Good Business Lab

Good Business Lab

Research Services

A not for profit, labor innovation lab. We design and evaluate to disseminate and scale.

About us

We design, test, and scale programs using rigorous research methods, that align worker wellbeing with business interests. We work across a worker's employment journey from unlocking female labor to closing the skill gap, improving job quality, and improving health conditions. Businesses, because of their scale, hold immense potential to drive social change, while staying true to their principles. However, narratives that reduce the business of business to business, as seen traditionally, foster conventional rather than innovative ways of doing business. For instance, they seclude investment in worker wellbeing programs as mere philanthropy. And while worker wellbeing programs are plenty, they aren’t achieving the scale they should. This is because there is not enough research backing the return on investment they generate for businesses. We are working to solve such problems. We want to break the limited notion of business and help scale impactful worker wellbeing programs, through rigorous research. Because that, we believe, is the future of business – good business.

Industry
Research Services
Company size
11-50 employees
Headquarters
Bengaluru
Type
Nonprofit
Founded
2017
Specialties
Randomized Controlled Trials, Labor Markets, Impact Evaluation, Business and Social Outcomes, Research, Development , Economics, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Development Economics, Female Labor Force, Monitoring & Evaluation, Developing Countries, Low Income workers, and Garment Industry

Locations

Employees at Good Business Lab

Updates

  • What if Earned Wage Access helped workers stay longer? Our findings reveal just that. Good Business Lab’s Earned Wage Access (EWA) tool is redefining how businesses can support women workers in labor-intensive roles. By allowing workers to access their earned wages before payday, this simple yet innovative intervention reduces financial stress, enhances focus, and decreases attrition—unlocking benefits for workers and businesses alike. In just 13 months, the pilot saw a 30% reduction in reliance on high-interest loans, an 8% increase in productivity, and an impressive 24% drop in worker turnover. Contrary to myths, empowering workers to manage financial emergencies strengthened their commitment to staying, proving that wellbeing and workforce stability go hand in hand. The EWA tool’s success is a call to action for businesses to adopt empathetic, data-driven solutions that make workplaces stronger, more inclusive, and better prepared for the future. Ready to learn how this transformation is possible? Read the full story and see the impact for yourself. Link is in the comments. #EarnItAccessIt #FinancialInclusion #WorkerWellbeing #EarnedWageAccess #SocialImpact #GoodBusiness

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  • Good Business Lab recently co-hosted an event with the 21st Century India Center at UC San Diego, focused on one urgent question: How can we make work, work for women? The gathering brought scholars and practitioners together to explore data-driven solutions for breaking down the structural and cultural barriers that still limit women’s full economic participation, particularly in India. As Achyuta Adhvaryu, Co-Founder of GBL and Director of the 21st Century India Center, emphasized, “When women are left out of economic opportunity, it’s not just their loss—it’s a loss for businesses, governments, and society as a whole.” This powerful insight framed our discussions on how inclusive practices—such as flexible work models, mobility, and financial stability tools—benefit not just women, but entire businesses and economies. Anant Nyshadham, co-founder of Good Business Lab, spoke about how collaborative, worker-focused design creates shared value. He emphasized how Good Business Lab’s work, which has positively impacted over 2 million low-income workers, predominantly women, is focused on creating opportunities for women to thrive. From discussions on gig economy challenges to field-based insights into how companies can implement inclusive practices, the event underscored the importance of empathy-driven, actionable research. The solutions to making work work for women are within our grasp, and we’re excited to continue collaborating to make workplaces more equitable and profitable—for everyone. #InclusiveWorkplaces #GenderEquity #GoodBusinessLab Achyuta Adhvaryu Anant Nyshadham Smit Gade Varun Jagannath Arvind Patil Mansi Kabra Mamta Pimoli

    Creating Equitable Workplaces: Making Work Work for Women

    Creating Equitable Workplaces: Making Work Work for Women

    Good Business Lab on LinkedIn

  • When we began our research on what is now the Earned Wage Access Tool (also referred to as the Salary Advance tool), we asked workers how they would manage if they needed ₹5,000 for an emergency. Two-thirds said they could raise it within 30 days, but only one in ten could do so within a week. Life doesn’t operate on a paycheck cycle, and emergencies don’t wait either. As a result, workers often find themselves waiting for the next paycheck, unable to stretch their income until the next pay cycle. Such liquidity constraints negatively impact their mental health, trapping them in a cycle of debt, adding stress to their lives and affecting their work. Our tool allows workers to access up to 50% of their earned salary when they need it most. Watch this video to know how a flexible, employer-supported, interest-free tool can have far-reaching implications for women workers’ financial security and wellbeing while also improving business performance. For a deeper dive into the behind-the-scenes process, business takeaways, and the profound impacts on workers, check out our blog post: "Bridging The Payday Gap: How Access To Earned Wages Can Impact Workers’ Financial Stress, Earnings And Productivity." 🔗 Link to the blog post: https://lnkd.in/giDVx-DK #WorkforceRetention #EmployeeEngagement #BusinessInnovation #EWA #WomenInWork #SustainableGrowth

