The Case for Good Jobs argues that investing in better wages, training, and work conditions leads to higher productivity and profits. Zeynep Ton presents a compelling case for ethical and sustainable business practices.
Welcome to this Big Idea Blink. For this type of Blink, our editors choose one thought-provoking insight from a book so you can learn something new in just a few minutes.
The idea we’d like to talk about this time revolves around challenging prevailing wage norms. It’s quite surprising to find out that what’s deemed competitive market wages often doesn’t suffice to meet employees’ basic needs. This leads businesses into a cycle of poor job quality and unhappy workers. But there’s a better way.
Key idea 2 of 2
A wake-up call
Imagine looking into the heart of a leading tech company, a beacon of innovation and prosperity, only to find that its gleaming facade hides an uncomfortable secret: many of its employees are in financial distress, barely making ends meet. This scenario was the reality for employees at PayPal, a company whose mission is to democratize financial services for all. Yet, the irony was stark – while striving to make financial services accessible to the wider public, some of its own team members faced severe financial hardships, turning to local soup kitchens for meals.
The realization that competitive market wages were falling short was a wake-up call for PayPal. It unmasked a critical oversight in the corporate philosophy regarding wages and employment. Traditionally, wages are set by the market, supposedly a fair reflection of the value of labor. However, this narrative crumbles when scrutinized more closely. The concept of market wages, while appearing equitable, often fails to account for the realities of living costs, leading to a workforce plagued by financial precarity and instability.
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts
We've teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Case for Good Jobs about?
The Case for Good Jobs (2023) illustrates how market wages often fail to cover workers' basic needs, spotlighting the necessity for businesses to revalue labor and adopt good job practices.
The Case for Good Jobs Review
The Case for Good Jobs (2014) makes a strong argument for business success through investing in quality jobs that benefit both employees and companies. Here's why it's a worthwhile read:
Explores the vital link between **employee well-being** and business performance, emphasizing the importance of treating workers as assets rather than expenses.
Provides **concrete examples** of companies that have thrived by prioritizing good jobs, offering practical insights for leaders looking to replicate their success.
Challenges conventional wisdom on **cost-cutting measures** in business, presenting a fresh perspective on sustainable growth that challenges the status quo.
Zeynep Ton is an expert in operations management and has extensively researched how companies can create more value by investing in their employees. Her work emphasizes the importance of good jobs for productivity and customer satisfaction.
Become a member of our community of 43 million people
4.76
96k ratings
4.5
73k ratings
Laura H.
When I saw Blinkist had produced an infographic style Blink for the Rich Dad, Poor Dad book, it was a good reminder of the concepts I loved.
Jonathan A.
Clearly communicates the value proposition of the most popular book summaries and offers a relatable, tangible template that I can use immediately.
Renee D.
I'm absolutely thrilled that Blinkist now offers infographics! I can't get enough of them—they're such a fun and effective way to grasp and remember key points.
The AI-fication of JobsHuy Nguyen TrieuPreparing Ourselves for the Future of Work17 min4.2
MultipliersLiz WisemanHow the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter24 min4.6
Chasing HillaryAmy ChozickTen Years, Two Presidential Campaigns and One Intact Glass Ceiling27 min4.0
Power And PredictionAjay AgrawalThe Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence6 min3.2
Creativity, Inc.Ed Catmull with Amy WallaceOvercoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration19 min4.2
The Six Pillars of Self-EsteemNathaniel BrandenThe Definitive Work on Self-Esteem by the Leading Pioneer in the Field19 min4.2
IndivisibleDenise HamiltonHow to Forge Our Differences Into a Stronger Future5 min3.3
