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What I’ve Been Reading This Week


I find updates on prior topics to always be worth circling back on, especially when it has been quite a while since there was any developments.  This week, I want to lead things off with an article about cheerleader pay in the NFL.  The following two articles are worth reading as well, but first let us get to an update on a topic I have not covered lately.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


A Closer Look at NFL Cheerleader Pay

Ah yes, NFL cheerleader pay (or lack thereof) was a common topic a few years ago.  Although that was a prevalent topic for many months, it has been quite sometime since I last came across a relevant article on the topic.  With that being said, this article from Sarah Hepola at Texas Monthly provides an interesting insight into the matter with a special focus on the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.  While the article does not really break ground, it is worth reading for those looking for a refresher on the matter.


Some Sick Workers “Encouraged” to Continue Working

Suhauna Hussain at The Los Angeles Times wrote an article late last week in which it was noted there appears to be a growing trend in many customer facing positions for employees that feel (or actually are) sick, to simply put on a mask, keep their possible sickness to themselves, and get back to work.  As we get further and further down the road of dealing with the coronavirus, I think we are likely to see more and more employers (and even some employees) try and sweep a potential sickness under the rug.  In a tight labor market where workers are in short supply, strikes are an ongoing threat, and retaining workers is a constant worry in some sectors, telling employees that feel sick to keep working and keep their heads down is something I think we are likely to start seeing.  Of course, just because an employee feels (or actually is) sick does not necessarily mean they have the coronavirus.  However, even with a society that has become hypersensitive to a simple cough or sluggishness indicating someone has the coronavirus rather than the flu or allergies, I think it will become more prevalent to see workers remaining on the job even when feeling under the weather.


Has Starbucks Inadvertently Recruited Workers Inclined to Unionize?

With more and more Starbucks locations making moves to unionize (following the successful unionization at two Buffalo area locations), some have started to wonder why Starbucks is proving to be ground zero for unionization efforts compared to other employers.  Noam Scheiber at The New York Times penned an article in which he noted that over the years, Starbucks has tended to hire workers that reinforce the company’s progressive branding.  However, in doing so, the company may have inadvertently recruited workers that are prone to embracing unionization.  With many customers tending to lean liberal and well educated, the company has embraced a hiring strategy to mirror its customer base.  Granted, Starbucks does have plenty of older, more conservative workers.  With that being said, the strategy of hiring younger, progressive workers over the years might have led to the company hiring workers more prone to unionization, despite the company’s efforts to push back against unionization efforts.

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