60 acast.com Invisible Worker https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker en Financial Wellbeing Forum workforce,financial,mobility, inclusion, policy, research,finance,society,frontline,essential,workers Financial Wellbeing Forum You might see them as ‘frontline’ or ‘essential’ workers…or you might not see them at all. Meet over half of the working world. They are the machine that powers our society - from making your coffee and emptying your bins, to caring for your relatives and delivering your parcels. You might see them as ‘frontline’ or ‘essential’ workers…or you might not see them at all. 


Invisible Worker explores the financial landscape of our most diligent workforce. By speaking to experts in mobility, inclusion, policy, research and more, we find out where the problems are, and how we can start to fix them.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Meet over half of the working world. They are the machine that powers our society - from making your coffee and emptying your bins, to caring for your relatives and delivering your parcels. You might see them as ‘frontline’ or ‘essential’ workers…or you might not see them at all. 


Invisible Worker explores the financial landscape of our most diligent workforce. By speaking to experts in mobility, inclusion, policy, research and more, we find out where the problems are, and how we can start to fix them.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false Financial Wellbeing Forum financialwellbeingforum@wagestream.com 664dc72194d1f40012388818 invisible-worker episodic https://assets.pippa.io/shows/664dc72194d1f40012388818/1717080679758-58d8a3c5f18e333bff80c53fe4d101bd.jpeg https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker Invisible Worker The Motherhood Penalty with Joeli Brearley The Motherhood Penalty with Joeli Brearley Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT 46:46 69b813690e4c6e73203fd6e3 false https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker/episodes/the-motherhood-penalty-with-joeli-brearley 69b813690e4c6e73203fd6e3 664dc72194d1f40012388818 the-motherhood-penalty-with-joeli-brearley full 54,000 women a year are pushed out of their jobs for getting pregnant. That's a woman every ten minutes. Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, joins Emily to expose the motherhood penalty — the career and financial setback that makes the Invisible Worker a mother. From the marriage bar to the modern pay gap, they make the case for affordable childcare, shared parental leave reform, and men picking up a mop.


Episode Notes from our host, Emily Trant:


Joeli Brearley has helped over 300,0000 women, including me. I have even been a client of Pregnant Then Screwed, the charity that Joeli founded to support women who have experienced pregnancy and maternity discirmination at work. 


Mothers are the Invisible Workers. They are the ones stitching together part-time jobs around caring responsibilities, quietly absorbing the financial hit of the motherhood penalty, and propping up the economy through unpaid labour that barely registers in GDP calculations. I knew I had to have Joeli on to unpack the history that brought us here and what we can do to change it.


Joeli is one of the most compelling advocates I have ever met. She is precise with data, unflinching in her honesty, and she made me laugh and want to cry in equal measure.


Thank you, Joeli, for everything you do for working mothers.


Here are some of the resources and research we discuss on the show:


Pregnant Then Screwed: The charity Joeli founded, offering free legal advice to women who experience pregnancy or maternity discrimination at work, and campaigning for systemic change. In the last 10 years, they've supported over 300,000 women. Find out more and access free support here: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/ 


Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): Source for the statistic that 54,000 women a year — one in nine pregnant women — are pushed out of their jobs. Read more here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/ 


Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS): Research showing that by the time a woman's first child is 12 years old, her hourly pay rate is 33% behind a man's on average. Explore the research here: https://ifs.org.uk/ 


Joeli's book — Pregnant Then Screwed: A data-driven, deeply personal investigation into the forces that hold working mothers back. Essential reading. Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Pregnant-Then-Screwed-Motherhood-Penalty/dp/1471192679 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 54,000 women a year are pushed out of their jobs for getting pregnant. That's a woman every ten minutes. Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, joins Emily to expose the motherhood penalty — the career and financial setback that makes the Invisible Worker a mother. From the marriage bar to the modern pay gap, they make the case for affordable childcare, shared parental leave reform, and men picking up a mop.


Episode Notes from our host, Emily Trant:


Joeli Brearley has helped over 300,0000 women, including me. I have even been a client of Pregnant Then Screwed, the charity that Joeli founded to support women who have experienced pregnancy and maternity discirmination at work. 


Mothers are the Invisible Workers. They are the ones stitching together part-time jobs around caring responsibilities, quietly absorbing the financial hit of the motherhood penalty, and propping up the economy through unpaid labour that barely registers in GDP calculations. I knew I had to have Joeli on to unpack the history that brought us here and what we can do to change it.


Joeli is one of the most compelling advocates I have ever met. She is precise with data, unflinching in her honesty, and she made me laugh and want to cry in equal measure.


Thank you, Joeli, for everything you do for working mothers.


Here are some of the resources and research we discuss on the show:


Pregnant Then Screwed: The charity Joeli founded, offering free legal advice to women who experience pregnancy or maternity discrimination at work, and campaigning for systemic change. In the last 10 years, they've supported over 300,000 women. Find out more and access free support here: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/ 


Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): Source for the statistic that 54,000 women a year — one in nine pregnant women — are pushed out of their jobs. Read more here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/ 


Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS): Research showing that by the time a woman's first child is 12 years old, her hourly pay rate is 33% behind a man's on average. Explore the research here: https://ifs.org.uk/ 


Joeli's book — Pregnant Then Screwed: A data-driven, deeply personal investigation into the forces that hold working mothers back. Essential reading. Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Pregnant-Then-Screwed-Motherhood-Penalty/dp/1471192679 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Frictionless Future of Finance with Nigel Morris The Frictionless Future of Finance with Nigel Morris Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT 31:46 6983af82a678f65f01c04abb false https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker/episodes/the-frictionless-future-of-finance 6983af82a678f65f01c04abb 664dc72194d1f40012388818 the-frictionless-future-of-finance full 2 7 FinTech pioneer Nigel Morris (Capital One, QED Investors) joins the show to discuss the double-edged sword of frictionless digital payments and the challenge of low financial literacy. He explores how data-driven strategies democratized credit, the psychology behind modern debt, and the potential for "Agentic AI" to help the working majority make better long-term financial decisions.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


It’s rare to meet a titan of finance who views the world through the lens of a psychologist, but that’s exactly what makes this man such a force in the world of FinTech. For decades, the credit card industry was a monolith that essentially ignored anyone who didn't fit a very specific profile. Then came Nigel Morris.


