US nonfarm payrolls added 1.37 million jobs in August, according to the Labor Department, topping estimates of 1.32 million. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.4% from 10.2% the previous month, marking the first time since March it has been below 10%.

Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University, admits her outspoken, ambitious personality nearly derailed her career noting, "I had all the signs of someone who really was not worth the trouble ... and yet people mentored me." Simmons advocates for more mentoring, adding "That's what you need to do in order to make the senior ranks of corporations more diverse."

HR leaders can help ease a return to office working, balanced with remote work, by asking employees for feedback and prioritizing safety, writes Atlantic Health System's Nikki Sumpter. Sumpter also recommends redesigning schedules and wellness programs to bolster workforce resilience and focusing on workplace culture.

Employees who are able to work flexibly are more likely to be able to change stressful elements about their jobs and are more likely to have emotional support to manage work stress, according to a study by FlexJobs. Also, 66% of those surveyed want to continue working remotely after the pandemic, 33% want a more hybrid approach, and less than 2% want to return to full-time work in an office.

Josh Bersin in this podcast talks about how creating a sense of belonging drives a more diverse workforce. Bersin explains how a culture of belonging originates from companies that value uniqueness instead of sameness and respect those who are different.