Feb. jobs report: US unemployment holds at 4.9% | Report: Employers may like fitness trackers more than employees do | Women divided on menstrual leave policy
The US unemployment rate held at 4.9% and companies added 242,000 jobs in February, according to the US Labor Department. The job additions beat analyst expectations, but wages did fall 0.1% for the month, and the energy and manufacturing sectors continue to experience declines. The New York Times (free-article access for SmartBrief readers) (3/4)
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Training & Development
Report: Employers may like fitness trackers more than employees do A report from Xerox Human Resources Services and the National Business Group on Health suggests companies may be more on board than their employees when it comes to using wearable fitness devices, social media and gamification in wellness programs. While employers like getting the timely measurable data on employee health issues that come with wearables, they say employees resist using the devices due to privacy concerns. BenefitsPro.com (3/3)Women divided on menstrual leave policy Some companies are considering a new benefit called a "period policy" that allows women with painful menstrual cycles to take leave as needed. Women are divided on the issue. Some say it will lead to increased gender bias in the workplace, but others say it is a progressive step forward for women's health that will lead to increased productivity and flexibility. CBS MoneyWatch (3/3)
As IBM prepares for its latest round of US workforce cuts, former employees say the company has cut its standard 26-week severance to just one month. The company has given some recently laid-off workers three months' notice. Employees also reported a reduction in 401(k) matching contributions. Computerworld (3/3)
Regulatory & Legal Update
Seattle faces suit over ride-share union policy Seattle is facing a lawsuit from the US Chamber of Commerce over its policy allowing drivers with Uber and Lyft, as well as taxi and for-hire drivers, to unionize. The chamber says the ordinance violates federal antitrust laws and threatens competition among private companies. Mayor Ed Murray opposed the law, which was unanimously approved by the City Council. Reuters (3/3)
Technology
Are your co-workers making more than you? Comparably is a new app that will allow technology professionals to compare their salaries with those of peers in similar positions in their area, explains co-founder and CEO Jason Nazar. "There's nowhere where you can get really detailed, specific compensation data on what people like you are making," says Nazar, who hopes Comparably can fill that gap. Business Insider (3/3)
The HR Leader
How to cope with communication overload About 200 billion emails were sent last year, with businesspeople responsible for an average of 122 per day. The digital overload is leading some employers to experiment with small behavioral tweaks, such as barring after-hours emails or letting employees skip meetings as needed. The Atlantic online (3/2)