When I sat down with Nigel, I didn't just meet a venture capital powerhouse or the co-founder of a Fortune 500 company. I met a "rabid empiricist" with a psychology degree who saw, earlier than almost anyone else, that the mainstream financial system was failing the actual mainstream, the working majority. He and Richard Fairbank pioneered an "information-based strategy" that didn't just change how banks work; it fundamentally democratized access to credit for millions of Americans who had been turned away by traditional institutions.


Nigel, thank you for your decades of pushing boundaries, for your relentless optimism about how AI can finally bring "hedge fund economics" to the everyday person, and for helping us see the invisible gaps where FinTech can truly flourish.


Useful resources we discuss in the show:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> FinTech pioneer Nigel Morris (Capital One, QED Investors) joins the show to discuss the double-edged sword of frictionless digital payments and the challenge of low financial literacy. He explores how data-driven strategies democratized credit, the psychology behind modern debt, and the potential for "Agentic AI" to help the working majority make better long-term financial decisions.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


It’s rare to meet a titan of finance who views the world through the lens of a psychologist, but that’s exactly what makes this man such a force in the world of FinTech. For decades, the credit card industry was a monolith that essentially ignored anyone who didn't fit a very specific profile. Then came Nigel Morris.


When I sat down with Nigel, I didn't just meet a venture capital powerhouse or the co-founder of a Fortune 500 company. I met a "rabid empiricist" with a psychology degree who saw, earlier than almost anyone else, that the mainstream financial system was failing the actual mainstream, the working majority. He and Richard Fairbank pioneered an "information-based strategy" that didn't just change how banks work; it fundamentally democratized access to credit for millions of Americans who had been turned away by traditional institutions.


Nigel, thank you for your decades of pushing boundaries, for your relentless optimism about how AI can finally bring "hedge fund economics" to the everyday person, and for helping us see the invisible gaps where FinTech can truly flourish.


Useful resources we discuss in the show:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Unseen Cost of Bad Jobs (and Who Pays for It) with Zeynep Ton The Unseen Cost of Bad Jobs (and Who Pays for It) with Zeynep Ton Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT 48:07 69713718d00eff242de86546 false https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker/episodes/the-unseen-cost-of-bad-jobs-and-who-pays-for-it 69713718d00eff242de86546 664dc72194d1f40012388818 the-unseen-cost-of-bad-jobs-and-who-pays-for-it full 2 6 The "Invisible Worker," who powers society, is often trapped in bad jobs lacking dignity and fair pay. MIT's Professor Zeynep Ton unveils her Good Jobs System, showing how operational choices—like cross-training and slack—create high productivity and dignity. She argues that making service jobs the next middle class jobs is an urgent necessity.


Notes from our host, Emily Trant:


Has a business book ever moved you to tears? I had to reach for the tissues more than once when I read Zeynep Ton’s book, The Case for Good Jobs. The human impact of her work is powerful. As a Professor of Practice at MIT Sloan and the President of the Good Jobs Institute, she has spent over two decades proving that treating workers well isn't just "nice"; it’s a competitive necessity. She has worked with the businesses you love to go to, like Sam’s Club, and helped make their workers love being there just as much as the customers.


Zeynep is everything you could hope for in a podcast guest. She is a powerhouse of operational expertise who speaks with incredible empathy and clarity about why our current labor system is failing so many. Thank you so much, Zeynep, for joining me to discuss how we can bring dignity and meaning to everyone's work.



Useful resources we discuss on the show:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The "Invisible Worker," who powers society, is often trapped in bad jobs lacking dignity and fair pay. MIT's Professor Zeynep Ton unveils her Good Jobs System, showing how operational choices—like cross-training and slack—create high productivity and dignity. She argues that making service jobs the next middle class jobs is an urgent necessity.


Notes from our host, Emily Trant:


Has a business book ever moved you to tears? I had to reach for the tissues more than once when I read Zeynep Ton’s book, The Case for Good Jobs. The human impact of her work is powerful. As a Professor of Practice at MIT Sloan and the President of the Good Jobs Institute, she has spent over two decades proving that treating workers well isn't just "nice"; it’s a competitive necessity. She has worked with the businesses you love to go to, like Sam’s Club, and helped make their workers love being there just as much as the customers.


Zeynep is everything you could hope for in a podcast guest. She is a powerhouse of operational expertise who speaks with incredible empathy and clarity about why our current labor system is failing so many. Thank you so much, Zeynep, for joining me to discuss how we can bring dignity and meaning to everyone's work.



Useful resources we discuss on the show:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Saving Ourselves from Ourselves: Behavioral Economics at Work with David Laibson Saving Ourselves from Ourselves: Behavioral Economics at Work with David Laibson Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT 24:54 695e6d8a2418e900791781da false https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker/episodes/saving-ourselves-from-ourselves-behavioral-economics-at-work 695e6d8a2418e900791781da 664dc72194d1f40012388818 saving-ourselves-from-ourselves-behavioral-economics-at-work full 2 5 The median US worker retires with just $25,000 set aside for the rest of their lives. Harvard economist David Laibson argues our financial system favors the sophisticated, leaving the "Invisible Worker" in distress. He makes the case for forced savings and behavioral design solutions like automatic enrollment to overcome human procrastination and ensure financial security.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


I first encountered David Laibson’s work years ago, long before I had the chance to meet him. His research on behavioral economics and automatic enrollment didn’t just sit in academic journals; it quite literally changed millions of people's retirement trajectories.


