Helaine Olen
Washington Post
Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Past articles by Helaine:
Vanishing phone customer support is driving us all insane
Why it's increasingly hard to reach customer support by phone — if it's possible at all. → Read More
How the pandemic ended America’s bad romance with work
It took a massive, deadly pandemic for Americans to step back from our all-in attitude toward work and remember: We don't have to live this way. → Read More
Let’s put the myth of the billionaire genius to rest
Sam Bankman-Fried? Elon Musk? The Powerball winner? Having a billion dollars doesn't mean you're uniquely smart. → Read More
Republicans are coming after Social Security. Democrats, take note.
The GOP is handing Democrats an issue almost as politically potent as abortion rights in the midterm elections. → Read More
Without pensions, future retirees face financial trouble. Where’s Washington?
As pensions give way to 401ks, many Americans won't have enough funds in retirement, a new study finds. → Read More
Sorry, protesters. Picketing a restaurant won’t stop gentrification.
Protests at Dunsmoor, a pricy new restaurant in Los Angeles, are unlikely to help stop skyrocketing housing costs. → Read More
A ‘radical’ is coming for bank fees — and the industry hates it
Rohit Chopra is trying to level the unequal relationship between consumers and big business. → Read More
Abortion rights should be law, not a corporate perk
As big companies line up to support reproductive rights, there’s less here than meets the eye. → Read More
QR code menus are the death of civilization
They're unnecessary, anti-social, discriminatory and unpopular. Bring back physical menus now. → Read More
With Sheryl Sandberg’s departure, the ‘lean in’ era is officially over
Goodbye to that rosy moment when women thought they could resolve systemic barriers by just trying harder. → Read More
Student loan forgiveness is not enough. We need major reform.
It would be an extraordinary gesture by the Biden administration, but if it's not accompanied by larger, systemic reforms, we will soon arrive at this pass again. → Read More
What Could Possibly Go Right?: Episdoe 81 Helaine Olen
So this leads to some great tumult that comes in what we call the Great Resignation, that maybe could be called the Great Renegotiation. → Read More
A recession won’t just hurt at the bank. It’ll make us more divided.
Hard times don’t make people more generous and politically engaged. They pull us apart. → Read More
Think you’re the one to beat the crypto crash? Think again.
Crypto has been marketed as a great equalizer — but it’s often those who can least afford it who are taking the hit. → Read More
How ‘nudge economics’ lets companies pass the buck
Leaving it to consumers to make good choices is really just a way to shirk responsibility, say two critics. → Read More
Time for businesses to speak up for reproductive rights
Rolling back Roe v. Wade would have a huge toll on U.S. workers. Why are corporations so quiet? → Read More
Why success couldn’t save the child tax credit expansion
Republicans worried they couldn't drop a measure that had lifted so many kids out of poverty. They were wrong. → Read More
No leasing Lassie: Stop the inhumane practice of renting pets
Man’s best friend deserves better than rental agreements. → Read More
Can California’s 32-hour workweek bill lead the way for everyone else?
This bill homes in on a problem affecting workers nationwide. → Read More
Frustrated with the IRS? Call a Republican.
Bad service and unfair enforcement are a direct result of a dastardly, decades-long campaign to demean and defund the IRS. → Read More