Good Business Lab

Good Business Lab (GBL) is a global not-for-profit organization that uses rigorous research methods to find a common ground between worker well-being and business interests. In large labor-intensive industries, worker wellbeing programs are usually driven by compliance or philanthropy. The programs are not necessarily designed based on rigorous research backing the effectiveness of the programs, they do not involve the buy-in of important stakeholders such as workers and the firm management, and there’s a lack of clarity on the returns on investment of these programs (both on the wellbeing of workers and business outcomes such as productivity or retention). This limits businesses from committing to investing in these programs and adopting worker wellbeing as part of their core business strategy. We believe that building the business case to support better conditions for workers is the most sustainable way to transform labor markets and enable all workers to live dignified lives. Our work has four focus areas: unlocking female labor, closing the skill gap, improving the work environment, and building holistic health. We have established partnerships with a network of large-scale private-sector employers across labor-intensive industries (e.g., garment, electronics, and automobile manufacturing, retail, and food service) in various geographies such as India, Latin America, and the United States. We also work with large foundations, international agencies, research organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations to improve the lives of low-income workers everywhere.