When I finally sat down with him at his beautiful home, the Lowell House at Harvard, I expected a lecture from one of the world’s most brilliant economists. What I got instead was a deeply empathetic conversation about the "gnawing feeling" of financial distress. David is the first to admit that even he isn't always "economically rational," and his humility in discussing the "triple whammy ice cream dessert" of life’s temptations is exactly why his work is so impactful.


David, thank you for your decades of work, for welcoming us into your home, and for helping us understand how to build systems that actually catch people before they fall.


Here is more information on the research and topics we discussed:

We also touched on some startling realities facing the "Invisible Worker" today:

  • The 401(k) "Leakage" Crisis: Research shows the median US worker reaches retirement with only $25,000 across all accounts, largely due to withdrawals during employer transitions.
  • The "0.5%" Rule: A look into why only a tiny fraction of the population acts with pure economic rationality, while the other 99.5% of us are driven by emotion and impulse.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The median US worker retires with just $25,000 set aside for the rest of their lives. Harvard economist David Laibson argues our financial system favors the sophisticated, leaving the "Invisible Worker" in distress. He makes the case for forced savings and behavioral design solutions like automatic enrollment to overcome human procrastination and ensure financial security.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


I first encountered David Laibson’s work years ago, long before I had the chance to meet him. His research on behavioral economics and automatic enrollment didn’t just sit in academic journals; it quite literally changed millions of people's retirement trajectories.


When I finally sat down with him at his beautiful home, the Lowell House at Harvard, I expected a lecture from one of the world’s most brilliant economists. What I got instead was a deeply empathetic conversation about the "gnawing feeling" of financial distress. David is the first to admit that even he isn't always "economically rational," and his humility in discussing the "triple whammy ice cream dessert" of life’s temptations is exactly why his work is so impactful.


David, thank you for your decades of work, for welcoming us into your home, and for helping us understand how to build systems that actually catch people before they fall.


Here is more information on the research and topics we discussed:

We also touched on some startling realities facing the "Invisible Worker" today:

  • The 401(k) "Leakage" Crisis: Research shows the median US worker reaches retirement with only $25,000 across all accounts, largely due to withdrawals during employer transitions.
  • The "0.5%" Rule: A look into why only a tiny fraction of the population acts with pure economic rationality, while the other 99.5% of us are driven by emotion and impulse.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Hidden Power of a Caring Culture with Eileen McNeely The Hidden Power of a Caring Culture with Eileen McNeely Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:30:00 GMT 35:22 6942bcc4f46fd490ce537bae false https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker/episodes/the-hidden-power-of-a-caring-culture 6942bcc4f46fd490ce537bae 664dc72194d1f40012388818 the-hidden-power-of-a-caring-culture full 2 4 What truly drives performance at work? It's not just workload. Dr. Eileen McNeely, Executive Director of the Harvard SHINE Program, reveals a groundbreaking finding: a caring culture is six times more associated with performance than an employee's workload. This leads to the system changes needed to better serve employees.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


Wow, if you haven’t figured it out already, Eileen McNeely is an absolute force of nature. I’m hugely grateful that she gave me her time to come chat on the Invisible Worker podcast.


Eileen is the Founder and Executive Director of Harvard SHINE (https://shine.fas.harvard.edu/). It’s absolutely worth your time to browse through their incredible archive of impact.


Some of the sources that I used to prep for this episode include:

    

I hope this episode leaves you feeling both inspired and hopeful.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> What truly drives performance at work? It's not just workload. Dr. Eileen McNeely, Executive Director of the Harvard SHINE Program, reveals a groundbreaking finding: a caring culture is six times more associated with performance than an employee's workload. This leads to the system changes needed to better serve employees.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


Wow, if you haven’t figured it out already, Eileen McNeely is an absolute force of nature. I’m hugely grateful that she gave me her time to come chat on the Invisible Worker podcast.


Eileen is the Founder and Executive Director of Harvard SHINE (https://shine.fas.harvard.edu/). It’s absolutely worth your time to browse through their incredible archive of impact.


Some of the sources that I used to prep for this episode include:

    

I hope this episode leaves you feeling both inspired and hopeful.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Rethinking Wealth: A New Blueprint for the Working Majority with Tim Flacke Rethinking Wealth: A New Blueprint for the Working Majority with Tim Flacke Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:00:00 GMT 45:06 69305f13042629ee0e9081b8 false https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker/episodes/rethinking-wealth-a-new-blueprint-for-the-working-majority 69305f13042629ee0e9081b8 664dc72194d1f40012388818 rethinking-wealth-a-new-blueprint-for-the-working-majority full 2 3 When we talk about wealth, we often imagine investment portfolios or property ownership — not hourly wages and unpredictable shifts. Yet for millions of working Americans, income volatility defines their financial lives. Tim Flacke, CEO of Commonwealth, explains how small policy shifts and behavioral design can help turn instability into security.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


A huge thank you to my guest Tim Flacke, co-founder and CEO of Commonwealth. Commonwealth is a national nonprofit building financial security and opportunity for financially vulnerable people through innovation and partnerships.


