May 10, 2021 - Politics & Policy
The latest push for workers: "Return-to-work bonus"
- Courtenay Brown, author of Axios Macro
A "Now Hiring" sign outside a day care in Georgia. Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The latest move to lure would-be employees might be back-to-work cash.
- Montana will no longer offer the extra $300 in unemployment benefits, but it plans to give a one-time $1,200 bonus for workers who accept a job and complete a month of paid work.
- Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) will propose a bill to use boosted unemployment insurance funds for a "two-month signing bonus" for workers hired by July 4. It would pay out slightly more than two months' worth of benefits.
Why it matters: The hope is if (big if) money is keeping workers at home, money can lure them back into the workforce.
- Politicians and economists are split over whether the generous unemployment that's kept millions afloat is driving worker shortages.
P.S. ... Chipotle will raise wages, debut up to $750 referral bonus to fuel hiring.