Employees in poor health reduce company productivity.

Absenteeism, turnover, and reduced on the job performance can all occur when the employee or a member of the family suffers from poor health. However, companies that invest in the health of their staff see worker productivity improve.

Nearly 50% of people in low-income families experienced some worries about or difficulties affording food, compared to 14% of families with higher incomes.

Energy Use: workers who under-utilize or lack money for energy use endanger their health and reduce their job productivity.

By stabilizing their home energy needs, employees can improve their physical well being and be more productive at work.                                                                             [More]

Child Care: Struggles with child care de-stabilize the workforce.

Managing child care for low-come workers is anything but consistent.  As a result, they turn to family members, relatives, and others to provide care, in which providers and schedules differ from day to day.  In fact, researchers find that the upheaval associated with the patchwork childcare networks low-income workers cobble together can destroy their employment efforts.                                            [More]    

Financial assets stabilize working families.

Many programs and policies focus on improving low wage workers' financial asset base. As an employee's financial outlook improves, he or she can then enhance other assets such as improved transportation, more consistent child care, or better housing, all of which in turn improve employee performance on the job. However, two dynamics challenge a low-wage worker's ability to improve his or her financial assets.                                                          [More]