I first met Tim a few years ago when he was speaking on a panel at a London-based event. He spoke so articulately about the opportunities to do better, that I knew I needed to hear more from him. Despite living on opposite sides of the Atlantic we seem to bump into each other at industry conferences or roundtables a couple of times a year, and I’m a keen subscriber to the Commonwealth newsletter. (Sign up here: https://buildcommonwealth.org/newsletter-signup)


Some of the pioneering initiatives we discussed on the show include:


No matter your role, I encourage you to get in touch with Commonwealth to see how their toolkits can help you to amplify your impact.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> When we talk about wealth, we often imagine investment portfolios or property ownership — not hourly wages and unpredictable shifts. Yet for millions of working Americans, income volatility defines their financial lives. Tim Flacke, CEO of Commonwealth, explains how small policy shifts and behavioral design can help turn instability into security.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


A huge thank you to my guest Tim Flacke, co-founder and CEO of Commonwealth. Commonwealth is a national nonprofit building financial security and opportunity for financially vulnerable people through innovation and partnerships.


I first met Tim a few years ago when he was speaking on a panel at a London-based event. He spoke so articulately about the opportunities to do better, that I knew I needed to hear more from him. Despite living on opposite sides of the Atlantic we seem to bump into each other at industry conferences or roundtables a couple of times a year, and I’m a keen subscriber to the Commonwealth newsletter. (Sign up here: https://buildcommonwealth.org/newsletter-signup)


Some of the pioneering initiatives we discussed on the show include:


No matter your role, I encourage you to get in touch with Commonwealth to see how their toolkits can help you to amplify your impact.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> No One Silver Bullet: Rebuilding Financial Health in America with Jennifer Tescher No One Silver Bullet: Rebuilding Financial Health in America with Jennifer Tescher Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:00:00 GMT 51:37 691e056d8f2dd34e465fbc87 false https://stream.co/en-us/podcasts/no-one-silver-bullet-rebuilding-financial-health-in-america 691e056d8f2dd34e465fbc87 664dc72194d1f40012388818 no-one-silver-bullet-rebuilding-financial-health-in-america full 2 2 What does it mean to be financially healthy in America today? Jennifer Tescher, founder of the Financial Health Network, joins us to trace the roots of financial inequality, unpack the data behind money and wellbeing, and explore how employers, policymakers, and institutions can rebuild the promise of the American dream.


Notes from our host, Emily Trant:


I can’t recall exactly when I first became aware of Jennifer Tescher, but I’ve been a fan of her work for several years now. She set up the Financial Health Network (https://finhealthnetwork.org/) more than 20 years ago, and has been systematically measuring the financial health of Americans ever since. 

Jen is everything you could hope for in a podcast guest. She’s smart, kind, thoughtful and willing to take a stance on tricky topics. Thank you so much Jen for taking the time to meet with me.


Here are some useful resources that we talk about on the show:


Much of what we speak about is systems change, and that takes time. Here are some of the policies and programs that the FHN has influenced:


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> What does it mean to be financially healthy in America today? Jennifer Tescher, founder of the Financial Health Network, joins us to trace the roots of financial inequality, unpack the data behind money and wellbeing, and explore how employers, policymakers, and institutions can rebuild the promise of the American dream.


Notes from our host, Emily Trant:


I can’t recall exactly when I first became aware of Jennifer Tescher, but I’ve been a fan of her work for several years now. She set up the Financial Health Network (https://finhealthnetwork.org/) more than 20 years ago, and has been systematically measuring the financial health of Americans ever since. 

Jen is everything you could hope for in a podcast guest. She’s smart, kind, thoughtful and willing to take a stance on tricky topics. Thank you so much Jen for taking the time to meet with me.


Here are some useful resources that we talk about on the show:


Much of what we speak about is systems change, and that takes time. Here are some of the policies and programs that the FHN has influenced:


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Courage for Risk: No One’s Coming to Save You with Jason Desentz The Courage for Risk: No One’s Coming to Save You with Jason Desentz Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:00:00 GMT 45:50 690b997068055f905c62aaa6 false https://stream.co/en-us/podcasts/invisible-worker-the-courage-for-risk 690b997068055f905c62aaa6 664dc72194d1f40012388818 the-courage-for-risk-no-ones-coming-to-save-you full 2 1 Of those raised in the lowest income bracket, only 4% reach the top 20% of earners. Jason Desentz, CHRO of Toshiba, is one of them. Desentz explains his philosophy: "Listen, Learn, Lead," and how he leads his people based on his lived experiences.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


I first met Jason in early 2025 when he was speaking about HR leadership at a conference in Atlanta. As I listened to him talk enthusiastically about the value of hard work, I sat in the audience and misjudged him. He’s a successful HR leader, and I assumed he came from a successful family background and that his ‘hard work’ narrative was cover for his privilege. Boy was I wrong.


Later that same day I hosted a roundtable discussion on financial inclusion, and Jason joined in. Afterwards, he came up to me and began to tell me his story. His humble background, how he knows what it feels like to grow up poor, and how that fuels his leadership style.


I knew then that his story needed to be told.


Jason does a lot of public speaking but he never talks about this part of his life, and I am honored that he was willing to open up and tell his story on the Invisible Worker podcast. 


Thank you, Jason, for your authenticity, for your courage, and for lighting the path for so many people to follow.


Here’s more information on some of the topics we discussed:


  • USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS): (https://www.fns.usda.gov/) for data on SNAP participation, benefit levels, and program expenditures.
  • Pew Charitable Trust: for data on social mobility and the proportion of children who earn more (or less) than their parents. https://www.pew.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/pcs_assets/2012/pursuingamericandreampdf.pdf 
  • Brookings Institution research: finds the U.S. has lower rates of social mobility compared to many other developed countries. It takes about five generations, or 150 years, for a family in the bottom 10% to reach the average income.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Of those raised in the lowest income bracket, only 4% reach the top 20% of earners. Jason Desentz, CHRO of Toshiba, is one of them. Desentz explains his philosophy: "Listen, Learn, Lead," and how he leads his people based on his lived experiences.


Show notes from our host, Emily Trant:


I first met Jason in early 2025 when he was speaking about HR leadership at a conference in Atlanta. As I listened to him talk enthusiastically about the value of hard work, I sat in the audience and misjudged him. He’s a successful HR leader, and I assumed he came from a successful family background and that his ‘hard work’ narrative was cover for his privilege. Boy was I wrong.


