnings.

Read the full article about creating equitable policies for hourly and part-time workers at B the Change.