Worklife
Learn about how you can achieve a better work-life balance, and check out the latest news about the world of work, including advancements on ideas like the four-day work week and universal basic income.
This study gave homeless people $5,660 each. The results are beautiful
In 2018, a Vancouver-based charitable organization called Foundations for Social Change started a groundbreaking research project that gave cash payments of $7,500 CAD ($5,660 USD) to 50 homeless people. The idea was to check on recipients over the course of a year to see how they were faring. Read More...
Mayors from 12 major cities commit to divesting from fossil fuels
Investing in green initiatives could accelerate an economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, but if the federal government isn’t willing to divest from fossil fuels, then it’s up to local governments to do so. Recently, mayors of 12 major cities signed C40’s “Divesting from Fossil Read More...
Seattle protects Uber and Lyft drivers with new gig economy wages
The gig economy is growing, but these workers are not always guaranteed the same protections as employees in more traditional roles. In a move to protect these workers, the city of Seattle has passed a new wage scale for Uber and Lyft drivers, including a $16.39 minimum wage, to ensure their wages Read More...
Data centers drain water supplies. Microsoft is investing big to fix this
Data centers are infamously energy-intensive, but what people aren’t always aware of is that they also require huge amounts of water to keep servers cool. And to make matters worse, data centers are often situated in desert-like places where water is already scarce. Part of the reason companies Read More...
Meet Chuck Feeney, the billionaire who has given away all his money
For most of us who aren’t billionaires, it’s always baffling that such wealthy people can sit atop giant sums of money without donating a decent chunk of it to help improve the world. But then there’s Chuck Feeney. If you aren’t familiar with Feeney, he’s an Irish American who made Read More...
Interest rates on these farm loans are tied to improved soil health
Soil degradation is a looming crisis for the future of our food systems. We have discussed solutions like crop diversification and natural fertilization methods, but when it comes to funding these solutions, things get a bit more complicated. How can we convince farmers to invest in regenerative Read More...
Australia is minting coins that are designed to be given away
Australia has created a coin unlike any other in the world. It is a new Australian $1 coin that can be spent like any other money but is intended to be given away to people in need. With an image of Queen Elizabeth II on one side of the coin, the other side is stamped with the message: “Donation Read More...
Venture capital firms collaborate to offer African startups a pandemic lifeline
The pandemic has taken a toll on African start-ups. One estimate predicts that investment in African startups could drop by as much as 40 percent by the end of the year. In an effort to keep these companies afloat, Ventures Platform, an Abuja, Nigeria-based early-stage fund, is creating a relief Read More...
The Optimist View: Impact investing ─ Good for the world, good for your wallet
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin BY: AMELIA BUCKLEY Many of us want to live more sustainable, ethical lives, but what about putting our money where our mouths are? Literally. Traditional investment portfolios have relied heavily on fossil fuels and large Read More...
USPS delays cutbacks until after November’s election
We recently shared an article about how you can help save the US Postal Service. From grandma’s birthday cards to the integrity and safety of our elections, the USPS is a critical public service which we all rely on. Thanks to the activism and action of thousands of Americans, Postmaster General Read More...