Later that same day I hosted a roundtable discussion on financial inclusion, and Jason joined in. Afterwards, he came up to me and began to tell me his story. His humble background, how he knows what it feels like to grow up poor, and how that fuels his leadership style.


I knew then that his story needed to be told.


Jason does a lot of public speaking but he never talks about this part of his life, and I am honored that he was willing to open up and tell his story on the Invisible Worker podcast. 


Thank you, Jason, for your authenticity, for your courage, and for lighting the path for so many people to follow.


Here’s more information on some of the topics we discussed:


  • USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS): (https://www.fns.usda.gov/) for data on SNAP participation, benefit levels, and program expenditures.
  • Pew Charitable Trust: for data on social mobility and the proportion of children who earn more (or less) than their parents. https://www.pew.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/pcs_assets/2012/pursuingamericandreampdf.pdf 
  • Brookings Institution research: finds the U.S. has lower rates of social mobility compared to many other developed countries. It takes about five generations, or 150 years, for a family in the bottom 10% to reach the average income.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> LIVE: The secret ingredient to happier hospitality - Nisha Katona MBE LIVE: The secret ingredient to happier hospitality - Nisha Katona MBE Thu, 27 Feb 2025 06:20:51 GMT 30:48 67c004439f453431222a6f4e false https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker/episodes/the-secret-ingredient-to-happier-hospitality-with-nisha-kato 67c004439f453431222a6f4e 664dc72194d1f40012388818 the-secret-ingredient-to-happier-hospitality-with-nisha-kato full 1 7 We’re wrapping up Season 1 of the Invisible Worker podcast with a very special Live Episode, brought to you from the annual Financial Wellbeing Forum.From barrister to restaurateur, Nisha Katona MBE traded the courtroom for the kitchen and built Mowgli Street Food. But this isn't just another restaurant story. We delve into the secret ingredient behind Mowgli's success: a workforce that thrives. Discover how Nisha's past shaped Mowgli's unique culture and how she's flipping the script on what it means to work in hospitality. Could her methods be the key to a happier, more fulfilled working life for hospitality workforces?


Show Notes:


This episode is a little bit different since we recorded it live in front of an audience with the amazing Nisha Katona, founder and CEO of Mowgli Street Food. If you’re watching you’ll catch glimpses of the audience and a little bit of interaction. If you’re listening, you might miss one or two gestures (e.g. where Nisha talks about a pile of paperwork being ‘this big’ and shows with her hands) but you’ll still be able to follow the conversation with ease.


If you’re curious about some of the stats we discussed, particularly about the hospitality sector, here are some great sources:


  • UK Hospitality has loads of sector stats that I found super interesting
  • I used the Resolution Foundation’s Economy 2030 report for all the info about how much hospitality we consume in the UK vs the rest of Europe AND for data on what features of a job people value more than a payrise. This report is worth reading.
  • The CIPD is also an excellent source of sector information, and it was my go-to for churn data
  • If you felt inspired by Nisha and now you want a job at Mowgli, here’s their careers page. 
  • If you’re an HR leader or running a business I also recommend reading up on the guiding principles from the Good Jobs Institute. It’s a US-based organisation, but the foundations they recommend hold up in any market.


Finally, we’ve supported the Mowgli Trust for this episode. Check out the great work they do.


Ps - If you want to be in the audience the next time we record a live episode, subscribe to the Finwell Forum Community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> We’re wrapping up Season 1 of the Invisible Worker podcast with a very special Live Episode, brought to you from the annual Financial Wellbeing Forum.From barrister to restaurateur, Nisha Katona MBE traded the courtroom for the kitchen and built Mowgli Street Food. But this isn't just another restaurant story. We delve into the secret ingredient behind Mowgli's success: a workforce that thrives. Discover how Nisha's past shaped Mowgli's unique culture and how she's flipping the script on what it means to work in hospitality. Could her methods be the key to a happier, more fulfilled working life for hospitality workforces?


Show Notes:


This episode is a little bit different since we recorded it live in front of an audience with the amazing Nisha Katona, founder and CEO of Mowgli Street Food. If you’re watching you’ll catch glimpses of the audience and a little bit of interaction. If you’re listening, you might miss one or two gestures (e.g. where Nisha talks about a pile of paperwork being ‘this big’ and shows with her hands) but you’ll still be able to follow the conversation with ease.


If you’re curious about some of the stats we discussed, particularly about the hospitality sector, here are some great sources:


  • UK Hospitality has loads of sector stats that I found super interesting
  • I used the Resolution Foundation’s Economy 2030 report for all the info about how much hospitality we consume in the UK vs the rest of Europe AND for data on what features of a job people value more than a payrise. This report is worth reading.
  • The CIPD is also an excellent source of sector information, and it was my go-to for churn data
  • If you felt inspired by Nisha and now you want a job at Mowgli, here’s their careers page. 
  • If you’re an HR leader or running a business I also recommend reading up on the guiding principles from the Good Jobs Institute. It’s a US-based organisation, but the foundations they recommend hold up in any market.


Finally, we’ve supported the Mowgli Trust for this episode. Check out the great work they do.


Ps - If you want to be in the audience the next time we record a live episode, subscribe to the Finwell Forum Community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[Adam Kay: Life inside the UK's largest employer]]> Thu, 23 Jan 2025 06:00:00 GMT 50:14 67916e941ab6c8a367b08fe5 false https://finwellforum.com/en/invisibleworker/life-inside-the-nhs 67916e941ab6c8a367b08fe5 664dc72194d1f40012388818 life-inside-the-nhs full 1 6 A huge thank you to my guest Adam Kay for coming on the show to talk about his experience being a junior doctor in the NHS. I highly recommend reading his breakout novel, This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor. It paints a vivid picture of life on the frontline of the NHS.


