Month: March 2026

Before this week’s materials, I honestly didn’t know a lot about labor unions other than hearing about strikes in the news. After doing some reading and research, I realized that unions have played a pretty big role in shaping wages, workplace safety, and employee rights in the U.S.

One thing that I liked the most is how unions give workers a collective voice. Instead of employees having to negotiate with their employer individually, unions allow workers to bargain as a group. That can make it easier for workers to push for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. In an article by Nicholas Kristof, he explains that the decline of unions in the United States may actually be connected to the rise in income inequality over the past few decades (Kristof, 2015). Reading that made me realize that unions don’t just affect individual workplaces, they can also have broader effects on society and the economy.

I also read about “right-to-work” laws, which allow employees to choose whether or not they want to join a union. Supporters say these laws protect workers’ freedom to decide, but critics argue that they can weaken unions because workers may still benefit from union negotiations without paying union dues (Kasperkevic, 2017).

Overall, one of my biggest takeaways from this topic is that unions seem especially important in industries where workers may not have a lot of bargaining power on their own. Personally, I think whether I would join a union would depend on the job and the work environment. If the company treated employees fairly and listened to concerns, I might not feel like a union was necessary. But if workers were dealing with unfair pay, unsafe conditions, or poor treatment, I would probably support unionization because having a collective voice could help improve those issues.

References

Kristof, N. (2015). The cost of a decline in unions. The New York Times.

Kasperkevic, J. (2017). Push for nationwide right-to-work law could weaken unions. Marketplace.

After completing the Life Stress Inventory, the Coping and Stress Management Skills Test, and the Type A Personality survey, I learned a lot about how stress shows up in my life and how my personality plays a role in how I handle it. The results suggested that I experience a moderate amount of stress and that my personality is a balance between Type A and Type B traits. In other words, I can be driven and goal-oriented, but I also tend to stay fairly flexible and laid back in many situations.

One thing that stood out to me from the assessments is how stress can build up over time. Even when individual situations do not seem overwhelming on their own, multiple life changes, responsibilities, and pressures can add up and affect overall well-being. Seeing how these factors contribute to stress made me realize the importance of being more intentional about managing it.

As I move forward in my professional career, I think it will be important to develop habits that help keep stress under control. For me, that means maintaining a consistent routine, staying organized, and making time for activities that help me recharge. Exercise, hobbies, and taking breaks from work can all play a role in preventing stress from building up too much. It will also be important to set boundaries between work and personal life so that work stress does not carry over into everything else.

Many organizations are becoming more aware of how stress affects employee health and productivity. Because of this, many companies are investing in wellness programs, mental health resources, and employee assistance programs that offer counseling or stress management support. Some organizations are also providing flexible work schedules and encouraging work-life balance to help employees maintain better overall health.

Overall, these assessments helped me become more aware of my own stress levels and how my personality influences the way I deal with pressure. Learning to manage stress early in my career will be important for maintaining both my health and long-term professional success.