Continuing unemployment claims climbed to 1.6 million last week, an increase of 57,000 and the largest rise in a year. Meanwhile, initial unemployment claims decreased to 225,000, according to the Labor Department.

A four-day workweek led to higher sales, lower burnout rates and improved attendance in a pilot program that included more than two dozen companies. Though the sample size is considered small, participating companies saw an 8% increase in revenue, and employees used less sick or personal time per month, according to a study published Wednesday by researchers at Boston College, Cambridge University and University College Dublin.

Tax credits and federal rule changes could help small businesses control the cost of health care benefits through the Affordable Care Act, which is open for enrollment through Jan. 15, writes Rhett Buttle of the Small Business Roundtable. One of the updates fixes the "family glitch," a loophole that affected eligibility for family members of employees.

Female employees rate flexibility in the workplace at 11 points lower than their male counterparts, according to a report by The Mom Project. The study highlights six ways companies can improve flexibility, including empowering autonomous working and training managers on the importance of flexible options.

This is the second year of the Excel World Championship, and the competition already has garnered a following on online streaming services and exposure on TV for matches in which participants race to answer questions using the spreadsheet software. The prize money this year reached $10,000.

Choose an answer to see how many other readers agree with you, then check your guess here.