If you’re curious about some of the historical and financial information we discussed, here are some of the sources that I used to prep for this show:


  • For the NHS origin story you can browse the national archives for a look back through the 1942 Beveridge report, which recommended the creation of the National Health Service.
  • The King’s Fund data gives a nice snapshot of the NHS in numbers, and breaks down what you get for every £1bn.

I also looked at the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data and the NHS Agenda for Change pay rates to get some comparative earnings data and insight into how well the NHS pays as an employer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> A huge thank you to my guest Adam Kay for coming on the show to talk about his experience being a junior doctor in the NHS. I highly recommend reading his breakout novel, This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor. It paints a vivid picture of life on the frontline of the NHS.


If you’re curious about some of the historical and financial information we discussed, here are some of the sources that I used to prep for this show:


  • For the NHS origin story you can browse the national archives for a look back through the 1942 Beveridge report, which recommended the creation of the National Health Service.
  • The King’s Fund data gives a nice snapshot of the NHS in numbers, and breaks down what you get for every £1bn.

I also looked at the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data and the NHS Agenda for Change pay rates to get some comparative earnings data and insight into how well the NHS pays as an employer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The behavioural science of money The behavioural science of money Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:21:58 GMT 49:42 67600d5764b31a64797bbc1b false https://finwellforum.com/en/invisibleworker/behavioural-science 67600d5764b31a64797bbc1b 664dc72194d1f40012388818 the-behavioural-science-of-money with Owain Service full 1 5 Join our community to access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


A huge thank you to my guest Owain Service for coming on the show to talk about the behavioural science of money and to unveil the new research we did together.


Here are some of the links to topics we discussed on the show.


Use the Institute of Fiscal Studies tool to check how your household income stacks up against the rest of the UK. I hope you finished the showing perhaps feeling richer than you started, but if you want to check it out to be sure this is a great tool.


The Office of National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings is a great tool for understanding how pay is distributed. You can also get a snapshot, as I did, from looking at a single month of ONS data


In preparation for this episode Owain advised me to read the Perils of Perception by Bobby Duffy, which was fascinating. I also brushed up on the Thaler and Sunstein’s “Nudge”


Finally, we talked about Scarcity Mindset which is something I’m fascinated with, so much so that I wrote my own short paper about it, Mind Over Money. It’s a relatively short read, links back to some of the sources we discussed on the show, and as a bonus has a brief history of the concept of Scarcity Mindset and how some of the data I observe in my day job as Chief Impact Officer at Wagestream is potentially connected to this phenomenon.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Join our community to access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


A huge thank you to my guest Owain Service for coming on the show to talk about the behavioural science of money and to unveil the new research we did together.


Here are some of the links to topics we discussed on the show.


Use the Institute of Fiscal Studies tool to check how your household income stacks up against the rest of the UK. I hope you finished the showing perhaps feeling richer than you started, but if you want to check it out to be sure this is a great tool.


The Office of National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings is a great tool for understanding how pay is distributed. You can also get a snapshot, as I did, from looking at a single month of ONS data


In preparation for this episode Owain advised me to read the Perils of Perception by Bobby Duffy, which was fascinating. I also brushed up on the Thaler and Sunstein’s “Nudge”


Finally, we talked about Scarcity Mindset which is something I’m fascinated with, so much so that I wrote my own short paper about it, Mind Over Money. It’s a relatively short read, links back to some of the sources we discussed on the show, and as a bonus has a brief history of the concept of Scarcity Mindset and how some of the data I observe in my day job as Chief Impact Officer at Wagestream is potentially connected to this phenomenon.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Why do we make the poor pay more? Why do we make the poor pay more? Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:08:45 GMT 37:51 6731c99d6bd9c43f66ccb1ee false https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker/episodes/why-do-we-make-the-poor-pay-more 6731c99d6bd9c43f66ccb1ee 664dc72194d1f40012388818 why-do-we-make-the-poor-pay-more full 1 4 Join our community to access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


Thank you to Sara Davies, Senior Research Fellow at Bristol University Personal Finance Research Centre. Sara has been hands on developing the framework for measuring the poverty premium and in my day job I use her research to calculate and report impact. 💪💪💪


Although we pitched this episode as being about measuring the poverty premium, mostly we spoke about how and why it arises, and some of the methodology behind the measurement. If you want to get into the technical details of how it’s measured, here are some of the resources we mentioned on the show:


  • David Caplovitz’s 1963 book “The Poor Pay More: Consumer Practices of Low Income Families” → borrow a copy from the Open Library
  • This early report by Save the Children shows the potential cost of the poverty premium
  • Paying to be poor: uncovering the scale and nature of the poverty premium, published in 2016 is the seminal work from the Bristol University Personal Finance Research Centre. Some of the methodology (and data) has since been updated, and there’s a wealth of information about the poverty premium on the Fair by Design website
  • We spoke a bit about scarcity mindset on the show.I’ve written a short report called Mind Over Money that explores this in action, and links to further background reading.

Finally, if you want to feel appalled about the cost of the ‘loyalty penalty’ have a skim through the Citizens Advice super-complaint to the Competition and Markets Authority.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Join our community to access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


Thank you to Sara Davies, Senior Research Fellow at Bristol University Personal Finance Research Centre. Sara has been hands on developing the framework for measuring the poverty premium and in my day job I use her research to calculate and report impact. 💪💪💪


Although we pitched this episode as being about measuring the poverty premium, mostly we spoke about how and why it arises, and some of the methodology behind the measurement. If you want to get into the technical details of how it’s measured, here are some of the resources we mentioned on the show:


  • David Caplovitz’s 1963 book “The Poor Pay More: Consumer Practices of Low Income Families” → borrow a copy from the Open Library
  • This early report by Save the Children shows the potential cost of the poverty premium
  • Paying to be poor: uncovering the scale and nature of the poverty premium, published in 2016 is the seminal work from the Bristol University Personal Finance Research Centre. Some of the methodology (and data) has since been updated, and there’s a wealth of information about the poverty premium on the Fair by Design website
  • We spoke a bit about scarcity mindset on the show.I’ve written a short report called Mind Over Money that explores this in action, and links to further background reading.

