Small is Ugly When it Comes to Employment

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Bulletin 2573 BLS
January 2005

Big may not be beautiful, but small is surely ugly when it comes to working conditions. Corporate interests, even the multi-nationals, posture behind the notion of small business beset with government regulation. It’s an excuse to oppose new safety and health
requirements – relief for small employers translates into headaches for
employees of small employers.

Periodically BrooklynDodger sees information showing how small business
exploits and mistreats employees. Generally the gap is greater in benefits than wages.

This publication extract compares union to non union facilities on benefits. The Dodger notes that benefits, where they come out of a compensation package, are pre tax costs and therefore worth more than wages.

So it turns about that Defined Benefit pensions, prior to the airline debacle, were enjoyed by 20% of American workers overall, 72% in union [usually larger employers] employment but only 15% of non union.

Benefit	All	Union	Non Union
Any Retirement	49	83	45
Defined Benefit	20	72	15
Medical Care	53	82	50
Life Insurance	47	61	46
Short term disability	37	68	34
Long Term disability	28	27	29