Traveling Nurses: Unveiling the Hidden Costs of Forced Arbitration

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Dave Jamieson

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Dave Jamieson, labor reporter for the Huffington Post, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his investigation into the plight of traveling nurses and how forced arbitration imposes financial burdens on them.

Jamieson's investigation centers on traveling nurses from foreign countries, who were recruited to the U.S. by companies during the pandemic. These nurses signed "stay or pay" contracts, which required them to reimburse the company for costs like travel and training if they left their jobs early. Many nurses found themselves earning as little as $20 an hour, far below the expected pay for traveling nurses in the U.S.

He highlighted the use of mandatory arbitration, which keeps disputes out of court and often favors employers. This system, Jamieson said, leaves workers with little recourse and significant financial burdens. It also underscores the broader issue of forced arbitration in employment contracts. He pointed out that these agreements often lack transparency, with companies failing to provide detailed breakdowns of alleged costs leaving workers vulnerable to financial exploitation.

To address these challenges, Jamieson suggests increased scrutiny of arbitration practices and greater transparency in employment contracts. Workers should be aware of their rights and seek legal advice before signing agreements that could have long-term financial implications.

To hear more from Jamieson on his investigation into the hidden cost of forced arbitration, listen to the show above.

America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

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Traveling Nurses: Unveiling the Hidden Costs of Forced Arbitration

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Traveling Nurses: Unveiling the Hidden Costs of Forced Arbitration

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