Finally, if you want to feel appalled about the cost of the ‘loyalty penalty’ have a skim through the Citizens Advice super-complaint to the Competition and Markets Authority.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The loan shark next desk The loan shark next desk Thu, 12 Sep 2024 08:54:14 GMT 37:51 66e20e12302223b64891a949 false https://finwellforum.com/en/invisibleworker/loan-sharks 66e20e12302223b64891a949 664dc72194d1f40012388818 the-office-loan-shark England Illegal Money Lending Team full 1 3 Click here to join our community and access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


When you think of an illegal money lender, perhaps you think of a shady figure in a dark alley, or a faceless contact on a phone screen. You may not picture your next door neighbour, your work colleague, or even your friend. More than one million people in England are currently in debt to an illegal money lender, and two thirds of this group thought they were borrowing from a friend. Loan sharks prey on the financially vulnerable, those with unavoidable expenses, and no other financial choices - in this episode, we learn who they are, and how they’re being stopped. 

 

Cath and Anna work on the front line of the England Illegal Money Lending Team, working to investigate and prosecute loan sharks in the UK. Their team comprises specialist investigators and Liaise Officers who have experience in all areas of the legal and finance worlds.


Show notes

A huge thank you to my guests Cath and Anna who came on the show to share the work of the England Illegal Moneylending Team (aka Stop Loan Sharks).


We created this episode to put the spotlight on the work the team do, and to shine a light on a couple of worrying facts:

  • Around half of all people who use a loan shark are in work
  • 1 in 5 people meet their loan shark in the workplace


If you suspect someone is operating as a loan shark, report it by calling this 24/7 helpline: 0300 555 2222.


Here are some links to the research, reports and organisations we covered on the show:


  • The Centre for Social Justice report “Swimming with Sharks” is a comprehensive overview of what we know about loan sharks in the UK.
  • Fancy getting into some legislation? We talked about the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Feel free to leaf through the details.
  • We spoke about the regulation of payday lending (High Cost Short Term Credit) and the dramatic change to the volume and availability of payday loans. Have a look at this freedom of information request to see the figures for yourself. 
  • You can also check out the FCA’s 2022 financial lives survey for more information about the breadth of different financial products and how many people tend to use each one.


Finally, the team at Stop Loan Sharks will provide free workplace training to help your staff identify the signs of illegal moneylending in the workplace. Please reach out if you’re interested.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Click here to join our community and access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


When you think of an illegal money lender, perhaps you think of a shady figure in a dark alley, or a faceless contact on a phone screen. You may not picture your next door neighbour, your work colleague, or even your friend. More than one million people in England are currently in debt to an illegal money lender, and two thirds of this group thought they were borrowing from a friend. Loan sharks prey on the financially vulnerable, those with unavoidable expenses, and no other financial choices - in this episode, we learn who they are, and how they’re being stopped. 

 

Cath and Anna work on the front line of the England Illegal Money Lending Team, working to investigate and prosecute loan sharks in the UK. Their team comprises specialist investigators and Liaise Officers who have experience in all areas of the legal and finance worlds.


Show notes

A huge thank you to my guests Cath and Anna who came on the show to share the work of the England Illegal Moneylending Team (aka Stop Loan Sharks).


We created this episode to put the spotlight on the work the team do, and to shine a light on a couple of worrying facts:

  • Around half of all people who use a loan shark are in work
  • 1 in 5 people meet their loan shark in the workplace


If you suspect someone is operating as a loan shark, report it by calling this 24/7 helpline: 0300 555 2222.


Here are some links to the research, reports and organisations we covered on the show:


  • The Centre for Social Justice report “Swimming with Sharks” is a comprehensive overview of what we know about loan sharks in the UK.
  • Fancy getting into some legislation? We talked about the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Feel free to leaf through the details.
  • We spoke about the regulation of payday lending (High Cost Short Term Credit) and the dramatic change to the volume and availability of payday loans. Have a look at this freedom of information request to see the figures for yourself. 
  • You can also check out the FCA’s 2022 financial lives survey for more information about the breadth of different financial products and how many people tend to use each one.


Finally, the team at Stop Loan Sharks will provide free workplace training to help your staff identify the signs of illegal moneylending in the workplace. Please reach out if you’re interested.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The most successful government intervention of all time? The most successful government intervention of all time? Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:38:30 GMT 41:23 669582cf2437ed05c5cf69c2 false https://finwellforum.com/en/invisibleworker/pensions-auto-enrolment 669582cf2437ed05c5cf69c2 664dc72194d1f40012388818 pensions-auto-enrolment with Helen Dean full 1 2 Join our community to access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


This episode is around savings, and how saving into a pension was made easier through one small, but significant change in process. Less than 50% of UK workers were saving in a pension prior to 2012, and more than 80% now do - and our guest played a role in helping this change become the default across the UK. What’s the next innovation that will change millions of lives?


Show notes

A huge thank you to my guest Helen Dean CBE for coming on the show to tell the story of how pensions auto enrolment unfolded in the UK, plus how we might use that blueprint to drive a similar scale of intervention in short-term savings. I was lucky enough to get some of Helen’s time in her very last week as CEO of Nest Corporation. Hers is a unique story and I am so grateful for the time she took to tell it. And wow, what an impact she’s had on so many working people in the UK.