Everything is ObviousDuncan J. WattsOnce You Know the Answer38 min4.5
No Hard FeelingsLiz Fosslien and Mollie West DuffyThe Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work21 min4.3
Fierce ConversationsSusan ScottAchieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time17 min3.7
Beyond OrderJordan B. Peterson12 More Rules for Life37 min4.4
Dynamic DriveMolly FletcherThe Formula for Sustained High Performance in All Phases of Your Life17 min4.3
What Color is Your Parachute?Richard N. BollesA Practical Manual For Job-Hunters And Career-Changers15 min3.7
Nothing Changes Until You DoMike RobbinsA Guide to Self-Compassion and Getting Out of Your Own Way18 min4.6
Case Interview SecretsVictor ChengA Former McKinsey Interviewer Reveals How to Get Multiple Job Offers in Consulting12 min3.7
Guns, Germs and SteelJared DiamondThe Fates Of Human Societies9 min4.0
The Crisis CasebookEdward SegalLessons in Crisis Management from the World's Leading Brands20 min4.1
Good Vibes, Good LifeVex KingHow Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness22 min4.3
The Upside of Your Dark SideTodd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-DienerWhy Being Your Whole Self – Not Just Your “Good” Self – Drives Success and Fulfillment23 min4.0
Lost and FounderRand FishkinA Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World21 min4.2
Living the 80/20 WayRichard KochWork Less, Worry Less, Succeed More, Enjoy More13 min3.8
Prompting Made SimpleRajeev KapurHow to Use ChatGPT and Unlock the Power of AI19 min4.1
Love LifeMatthew HusseyHow to Raise Your Standards, Find Your Person, and Live Happily (No Matter What)17 min4.3
Thinking in BetsAnnie DukeMaking Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts21 min4.4
Radiant RebellionKaren WalrondReclaim Aging, Practice Joy, and Raise a Little Hell4 min3.5
Adaptive ResilienceMaria SantacaterinaHow to Thrive in a Digital Era22 min3.2
Sacred CowsDanielle Teller and Astro TellerThe Truth About Divorce & Marriage12 min2.9
The Innovative LeaderStephen WunkerLessons from Top Innovators for You and Your Organization21 min4.3
Why We RememberCharan RanganathUnlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters19 min4.2
The Self-Made Billionaire EffectJohn Sviokla and Mitch CohenHow Extreme Producers Create Massive Value14 min3.9
The Song of AchillesMadeline MillerA Novel21 min4.1
Licence to be BadJonathan AldredHow Economics Corrupted Us28 min3.8
Be SeenJen GottliebFind Your Voice. Build Your Brand. Live Your Dream.19 min4.0
How to Enjoy Your Life and Your JobDale CarnegieIncrease your understanding of human nature to live more fully27 min4.6
The View from NinetyCharles HandyReflections on Living a Long, Contented Life21 min4.6
Brave TogetherChris Deaver & Ian ClawsonLead by Design, Spark Creativity, and Shape the Future with the Power of Co-Creation20 min3.9
Wealthy and Well-KnownRory VadenBuild Your Personal Brand and Turn Your Reputation into Revenue15 min4.4
A New Way To ThinkRoger L. MartinYour Guide to Superior Management Effectiveness4 min3.3
Effective Decision-MakingEdoardo Binda ZaneHow to Make Better Decisions Under Uncertainty and Pressure20 min3.6
FilterworldKyle ChaykaHow Algorithms Flattened Culture16 min4.2
Of GrammatologyJacques DerridaThe Foundations of Language, Writing, and Meaning16 min4.1
What Matters MostDiane ButtonLessons the Dying Teach Us About Living19 min4.5
The Magic of CodeSamuel ArbesmanHow Digital Language Created and Connects Our World21 min4.4
The 3.3 RuleJohn BriggsThe New Workday Standard of Creating More by Working Less8 min3.8
The State of AffairsEsther PerelRethinking Infidelity22 min4.2
How to Be a People MagnetLeil LowndesFinding Friends – and Lovers – and Keeping Them for Life16 min4.4
Time SmartAshley WhillansHow to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life6 min3.5
How Emotions Are MadeLisa Feldman BarrettThe Secret Life of the Brain 17 min4.1
Unreasonable HospitalityWill GuidaraThe Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect17 min4.4
What to Do If... ?Anne-maartje Oud35 Questions You'll Need to Answer at Work17 min4.4
Daniel DerondaGeorge EliotA Quest for Identity and Purpose20 min3.6
The Meaning of MarriageTimothy Keller with Kathy KellerFacing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God22 min4.2
Hardcore Self HelpRobert DuffF**K Anxiety13 min3.6
Powered by MeNeha SangwanFrom Burned Out to Fully Charged at Work and in Life18 min4.0
