Business: ally or obstacle? Although they're not the norm, a number of civic-minded companies are helping their low-wage workers juggle job and family challenges. Government also needs to do more.(Economic Bridges)

BY NOW, THE STIRRING IMAGES ARE FAMILIAR TO television viewers: teary-eyed father recounting beloved child's battle with life-threatening illness ... child enjoying miraculous recovery thanks to world-class healthcare at Mayo Clinic ... grateful dad's glowing tribute to beneficent employer for picking up tab, supporting family values, and investing in hard-pressed workers like him.

The sponsor? Wal-Mart, epitome of the low-wage economy. Wal-Mart offers health insurance, but the premiums and co-pays are so high that most workers don't take it. Wal-Mart does maximize the ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.