Work Should Be Rewarded, Not Punished
null Dec. 15, 2023 4:23 pm ETFood stamps accepted at a store in Brooklyn, N.Y., Oct. 16. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesI was glad to see Prof. Craig Richardson’s letter referring to the “disincentive desert” (Dec. 12). I never knew the name, but I have seen the phenomenon in practice. As a registered nurse, I would often ask a certified nursing assistant why she wasn’t picking up the extra shifts we were offering. The answers that I would receive typically went something like this: “I want to pick up that shift so bad I can taste it! But if I make any extra money, my children lose their food benefits.”These women and men were hard working, and witnessing their dilemma sickened me. I can’t help but compare it to how those in higher positions would be given bonuses for extra work, not penalties.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8Sponsored OffersDSW: Flash offer: 25% off DSW couponWalmart: $20 Off Walmart Promo Code - Any $50
Dec. 15, 2023 4:23 pm ET
I was glad to see Prof. Craig Richardson’s letter referring to the “disincentive desert” (Dec. 12). I never knew the name, but I have seen the phenomenon in practice. As a registered nurse, I would often ask a certified nursing assistant why she wasn’t picking up the extra shifts we were offering. The answers that I would receive typically went something like this: “I want to pick up that shift so bad I can taste it! But if I make any extra money, my children lose their food benefits.”
These women and men were hard working, and witnessing their dilemma sickened me. I can’t help but compare it to how those in higher positions would be given bonuses for extra work, not penalties.
Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
What's Your Reaction?
