DISCUSSION 1: The US workforce is being overworked due to companies cutting back jobs and expecting current employees to make up for the work of the cutbacks (Schabner, 2016). America is a country that wants things done yesterday, we live a fast past life, and we do not like to have patents for something to be done slowly. This has caused 25 million American workers to work an average of 49 hours a week and 11 million Americans to work 59 hours a week (Schabner, 2016). To get ahead in a company, workers feel they need to put the work in the be noticed, causing more stress and longer hours at a job in hopes of a promotion and more money or not to be left behind in a growing and competitive industry (Cummins, 2013).

In other countries like Europe, tighter laws exist on work hours, conditions, vacation hours, and better maternity and paternity leave (Arnett & Jensen, 2019, p. 496). While this law might work for hourly paid employees, it is much harder to track salary-paid employees as they do not clock in and out when their day starts (Schabner, 2016). A lot of higher-paying jobs need to be family-friendly. Companies can not afford or will not pay maternity or paternity leave causing financial strain on families and causing new mothers to return to work six weeks after having a baby. In America, people and companies want to "get ahead" and will do what is needed (Cummins, 2013). It costs companies a lot of money to offer their employees paid time off, and many Americans can not afford to miss work because that could mean not getting paid for that missed day off. These strategies will not work in the US because we have different marginal tax rates, and we do not have union policies regulating hours like in other countries (Alesina et al., 2005).

One societal change that could be placed in the American workplace to reduce overworking is creating adaptable work environment. Allowing employees to work flexible hours can help with work-life balance. When a company can create work environment that meets the needs of working parents and other employees can create safe and highly adaptive team (Alesina et al., 2005). Having one-on-one meetings can help a company understand the various needs of an employee and can help create alternative arrangements to help with life-work balance (Alesina et al. 2005).

A social change that could address racial disparities is making it easier for people to find and apply for grants and scholarships to help pay for college without the burden of debt. In Colorado, students in grades 10th-12th grade can enroll in a concurrent or dual enrollment program. This program allows students to graduate with a two-year college degree, and our local education provider is responsible for the tuition. If more states had this type of program, it would encourage and change the attitude of going to college. I also think teaching people that just because their parents didn't achieve it doesn't mean they won't. Learning to change the attitude around higher education can help racial disparities to have personal growth and to break the cycle and become the first to go to college in their family and know that their financial worries will be less and they can have more control over their life.

FOR DISCUSSION 1 Agree with a colleague and offer additional (new) supporting information for consideration.

DISCUSSION 2 There are many current studies that have made the American working picture look bad. These studies show that Americans work up to a ladder retirement, they take less days off for vacations and most Americans work longer days and have 2 or sometimes 3 jobs (Schabner, D. 2016). And in recent times there have been no changes to make things with work better. Companies are adding to these conditions by adding more job insecurity and downsizing by laying off workers. This adds to the down spiral in an already slumped economy (Schabner, D. 2016).

After many jobs have laid off their workers, the ones who have the privilege to stay are overworked to make up for the duties of the laid off workers (Schabner, D. 2016). The people who continue to work for companies that have downsized are the ones who must work harder and work more hours (Schabner, D. 2016). In the article "Americans: Overworked, overstressed" it says that "Americans are working more than any other country in the industrialized world" (Schabner, D. 2016).

Evidence shows that Black students of lower income have become caught up with higher debt while pursuing a higher education (Grinstein-Weiss., et., al 2016). It can be seen in this study that there is a variety of debt levels by race and family income status. The lower-income black students have accumulated a greater level of debt in comparison to upper-income white students (Grinstein-Weiss., et., al 2016). This is one of the first studies done to see if the racial disparities in education debt extend to a low and moderate income (LMI) population. This study was done by using a two-part model approach with a matching estimator (Grinstein-Weiss., et., al 2016). The study showed that notable problems in education dept still exist. And the student loan debt is twice as high for (LMI) Black students as it is for their White peers (Grinstein-Weiss., et., al 2016). The findings show that LMI Black students and White students who face the same financial problems have unequal risk in accumulation of educational debt. In conclusion asset building policies and better repayment efforts promise some affordability and ease in the burden of educational debt (Grinstein-Weiss., et., al 2016).

• FOR DISCUSSION 2 Expand on your colleague's posting by offering a new perspective or insight.

PLEASE ANSWER SEPERATELY AND LABEL EACH DISCUSSION