in the u.s. those workers are still fighting for just $15, but pay isn't the only problem. m.i.t.'s professor writes american workers also receive less notice and severance when fired compared to workers in other wealthy countries. they take less vacation, unlike their peers in most other rich countries. they don't have guaranteed paid parental leave. the labor shortages that we're seeing, the record job openings alongside record resignations are a market phenomenon that compels companies to improve on some of these policies to attract workers. we've already seen this in terms of pay. average hourly earnings for workers have risen by more than a dollar in the past year. that's not just good for workers, it's also good for the economy. that's because since the dotcom era of the 1990s worker productivity has stagnated. at smith notes in bloomberg, the 2001 recession contributed to an oversupply of non-skilled workers in cities. many companies reduced employee