  • What if solving your workforce retention and productivity challenges was as simple as rethinking when workers get paid? Good Business Lab's Earned Wage Access (EWA) tool has shown that empowering workers with early access to earned wages can reduce financial stress, improve focus, and most surprisingly, boost retention. In our latest article, we dive into the transformative results of this pilot—where businesses saw a 24% reduction in turnover and an 8% productivity increase. This is about wellbeing; about creating a sustainable, engaged workforce that also drives real results. If you're looking for a scalable solution to build a more stable and loyal workforce, this article is a must-read. Explore how the EWA tool can help your business thrive, while supporting the financial wellbeing of your workers. #WorkforceRetention #EmployeeEngagement #BusinessInnovation #EWA #WomenInWork #SustainableGrowth

    Empowering Women Workers: A Simple Tool Transforming Earnings, Productivity, and Retention

    Empowering Women Workers: A Simple Tool Transforming Earnings, Productivity, and Retention

    Good Business Lab on LinkedIn

  • Financial stress doesn’t just affect workers’ wallets—it impacts their mental health, family wellbeing, and performance on the job. For women in labor-intensive industries, the situation is particularly dire. Our research revealed this stark reality: when asked how they’d manage ₹5,000 for a medical emergency, most women admitted they’d need 30 days to gather the amount, often by sacrificing their own needs for their families. In this excerpt from our podcast, we delve into many such stories behind the data and explore how women navigate financial challenges with limited resources and decision-making power. Crucially, Crucially, we discuss the role businesses can play in providing timely support. To address this challenge, we designed the Earned Wage Access (EWA) tool —a solution that allows workers access their earned wages before payday, easing financial stress and helping them avoid debt traps. The impact? Reduced financial strain, improved productivity, and lower attrition rates—proof that thoughtful innovations can create transformational change. Sign up for our newsletter to explore these insights and discover how businesses can make a real difference. Link is in the comments. Stay tuned for more in the upcoming posts! #FinancialInclusion #WorkerWellbeing #EarnedWageAccess #SocialImpact #GoodBusiness

  • Financial stress is a silent burden, especially for blue-collar workers who live paycheck to paycheck. Emergencies don’t wait for payday—unexpected costs like medical bills or school fees often push workers into high-interest loans or mounting debt. For women, the impact is even harsher, due to: 1️⃣ Limited access to credit: Few formal options force workers to rely on informal sources like moneylenders or chit funds, which often charge exorbitant interest rates. 2️⃣ Social and economic barriers: Women often face limited financial literacy and decision-making power, further deepening their financial stress. This strain affects more than just individual wellbeing: 3️⃣ Workplace disruption: Financial anxiety contributes to absenteeism and attrition. 4️⃣ Daily challenges: Workers report skipping essentials like food or medical care to make ends meet. At GBL, we asked: What if workers could access their earned wages when they needed them most? We explored solutions to ease this burden and tested a financial tool designed to provide workers access to their earned wages on demand. The results are promising! Dive deeper into the causes of financial stress and learn how tools like ours are transforming outcomes for workers and employers alike? Sign up for our newsletter and find out. Link is in the comments. #FinancialInclusion #WorkerWellbeing #EarnedWageAccess #SocialImpact #GoodBusiness

  • Productivity can increase by 15% when… companies invest in the health and well-being of their employees, particularly women. We thank Shreya Murali and David Wofford from the United Nations Foundation for highlighting this in their recent article on Business Fights Poverty. We supported UNFPA Asia and the Pacific in developing a Return on Investment tool that helps businesses forecast the financial feasibility of workplace health interventions and their impact on key performance metrics like productivity, absenteeism, and turnover. Interested in the full article or learning more about the ROI tool?  Links are in the comments below. #WorkerWellbeing #WorkplaceHealth #ROI #ReturnOnInvestment #BusinessTool

