Oct 26, 2021

If U.S. workers had 4 weeks of paid family leave, would they use it?

Ulet Ifansasti via Getty Images

Also: How Evergrande investors in China are faring, what the pandemic's legacy on the housing market will be and what to make of corporate pledges.

Segments From this episode

The pandemic has changed the housing market in more ways than one

by Matt Levin

Oct 26, 2021

Pricing may cool down, but the pandemic will likely permanently change the way we buy homes.

A townhouse for sale is seen in Brooklyn, New York in October 2020. Homebuyers may see things like virtual tours and staging long after the pandemic.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

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Paid family leave would be a paradigm shift for many workers

by Meghan McCarty Carino

Oct 26, 2021

Even when the benefit is available, many Americans hesitate to use it. It's included in the Democrats' social-spending bill.

Though the Democrats' paid family leave proposal has been reduced from 12 weeks to four, it would still be a major change for Americans.

hobo_018 via Getty Images

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Evergrande investors in China are worried but holding on

by Jennifer Pak

Oct 26, 2021

Evergrande is among the three biggest property developers in China and it seems to have the backing of the Chinese communist party.

Evergrande founder Xu Jiayin overlooking China's communist party 100th birthday celebrations on Beijing's Tiananmen square. This photo was widely circulated in China's business press and boosted the perception that Evergrande is too big to fail.

Screenshot of Sina

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COVID-19

"Look for actions" from companies, not just green pledges, experts say

by Amanda Peacher

Oct 26, 2021

What will make meaningful progress toward climate goals? Corporations changing how they do business and making tangible investments.

Car rental company Hertz announced Monday it's purchasing 100,000 Teslas.

Joe Raedle via Getty Images

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COVID-19

Why more companies are hiring heads of remote work

by Kristin Schwab

Oct 26, 2021

It's about company culture, performance management and lots of logistics.

With many companies embracing work-from-home or hybrid models, some are creating leadership positions to focus on the transition.

visualspace via Getty Images

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Adventures in Housing

A real-life real estate horror story

by Maria Hollenhorst

Oct 26, 2021

Ursula Vernon, an illustrator and horror writer, recounts what it was like purchasing a home for her mother during a pandemic.

Author and illustrator Ursula Vernon hoped buying this farmhouse for her mother would be a straightforward process. It wasn’t.

Courtesy Ursula Vernon

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Music from the episode

Cigarette Jang Beom June

Glowing Light Richard Houghten

Black Sands Bonobo

Life in the Tropics Cienfue

Harvest Moon Poolside

Superposition Young the Giant

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Daisy Palacios Senior Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer

Sean McHenry Associate Producer

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

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