jobs

The Flaws of Meritocracy

Hamilton Nolan · 04/01/15 01:28PM

When questions of civil rights, or inequality, or discrimination arise, we are often reminded that we are supposed to be striving for an ideal: the ideal of meritocracy, where everyone rises and falls on their own merits. Take a moment to consider the problems with our ideal.

Walmart's Higher Wages Still Not High Enough

Hamilton Nolan · 04/01/15 09:57AM

With 1.3 million American employees, Walmart has the ability to influence retail wages in a way that no other company does. A new report says Walmart is still stealing from the public treasury.

Hamilton Nolan · 03/25/15 04:15PM

Since 2000, the number of jobs within commuting distance of an average American resident has fallen by 7%. Despite the fact that long commutes are one of the biggest barriers to human happiness, our commutes are getting longer. We are smart.

Target's Dumb Internal Guide to Millennials (and Other Generations)

Hamilton Nolan · 01/09/15 12:27PM

Retail monster Target has more than 360,000 employees. Some of them are oldies; some of them are Gen Xers; and some of them are the dreaded millennials. Fortunately, the company has a neatly stereotyped training guide for managers to navigate this generational minefield.

BuzzFeed Pulls Writer’s Employment Offer Over Leak Allegations

J.K. Trotter · 01/06/15 05:30PM

The small staff of Boston.com, the breaking-news site associated with The Boston Globe, is still reeling from weeks of internal unrest stemming from a series a viral posts about a Harvard professor and a Chinese restaurant published in early December, which resulted in a retraction, some disciplinary actions, and a suspension for one staffer. The turmoil’s latest casualty, however, involves a previously unrelated party: a young journalist who was about to start a fellowship at BuzzFeed.

Christmas at Amazon: One Man's Story

Hamilton Nolan · 12/30/14 11:15AM

What is it like to work at an Amazon warehouse during the annual holiday rush? One Amazon warehouse employee kindly narrated the "nonstop chaos" for us over the past month.

Do Not Listen to the Crazy Man Telling You to Quit Your Job

Hamilton Nolan · 12/22/14 11:50AM

Noted media thinker Jay Rosen offers this advice to to working journalists: if you don't thoroughly understand your company's business model, then "you should quit." Allow us to offer this counterpoint: whatever you do, do not listen to this man.

Down With Meetings

Hamilton Nolan · 11/21/14 10:44AM

Many of you have jobs in which you are required to regularly attend "meetings." Meetings about budgets, or staffing, or strategy, or one million other arcane workplace topics. I would like to point out, to your boss: "meetings," as a practice, are an enormous waste of time.

What Whole Foods Employees Think of the Company's "Values"

Hamilton Nolan · 11/18/14 02:32PM

Whole Foods has just launched its first national advertising campaign, featuring the slogan "Values Matter." It emphasizes not just quality food, but also the company's "fair labor practices." How do Whole Foods employees feel on that point?

Obama Is With the Fast Food Workers. Are You?

Hamilton Nolan · 09/02/14 08:15AM

Yesterday was Labor Day, a holiday that most Americans celebrate by going to work at their low-paid jobs. But—as unlikely as it seems—the president actually said something meaningful in his mandatory Labor Day speech yesterday.