Agile SellingJill KonrathGetting Up to Speed Quickly in Today’s Ever-Changing Sales World17 min3.7
The End of JobsTaylor PearsonMoney, Meaning and Freedom Without the 9-to-518 min3.9
How to Speed Read PeoplePatrick KingThink Like a Psychologist, Analyze Human Behavior, and Decode Emotions19 min4.0
On the RoadJack KerouacA classic literary chronicle of American restlessness14 min3.5
Tiny HabitsBJ FoggThe Small Changes That Change Everything22 min4.6
Death by MeetingPatrick M. LencioniA Leadership Fable...About Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business14 min3.7
Groundwork of the Metaphysics of MoralsImmanuel KantIdentifying and corroborating the supreme principle of morality18 min4.3
Tame Your ThoughtsMax LucadoThree Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life17 min3.9
InheritanceSharon MoalemHow Our Genes Change Our Lives, and Our Lives Change Our Genes16 min4.1
In the Realm of Hungry GhostsGabor MatéClose Encounters with Addiction19 min4.3
Evil Robots, Killer Computers, and Other MythsSteven ShwartzThe Truth About AI and the Future of Humanity24 min4.2
SapiensYuval Noah HarariA Brief History of Humankind28 min4.3
The Pursuit of HappynessChris GardnerAn NAACP Image Award Winner16 min3.9
Think Like a StoicKen MogiThe Ancient Path to a Life Well Lived17 min4.6
UnscriptedJames B Stewart and Rachel AbramsThe Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy17 min3.8
Fight RightJulie Schwartz GottmanHow Successful Couples Turn Conflict into Connection16 min4.3
Staring Down the WolfMark Divine7 Leadership Commitments That Forge Elite Teams21 min4.4
You Are Not So SmartDavid McRaneyWhy Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, and 46 Other Ways You’re Deluding Yourself19 min4.3
The Good Enough JobSimone StolzoffReclaiming Life from Work13 min4.0
What's Your Dream?Simon SquibbFind Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life.18 min4.3
Smart BrevityJim VandeHeiThe Power of Saying More with Less17 min4.1
The GameNeil StraussPenetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists16 min2.7
Job MovesEthan Bernstein9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career17 min4.2
Make Your BedWilliam H. McRavenLittle Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe The World11 min4.0
Your Life Is ManufacturedTim MinshallHow We Make Things, Why It Matters, and How We Can Do Better25 min4.3
Organizational PhysicsLex SisneyThe Science of Growing a Business21 min4.5
Every Job Is a Sales JobCindy McGovernHow to Use the Art of Selling to Win at Work18 min4.3
Marry HimLori GottliebThe Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough22 min4.5
The Ethical SlutJanet W. Hardy and Dossie EastonA Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Other Freedoms in Sex and Love19 min4.0
Positive ChaosDan ThurmonTransform Crisis Into Clarity and Advantage16 min3.9
SupremacyParmy OlsonAI, ChatGPT, and the Race that Will Change the World26 min4.2
Keep Showing UpKaren EhmanHow To Stay Crazy In Love When Your Love Drives You Crazy20 min3.9
Best Job EverC. K. BrayRethink Your Career, Redefine Rich, Revolutionize Your Life12 min3.8
How Not to Hate Your Husband After KidsJancee DunnStrategies for Staying Together as Your Family Expands17 min4.2
The Beginning of InfinityDavid DeutschExplanations That Transform the World20 min4.1
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleStephen R. CoveyPowerful Lessons in Personal Change23 min4.6
Experiments With PeopleRobert P. AbelsonRevelations From Social Psychology24 min4.4
The Three MarriagesDavid WhyteReimagining Work, Self and Relationship18 min4.0
PartneringJean OelwangHow to Forge the Deep Connections That Make Great Things Happen26 min4.2
Shaolin SpiritShi Heng YiThe Way to Self-Mastery17 min4.5
Anatomy of DesireDr. Emily JameaFive Secrets to Create Connection and Cultivate Passion20 min4.1
Sex, Murder and the Meaning of LifeDouglas T. KenrickA Psychologist Investigates How Evolution, Cognition, and Complexity Are Revolutionizing Our View of Human Nature13 min3.9
Feel-Good ProductivityAli AbdaalHow to Do More of What Matters to You17 min4.1
Managing the UnexpectedKarl E. WeickSustained Performance in a Complex World19 min4.4
#Upcycle Your JobAnna MellerThe Smart Way to Balance Family Life and Career21 min4.1
Good Morning, MonsterCatherine GildinerA Therapist Shares Five Heroic Journeys to Emotional Recovery16 min4.2
