Income fails to keep pace with inflation for US workers | How "quiet quitting" is changing the business landscape | How "halftime breaks" benefit your team
Fifty-five percent of US workers say their pay is lagging behind inflation, despite just under half of US employees receiving a pay rise in the past year, according to Bankrate research conducted by YouGov. The top type of pay raises recently received are performance-based increases, followed by cost-of-living raises, but the latter "are the exception, rather than the rule," notes Greg McBride, Bankrate's chief financial analyst. Full Story: CBS News/MoneyWatch (9/14)
The rise of the virtual-first health plan The dramatic increase in telemedicine use seen early in the pandemic also fueled the rise of virtual-first health plans, an emerging model that is testing flexible, consumer-centric care for the digital health era. Register for this industry roundtable.
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Recruiting & Retention
How "quiet quitting" is changing the business landscape So-called "quiet quitting" has struck a chord in the business world, with some employees gaining a renewed focus on work-life balance and others doing the bare minimum to avoid losing their jobs. Employers can respond to this trend by creating opportunities for social interaction to boost engagement and ensure workplace arrangements are mutually beneficial. Full Story: The Hub (Johns Hopkins University) (9/12)
Go Green: How Does Your Org Stack Up? Environmental challenges are mounting against us by the day. You may not realize it, but your organization has more influence on ecological efforts than you might think. So how eco-friendly are you, really? Take the quiz to find out.
Cisco donates $5M for Black entrepreneur programs Cisco is donating $5 million to the Black Economic Alliance Foundation, which will develop entrepreneurship programs at three historically Black colleges and universities in Atlanta. The money will be used for endowed faculty positions, graduate programs and grants for graduates who become entrepreneurs. Full Story: Campus Technology (9/12)
The HR Leader
A surprising tactic to neutralize workplace conflicts One way to work with difficult colleagues is to think about what they were like when they were younger, allowing you to be more compassionate and generous toward them and opening up an avenue to collaborate more effectively, writes Liz Kislik. "But this technique is not about treating the person like a child: if you trivialize them or infantilize them, it will not work at all," Kislik writes. Full Story: Liz Kislik Associates (9/13)
About the Editor
Kanoe Namahoe
Dear Kiaha and Kawai, You’re both in the professional workforce and I’m proud of you. You’re working hard and standing on your own two feet. You’re on good paths. But there’s always room for growth, and today, Mom needs to put an important reminder in front of you. Work matters. Honor it. Employers -- like the customers we serve -- have choices. They can keep you or find someone else. There’s a trend right now called “quiet quitting.” Be cautious about this. What started as a way to improve work-life balance has (unfortunately) evolved into a practice of half-okole work. People who do this are (intentionally) doing the bare minimum; they do just enough work to get a job done but not a lick more. They champion mediocrity. Don’t be them. Do as Tutu did: Work with integrity. Make sure that every meeting, every task, every project gets your full attention and effort. This isn’t about climbing a ladder or gaining wealth. It’s about securing your professional future. It’s true that anything can happen in our careers. Even talented employees get laid off. But when you do good work -- when you honor your employer and your craft -- you position yourself for opportunity and success. You earn respect and good reputations. Companies will pursue you because they know they can count on you. Don’t drink the “quiet quitting” Kool-Aid. And don’t sweat the work-life balance thing; you’ll figure it out. Just purpose to do excellent work and separate yourselves from those who accept half-okole as their habit. I’m proud of you. Mom *** How can I serve you better with this brief? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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