Where's Workplace Coverage?

By Jonathan Higuera
May 9, 2008 01:33 PM

The commitment to covering workplace and labor issues has waned at many dailies. Only the largest national and regional papers have kept their workplace and labor reporters in place. And even then, most are asked to cover other beats as well.

But just because the glare of media coverage dries up does not mean the news and activities in those areas come to a stop.

Steven Greenhouse, a reporter for The New York Times, reminds us of this in his new book, “The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker.”

Like previous books about the plight of U.S. workers, notably “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich, Greenhouse gets to the heart of what’s stressing U.S. workers. And it’s not the North American Free Trade Agreement.

It’s more likely to be U.S. employers’ reliance on independent contractors, who do all the work of full-time employees but are kept in contractor status for financial reasons mostly beneficial to the companies.

In his book, Greenhouse recounts the plight of Jean Capobianco, a former independent contractor for FedEx. Capobianco had been an independent truck driver for another company bought by FedEx. When she fell ill with ovarian cancer she was eventually fired by FedEx because she was unable to find a replacement driver and she was not covering her route. By being an independent contractor, Capobianco was not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which would have required her employer to make reasonable accommodations for her in the workplace.

I would bet a lot more U.S. workers have lost jobs from situations like this than from plants closing up shop and moving abroad. The independent contractor phenomenon is much more vexing and immediate to the average American worker. I’m not saying outsourcing is not a real issue. In fact, one of the factors that has allowed some employers to “squeeze” its U.S. workforce has been the threat that they could move the plant and work to other countries.

However, the misuse and abuse of independent contractor status by employers could be having a much more detrimental impact on worker rights and standards. And it takes dedicated workplace writers with a broad understanding of the forces involved to ferret out these stories.

Michael Diamond has been covering workplace issues for the Asbury Park Press for the past eight years. He does it while keeping an eye on other business beats, including banking and state legislation affecting the business community.

He also files three blog postings per week, making sure that one is always dedicated to workplace issues.

He writes about things that appeal to him personally and even about issues he’s faced in his own workplace.

“I tell myself that I can’t be the only person who feels this,” Diamond said.

Much of the stories are based on balancing work and home life.

“I have had a lot of leeway in defining the beat,” he said.

Margarita Bauza, a business writer for the Detroit Free Press who covers workplace issues along with airlines, real estate, casinos and other business stories, said she actually did more workplace trend stories when the beat was part of the features department. But when Gannett bought the Free Press two years ago, they decided it fit better under the business desk.

“There’s a hunger out there for work/life stories but I’m not sure it’s considered super serious hard news,” she said. “There’s a tendency for the business desk to use wires.”

Several of her workplace stories done while in Features were syndicated, including office battles over room temperature and bosses who bully.

“That’s the kind of stuff we’d never do on the business desk,” said Bauza.

But with the focus back on the U.S. economy, maybe more business sections should.

Please enter your friend's e-mail address

Please enter your e-mail address

If you would like to include a message, please add it here:

Copyright © 2008 Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism