Academics Zeynep Ton and Julian Jessop discuss the disparity in pay for essential workers, including nurses, questioning the justification behind underpaying professions with significant real-world impact. They explore the balance between fair wages and non-monetary rewards in vital professions while discussing the implications of pay increases and strategies for creating value through job enhancements. The transformative effects of paying low-wage employees more are also highlighted, emphasizing the benefits of increased pay for both workers and society.