  • Deep Dive: Driving Change in Gender Diversity in India’s Automotive Sector The Gender Champions Consortium (GCC) launch not only marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to foster gender equity in the automotive sector but also brought together diverse voices and insights on how to drive real change. The event highlighted the crucial role of government-industry collaboration, corporate leadership, and collective action in creating inclusive workplaces and addressing systemic challenges in the automotive sector. 📌Voices from the Industry - Shradha Suri Marwah, CMD, Subros Limited, President, ACMA India & Co-Chair, GCC, emphasized that fostering gender diversity is not only a matter of equality but also critical to innovation and resilience in India’s mobility ecosystem. - Amrita G., Chief Diversity Officer, Tata Motors & Co-Chair, GCC, called for actionable steps, stating, “Organizations can lead the way in addressing challenges where society has historically struggled.” 📌 Panel Discussion: Exploring the State of Gender Diversity: As part of the GCC Launch, an engaging panel discussion titled “State of Gender Diversity in the Indian Auto Industry: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” brought together industry leaders to explore the evolving landscape of inclusion in the sector. Panelists included industry leaders like : - Pamela Tikku, Vice President & Head - Auto Group Public Affairs at Mahindra Group - Yeshwinder Patial, CHRO @ JSW Morris Garages India - Neeti Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Digital - Shivani Kumar , Executive Director, Confederation of Indian Industry Centre for Women Leadership - Ramya Sampathkumar, SVP & Chief Information & Digital Officer, Brakes India 📌Our panelists highlighted: - The role of policy, organizational initiatives, and changing mindsets in creating a more inclusive workplace environment for women - Inspiring examples from companies like Mahindra Group, JSW Morris Garages India, and Brakes India that can pave the way for others in the industry - Digitalization offers a unique opportunity to imagine jobs, create more flexible work environments, and bring in gender and wage parity in the industry - The promise of the GCC in driving progress so the automotive industry can emerge as a leader in gender diversity in the coming years Gratitude to all the stakeholders, partners, and participants who made the Gender Champions Consortium (GCC) launch a success. Your commitment to fostering gender diversity in the automotive sector is truly inspiring! Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ACMA India Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) #genderchampionsconsortium #shiftinggearsdrivingchange #goodbusinesslab #automotivesector

  • View organization page for Good Business Lab, graphic

    13,465 followers

    We are excited to announce the official launch of the Gender Champions Consortium (GCC), a collaborative initiative by Good Business Lab, ACMA India, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. By providing a platform for knowledge-sharing, bespoke training, gender advisory services, and collective advocacy, the GCC aims to address the pressing need for gender diversity and inclusion in India’s automotive industry. 💡 Key Highlights from the event: ▶ Government Participation: Shri Vijay Mittal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries led the dialogue wherein he emphasized the importance of women’s participation in the automotive workforce to drive economic growth and realize the vision of #Viksit Bharat 2047. ▶ Industry Participation and Panel Discussion:  Co-Chairs of the GCC, Shradha Suri Marwah, CMD, Subros Limited, President, ACMA and Amrita G., Chief Diversity Officer, Tata Motors highlighted the need for gender diversity to drive innovation and resilience not only in India’s mobility ecosystem but also in our society. ▶ A panel discussion on “State of Gender Diversity in the Indian Auto Industry” explored the current challenges, progress, and the path forward in advancing gender equality in the sector. Featuring insights from industry leaders such as: - Pamela Tikku, Vice President & Head - Auto Group Public Affairs at Mahindra Group - Yeshwinder Patial, CHRO, JSW Morris Garages India - Neeti Sharma Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Digital - Shivani Kumar, Executive Director, Confederation of Indian Industry Centre for Women Leadership - Ramya Sampathkumar, SVP & Chief Information & Digital Officer, Brakes India. The GCC launch was charged with an atmosphere of hope and action. By equipping industry leaders with the tools and insights needed to advance women’s participation in the workforce, GCC aims to establish gender equity as a driver of industry excellence and economic growth. 📈 Together we are excited to build on this momentum and translate insights into action. Stay tuned for more updates on the event. #genderchampionsconsortium #shiftinggearsdrivingchange #goodbusinesslab #automotivesector

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  • View organization page for Good Business Lab, graphic

    13,465 followers

    🏭 Absenteeism is a persistent challenge in Indian garment factories, often disrupting productivity. It can lead to labor shortages, which can impact production efficiency by up to 20%. Many managers rely on informal worker swaps to bridge gaps, but these solutions remain underutilized. What if enhancing these systems could not only boost operational efficiency but also reduce strain on workers and foster a more resilient, satisfied workforce? 🔍 Dive into our latest research to explore actionable insights and strategies that can redefine your approach to managing absenteeism and unlock millions in productivity gains, thus improving outcomes for both businesses and their most valuable asset - workers. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eDdN2ABw Anant Nyshadham Achyuta Adhvaryu Jorge Tamayo Sophia Calderon Jean-François Gauthier, Ph.D. #workerwellbeing #laborresearch

    How managers in Indian factories mitigate the impacts of absenteeism

    How managers in Indian factories mitigate the impacts of absenteeism

    voxdev.org

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