Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Co., revealed plans Wednesday to simplify the company's operations during a time of upheaval in the media business. The plan includes reducing 7,000 jobs from its global workforce, cutting $5.5 billion in costs and reorganizing into three divisions: a Parks, Experiences and Products unit; an ESPN division; and Disney Entertainment. Full Story: CNN (2/8),CNBC (2/9)
Helping workers who are also caregivers Employers, here's a way to show your support for workers who are also family caregivers. The on-demand Prepare to Care Workshop offers tips and resources and can make caring for a loved one more manageable. Ask your employees to register today.
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Recruiting & Retention
Migrant worker pay rises, midsize firms to hire more Migrant workers in the US have seen their wages increase as employers compete in an increasingly tight labor market. Separate survey data from the National Center for the Middle Market shows that 23% of midsized businesses say their current workforce is too small to meet their needs and that 57% plan to recruit "aggressively" this year. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (2/7),CFO Dive (2/7)
50% of Americans say their finances have gotten worse Half of Americans say they are financially worse off, compared with a year ago, while 35% report they are in a better position, according to Gallup. The company notes that since it started asking this question in 1976, there have been only two other times when at least half of Americans said they were worse off. Full Story: Gallup (2/8)
Online meetings are likely going to always be necessary, but they don't necessarily have to be boring, writes Stefanie Palomino, chief product officer and general manager of ROOM3D, who offers four suggestions for improving them, including reducing distracting background noise, creating rituals that connect participants and learning from mistakes. "It falls to you, as the leader, to find ways of keeping your employees energized, focused and happy," Palomino writes. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (2/8)
The bar for being perceived as a star in today's workplace seems to be lower than ever as modern employees are more likely to prioritize their personal lives, Callum Borchers writes. Employees who are being singled out as rising stars talk about the common-sense moves they're making, such as hitting deadlines, staying with one employer instead of jumping ship and being positive, helpful and willing to travel. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (2/9)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
POLL QUESTION: Which famous Bessie was the first Black and Native American woman to obtain a pilot's license? Check your answer here and learn more in SmartBrief's newsletters.
My daughter started a new job a couple months ago. From her first interview, she was in love with the company. (“Mom, they’re so great! And I just love Ken, the CEO.”) So when she started, she hit the ground running, soaking up the training, learning about the organization’s goals and sales cycles, and connecting with her peers and managers. I caught up with her a few weeks into the new gig. She was bubbling with energy and enthusiasm. “I’m learning the new accounting system,” she said. She’d been hired as an administrative assistant for the office but had recently started doing more accounting and HR tasks. “I was finishing my work early so I started asking people if they needed help with anything. Tara handed me some stuff and then offered to teach me the system. I so love this.” “Well done, kiddo,” I said. “That was smart. Shows energy and teamwork and a willingness to learn and contribute. Good move.” “Yeah, I like to learn, but really I was getting bored and didn’t want to just sit there,” she explained. “My manager didn’t give me anything to do so I went to others looking to see where I could help. They were awesome.” Going above and beyond can make you a star in your workplace and help you advance in your career, as we see in today’s HR Leader story. This isn’t a new idea, but in an era of “quiet quitting” it’s not as prevalent, or celebrated, as it once was. Many employees today are comfortable doing just what’s expected -- the bare minimum that they need to do to get their jobs done. And that’s why they don’t shine. It’s why they get bored in their work and their skills go stale. It’s why they sink to the bottom of the workplace pool. But those who have excellence running in their veins, they look for ways to contribute more to their organizations. They offer to travel. They go into the office, even when they don’t have to. They are the go-to person for information. They take on extra assignments. They honor their work. They are true professionals. I can respect this all day long. What about you? What do you think about going the extra mile in your workplace? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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