JUST Report
JUST Capital and PayPal , in collaboration with the Financial Health Network and the Good Jobs Institute, have established a new initiative to make workers’ financial security and health a C-suite and investor priority. The organizations are calling on the CEOs of America’s largest companies to conduct a Worker Financial Wellness Assessment as a vital first step toward understanding the financial vulnerability of their workforce. Leading research shows that when workers are more financially secure, key business outcomes such as productivity, customer satisfaction, and employee turnover and engagement also improve.
On this page you’ll find an overview of the project along with a set of resources and related stories. We’ll be regularly updating this list as the initiative evolves. Be sure to scroll down to find a link to download the assessment guide.
Even before the COVID-19 crisis hit the U.S., far too many working Americans were struggling to pay their bills each month, let alone save for an emergency expense or retirement. JUST Capital’s research shows that before the pandemic, 50% of workers at Russell 1000 companies weren’t making enough to support a family of three, even with a partner working part-time. The pandemic has only exacerbated these systemic economic inequalities.
The Worker Financial Wellness Initiative seeks to make workers’ financial security and health a C-suite and investor imperative. Together, the organizations will build upon PayPal’s catalytic leadership to directly engage corporate leaders on these issues, providing the resources for companies to conduct a Worker Financial Wellness Assessment and showing why investing in workers leads to improved business outcomes. Key components of the Initiative include:
JUST Capital, PayPal, the Financial Health Network, and the Good Jobs Institute know firsthand that taking steps to assess and improve workers’ financial well-being is no easy task. That’s why the organizations are providing a range of engagement and assistance opportunities to help companies no matter where they are at on their journey. This includes: hosting private, peer learning opportunities for C-Suite leaders; creating resources and events for HR and compensation professionals; providing direct assistance to companies on how to develop and deploy a Worker Financial Wellness Assessment, and identifying areas for improvement and immediate next steps; and public opportunities to celebrate corporate leadership.
We spoke to leading financial health experts from the Financial Health Network and the Good Jobs Institute on how companies can conduct an assessment of wages, benefits, and employees’ overall financial health. We also heard directly from PayPal about the actions they took in 2018 after learning that nearly two-thirds of their hourly and entry-level employees were running out of money between paychecks. Today, these workers are on track to have a minimum net disposable income of 16%, up from as low as 4% in some regions.
Watch the full conversation below.
Over the coming months, we will be providing you with the tools and insights you need to make your business stronger and more resilient. Begin by downloading the assessment guide »
JUST chairman Paul Tudor Jones and PayPal CEO Dan Schulman wrote an editorial making the business case for raising wages. In it, you’ll also learn more about how PayPal became a passionate supporter for the cause. Read it here »