IRE Radio Podcast | A Workforce at Risk

When you think about temp work, short-term office jobs are likely to come to mind. But across North America, all of that is changing. These days, factories and other industrial companies are using temporary laborers to fill jobs that used to go to employees. The combination of low pay, minimal training and reduced liability has created a recipe for tragedy. On this episode, Sara Mojtehedzadeh of the Toronto Star talks about her decision to go undercover in an industrial bakery to understand the realities of a workforce at risk.

RESOURCES

Looking for links to the stories and resources we discussed on this week's podcast? We've collected them for you.

• Read Part 1 and Part 2 of “Undercover in Temp Nation,” an investigation by The Toronto Star.
• Watch Sara and Brendan discuss their experience reporting on the piece that was a year in the making.
• Members only: Download the tipsheet “Supply Chain Reporting/Produce from Mexico” by Richard Marosi.
• Members only: Download the tipsheet “Undercover on a Budget” by Anna Hewson, Byran Staples, Joe Ellis and Steve Eckert.
• Want to learn more about undercover reporting? Listen to our podcast episode “Profiting from Prisoners” featuring Shane Bauer.

MUSIC

Massive (Podington Bear) / CC BY-NC 3.0

Two Dollar Token (Blue Dot Sessions) / CC BY-NC 4.0

Balti (Blue Dot Sessions) / CC BY-NC 4.0

Sparse (Blue Dot Sessions) / CC BY-NC 4.0

Doghouse (Blue Dot Sessions) / CC BY-NC 4.0

Yarrow and Root (Blue Dot Sessions) / CC BY-NC 4.0

CREDITS

Erin McKinstry reported this story. IRE Editorial Director Sarah Hutchins edits the podcast. Original episode artwork by Blake Nelson. We are recorded in the studios of KBIA at the University of Missouri.