Unemployment rises to 3.8% in Aug., 187K new jobs added | Study: Education alone not closing income gap | NLRB: Advocating for non-employees can be protected
The US unemployment rate rose to 3.8% in August, up from 3.5% in July, with 187,000 new jobs added to the economy during the month, according to the Labor Department. The figures support the case that the Federal Reserve's interest-rate hikes are cooling the economy. Full Story: The New York Times (9/1)
Recruiting & Retention
Study: Education alone not closing income gap Despite a significant increase in the number of Black workers with four-year college degrees over the past two decades, their income gains have been disproportionately low compared to expectations in a race-neutral job market. A recent study, based on US Census data and government surveys from 1980 to 2019, reveals occupational segregation is a key factor contributing to this income gap, as Black college graduates are more likely to work in middle-wage occupations. Full Story: The New York Times (9/4)
Want a long life? Prioritize time with friends The Italian island of Sardinia has the highest concentration of male centenarians on the planet, and people there prioritize happy hour and time with friends after a day's work of tending to their flocks of sheep on the mountainside. "A big key to living longer, healthier lives seems to be organically managing stress and taking time to live in the moment," writes Hilary Brueck. Full Story: Insider (8/25)
Strategies for Success from TrainingMag.com
3 ways employers can retain talent Employers can increase their chance of retaining workers by exploring their hidden talents and providing opportunities for those superpowers to shine, writes Marie Barnes, principal analyst at the Brandon Hall Group. In addition, foster a sense of belonging among employees and prioritize consistent messaging, Barnes advises. Full Story: Training magazine (8/30)
Benefits & Compensation
Self-funded primary care may save employers money A self-funded model of employee health benefits may help employers save money and improve their financial flexibility, and primary care offered under a model of this kind may help increase access to services as well. Under a self-funded arrangement, the employer directly pays care claims and any third-party administrator fees, and there is normally a safety net for catastrophic claim protection or stop-loss coverage. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (8/31)
Eighty-one percent of businesses say that formerly incarcerated workers perform better than or equally as well as peers who don't have criminal records, and many companies, governments, organizations and prisons are educating, reskilling and/or hiring them, Arti Finn of ADPS and Amy Lopez of Past the Edges Consulting write. Massachusetts is offering personalized education and training to incarcerated people and lowering their recidivism rate, and Finn and Lopez share The Body Shop and Greystone Bakery's inclusive programs and suggest ways to help. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (9/1)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
What is the likely source of the meaning of "beat," as in writer Jack Kerouac's "Beat Generation" and the Beat writers like Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs?
I walked into my best friend Jen’s house Saturday night armed with a three bottles of wine and two pints of ice cream for our monthly girls night gathering. As I rounded the corner into the kitchen I did a startled double take. “Surprise!” All my friends were there -- Jen’s boyfriend Dallas, my roommate (and other best friend) Ray, and all our other friends, plus Jen’s kids (who I love like my own) and her mother Linda. I looked around the room. Hawaiian reggae was playing on Spotify. Jen and the girls had done a Hawaiian-themed party, with adorable decorations and a buffet of local-kine comfort food, including chicken katsu and mac salad. Jen had also made a big platter of egg salad sandwiches on sweet bread, one of my dad's specialties. I was still standing stock still in the doorway, mouth open, stunned by the surprise. Jen, laughing, came over and wrapped me in a giant hug. “Happy belated birthday, my friend,” she whispered, holding me tight. “I love you,” I whispered back, smiling. She took the bag from me and I began greeting folks. The room rang with laughter as folks confessed their part in the surprise. “We had a separate text about this. Girl, I got so confused trying to keep up!” “We all parked in the other parking lot so you didn’t see our cars!” “We made Ops use the bathroom at the park so you wouldn’t see him!” “Dallas called Ray on Tuesday to tell him.” “Good thing he did. I was supposed to be gone. I changed my flight so I was home. You would have killed me if I missed this party!” I was overwhelmed, in the best way possible. I felt loved and honored and cherished. I couldn’t stop smiling. Connecting and spending time with friends and family is key to living a long, rich life, according to our Health & Wellness story today. The story talks about a recently released Netflix documentary about the world’s five Blue Zones, areas where people live longer than the average lifespan. Researchers say the residents’ longevity can be attributed in part to the priority they place on spending time with friends and family. "In Nicoya, just like all the other Blue Zones, people would never do a couple hours of work when they could be enjoying their family, or taking a siesta, or interacting with their friends," Dan Buettner, author and longevity expert, says. "They slow down to make time for things that really matter to them." Do you prioritize time with friends and family? Is it often, or infrequent? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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