What does it mean to create a good job?

A Good Job is a job that has a combination of features that contribute
to employees’ economic stability, economic mobility, and dignity.
Why should good jobs matter to you, the business owner?

We offer tools to help you to improve the quality of the jobs you offer. This ‘Creating Good Jobs Module,’ gives an overview of the eight resources that help you learn what a good job actually is, what it means to offer a good job, why it is important, and where you can get started.

All resources were developed by Northern Initiatives in partnership with the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program as part of the Shared Success demonstration.

Learn what to include in an effective employee handbook for your small business. A well-crafted handbook acts as a roadmap for your team—outlining how your business operates, what’s expected of employees, and what they can expect in return. It covers everything from company policies and workplace culture to benefits, resources, and how to handle concerns. This guide will help you protect your business and set clear expectations for your employees by walking you through the purpose of a handbook, the steps to create one, and the key policies to consider including.

Investing in employee benefits is a smart strategy for attracting and retaining the employees your business relies on. Benefits address key needs in your employees’ lives, providing stability, security, and peace of mind. When your team feels supported, they’re more focused, dependable, and able to help your business thrive. Use this tool to explore different types of benefits you can offer—and get a clear picture of what to budget to make them a reality.

Start to learn about how good jobs can lead to great returns for your small business. Created as part of the Shared Success demonstration by Northern Initiatives in partnership with the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, this video introduces small business owners to the importance of creating good jobs at their businesses. It discusses how investing in employees is good for business, good for workers, and good for communities.

Hiring employees is an important aspect of small business growth. There are many things to consider and doing it right from the start is essential. Use this resource to learn how to create an opportunity as you hire that helps both your business succeed and your employee thrive.

Building trust between your employees and yourself will allow your small business to thrive. When employees trust you, they feel safe, valued and will work hard to provide customers the best service possible. They will have good attendance, ask questions when they need help and share good ideas to improve the business. This means you can spend more time growing your business and doing what’s important to you.This guide will offer simple ways to build trust with your employees.

Employee onboarding is the process of getting your new hires familiar with their role and responsibilities and the culture of your business. A well-designed employee onboarding program starts with a strong orientation and ensures your business is engaging employees, supplying resources to them, and training them so that they can become connected, successful members of the team. Use this guide for small businesses to design a plan that works for you!

How good are the jobs in your small business? Use this tool to check what you’re doing well and where you can improve in six categories: hiring and onboarding, compensation, benefits and perks, workplace culture, employee development and advancement, and operations. To help both your employees succeed and your business grow, use this tool to find out which elements of a good job you already have and get ideas for making your jobs even better in the future. The results will guide you in adding features that attract and retain a strong workforce, ultimately strengthening your company.

Are you a small business hiring a new employee? Use this checklist to help you welcome and engage employees from day one. This resource offers a road map and checklist for a new employee’s Orientation, an important feature of a good job. Orientation can help a new employee feel welcome, teach them the ins and outs of their job, and share your company’s culture and expectations. By taking the time to properly welcome and prepare your new hire, you’re investing in both their future and the future of your business.

Developed as part of the Shared Success Demonstration, this tool offers guidance for business advisors at CDFIs on how to have conversations with small business owners on job quality improvements. It centers business value and includes a variety of information and resources to assist business owners in addressing poor job quality.

For a guide of resources that complement this tool, see our topic guide on Small Business Job Quality Advising.