Here are some links to the research, reports and organisations we covered on the show:

  • Professor David Laibson’s work inspired both auto enrolment and opt-out savings trials. Have a scroll through his work to find out more, or simply to feel awed by how much he has produced since receiving his PhD in 1994.
  • All the papers by the Pensions Commission are published on the government’s National Archives.


If 300+ page reports don’t float your boat, the Institute for Government has a nice and short (13 pages) summary of the work and output of the Pension Commission. Alternatively you can download the exec summaries from the National Archives and skip the technical annexes.


Turning to short-term savings:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Join our community to access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


This episode is around savings, and how saving into a pension was made easier through one small, but significant change in process. Less than 50% of UK workers were saving in a pension prior to 2012, and more than 80% now do - and our guest played a role in helping this change become the default across the UK. What’s the next innovation that will change millions of lives?


Show notes

A huge thank you to my guest Helen Dean CBE for coming on the show to tell the story of how pensions auto enrolment unfolded in the UK, plus how we might use that blueprint to drive a similar scale of intervention in short-term savings. I was lucky enough to get some of Helen’s time in her very last week as CEO of Nest Corporation. Hers is a unique story and I am so grateful for the time she took to tell it. And wow, what an impact she’s had on so many working people in the UK.


Here are some links to the research, reports and organisations we covered on the show:

  • Professor David Laibson’s work inspired both auto enrolment and opt-out savings trials. Have a scroll through his work to find out more, or simply to feel awed by how much he has produced since receiving his PhD in 1994.
  • All the papers by the Pensions Commission are published on the government’s National Archives.


If 300+ page reports don’t float your boat, the Institute for Government has a nice and short (13 pages) summary of the work and output of the Pension Commission. Alternatively you can download the exec summaries from the National Archives and skip the technical annexes.


Turning to short-term savings:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Who calculates the Living Wage? Who calculates the Living Wage? Thu, 06 Jun 2024 07:54:09 GMT 34:53 6660ce4b39a3200012485b85 false https://finwellforum.com/en/invisibleworker/who-calculates-the-living-wage 6660ce4b39a3200012485b85 664dc72194d1f40012388818 the-real-living-wage with Nye Cominetti full 1 1 Join our community to access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


A huge thank you to my guest Nye Cominetti, Principal Economist at the Resolution Foundation for coming on to talk about all things related to the Real Living Wage. 


Here are some links to the research, reports and organisations we covered on the show:


  • Living Wage Foundation - for more information about what they do, how to become accredited and the current ‘real’ living wage.
  • Resolution Foundation - find even more research on living standards and labour markets. Bonus: I highly recommend signing up to their Top of the Charts Friday wrap up newsletter. It’s short, punchy and very, very topical.
  • Report: 20 years of the National Minimum Wage gives a history of the minimum wage as a policy intervention, plus how (and who) it has helped.
  • Report: Calculating the Real Living Wage for London and the rest of the UK: 2023 steps through the methodology that Nye and his colleagues use to calculate the Real Living Wage. Get more detail about the household compositions, the shock absorber, and the interaction with the benefits system. Check out the data tables at the end to do your own analysis like I did!
  • Report: Check out the household budgets that drive the Minimum Income Standard. Flick through one of the budgets to get an appreciation of the detail that goes into calculating the Real Living Wage.  
  • Report: Low Pay Commission Report 2023 sets out the evidence the government relies on to set the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates.
  • Latest government minimum wage rates effective April 2024.


Finally, we didn’t cover it in the episode, but the Low Pay Britain 2023 report by Nye and his colleagues at Resolution Foundation is a cracking read and I highly recommend it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Join our community to access bonus content, the full episode archive, and exclusive opportunities to get involved with the show.


A huge thank you to my guest Nye Cominetti, Principal Economist at the Resolution Foundation for coming on to talk about all things related to the Real Living Wage. 


Here are some links to the research, reports and organisations we covered on the show:


  • Living Wage Foundation - for more information about what they do, how to become accredited and the current ‘real’ living wage.
  • Resolution Foundation - find even more research on living standards and labour markets. Bonus: I highly recommend signing up to their Top of the Charts Friday wrap up newsletter. It’s short, punchy and very, very topical.
  • Report: 20 years of the National Minimum Wage gives a history of the minimum wage as a policy intervention, plus how (and who) it has helped.
  • Report: Calculating the Real Living Wage for London and the rest of the UK: 2023 steps through the methodology that Nye and his colleagues use to calculate the Real Living Wage. Get more detail about the household compositions, the shock absorber, and the interaction with the benefits system. Check out the data tables at the end to do your own analysis like I did!
  • Report: Check out the household budgets that drive the Minimum Income Standard. Flick through one of the budgets to get an appreciation of the detail that goes into calculating the Real Living Wage.  
  • Report: Low Pay Commission Report 2023 sets out the evidence the government relies on to set the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates.
  • Latest government minimum wage rates effective April 2024.


Finally, we didn’t cover it in the episode, but the Low Pay Britain 2023 report by Nye and his colleagues at Resolution Foundation is a cracking read and I highly recommend it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Introducing... Invisible Worker Podcast Introducing... Invisible Worker Podcast Thu, 30 May 2024 14:47:51 GMT 0:39 6658916b068f690012a37316 false https://shows.acast.com/invisible-worker/episodes/invisible-worker-podcast-trailer 6658916b068f690012a37316 664dc72194d1f40012388818 invisible-worker-podcast-trailer trailer 1 You might see them as ‘frontline’ or ‘essential’ workers…or you might not see them at all.


A podcast exploring the lives of more than half the working world.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> You might see them as ‘frontline’ or ‘essential’ workers…or you might not see them at all.


A podcast exploring the lives of more than half the working world.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>