Good jobs provide stability and security for workers and their families and strengthen our economy. In addition to essential components of a good job, such as fair pay and safe and healthy workplaces set by labor standards, benefits are also important to promote the economic security, health, and mobility of workers and their families. Benefits—including health care, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, paid leave, disability insurance, and retirement savings plans—are a critical component of our social safety net. All workers need access to these basic benefits to protect their financial security when they are injured at work, experience a medical challenge, caregiving obstacle, change their employment, or even when they retire.
In this report, former Biden administration Department of Labor officials outline ten principles to guide the design and implementation of benefits programs that maximize support for workers and their families while maintaining administrative efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
