Recent Articles

Installment loans not the answer to financial hardship

Oklahoma consumers should be aware of the potential dangers of these new installment loans. Just like the payday loans they replace, they are designed to trap borrowers in long-term debt. [More...]

Unemployment insurance keeps Oklahomans safe, supports the economy

Unemployment insurance will be a critical piece of our ability to weather and recover from this economic and public health emergency. It is in everyone’s best interest for the system to be robust and accessible to all who need it.  [More...]

SNAP is a critical piece of our pandemic response, and Congress needs to give it a boost

SNAP can help to stabilize a declining economy, and making the program as effective as possible is in everyone’s best interest right now. Food security is economic security — when people have adequate nutritious food, they are healthier, better able to fight off illness, and able to work as soon as good jobs are available.  [More...]

Cash is a pressing need right now — economic recovery payments will help many, but not all

Relief packages that don’t reach everyone in need will result in increased need and a slower recovery, and that’s bad for all of us.  [More...]

The Federal Government has taken significant action to shore up the unemployment insurance program — and there’s more Oklahoma can do.

Oklahoma could maximize the benefit of this relief package in the CARES Act by reestablishing our work share program to better help workers who still have jobs, but with reduced hours. [More...]

Workers need Paid Family and Medical Leave all the time, not just during a public health emergency

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, adopted last week by the federal government, includes a limited paid family and medical leave benefit, but it will be inadequate for many families during this emergency. [More...]

The cost of denying paid sick leave

Businesses benefit when workers have time to care for their health. All Oklahomans need paid sick leave, and not just during a public health crisis. [More...]

Oklahoma must take action to help workers who will be hurt by the pandemic

There are actions the state can take to soften the negative economic effects of the pandemic in Oklahoma. And they must start with expanding access to unemployment insurance. [More...]

New OK Policy paper examines how our state values work

The latest paper from the Oklahoma Policy Institute — Valuing Work — examines how well we value workers in Oklahoma by paying them a fair wage and offering necessary benefits like paid leave time. [More...]

The State of Work in Oklahoma: Valuing Work (Part 2 of 3)

Simply having a job is often not enough to keep a worker financially secure. For that, you need a good job — one that pays enough to live on with wages that increase enough to cover the gradual rises in the cost of living. [More...]