Arbeiten in Amerika

In der Schweiz leben wir schon im Paradies. Wenn es um zunehmend kranke Arbeitnehmer geht, reden wir bei uns über IV-Renten und nicht um Anpassungen des Arbeitsplatzes, und Spionage bei Gewerkschaftsmeetings ist noch nicht Routine…

1. Disabilities among American workers are on the rise, according to several new studies. The increase in disabilities can be traced to several reasons: unhealthy lifestyles (poor eating habits and lack of exercise); obesity (which leads to ailments like diabetes, knee and hip injuries, and back pain); an aging workforce; improved health care (people who might have died are surviving); and mental and nervous conditions. The growth in the number of disabled workers has employers scrambling to accommodate more maladies. Telecommuting, flexible working hours, and special equipment are a few of the approaches being used to deal with the situation.
2. Human Rights Watch, a New York-based advocacy group, yesterday released a report critical of Wal-Mart Stores. The report asserts Wal-Mart used overly aggressive tactics (surveillance cameras to monitor pro-union sympathizers, planting "spies" to eavesdrop on worker conversations, and firing workers who favored unions) to stop organizing drives. The report noted that unions and workers had brought 292 cases against Wal-Mart between 2000 and 2005.