Best States to Work Index 2024: Policy Recommendations

The Best States to Work Index 2024: Policy Recommendations report, published by Oxfam America, provides a comprehensive analysis of labor policies across the United States and their impacts on workers' rights and well-being. The report highlights critical areas where states can improve, including raising the minimum wage, strengthening worker protections, ensuring equal pay, and enhancing rights to organize. It emphasizes the disparities faced by women and workers of color, who are often overrepresented in low-wage jobs with inadequate protections. The report calls for both federal and state-level reforms, such as the adoption of the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour, and the Paycheck Fairness Act, aimed at closing the gender wage gap. Additionally, it recommends the implementation of paid sick leave, family leave, and heat protection standards to safeguard workers’ health and safety. The report underscores the importance of repealing "right-to-work" laws and expanding collective bargaining rights. It concludes with a call to action for policymakers to prioritize these reforms to reduce inequality, improve public health, and ensure economic security for all workers.