Senate to weigh setting minimum salary for teachers | How AI can blow the whistle on fraudulent applicants | How favoring certain employees might be a good thing
US Sen. Bernie Sanders said earlier this week that he plans to introduce the Pay Teachers Act -- similar to a measure introduced in the House that would set a $60,000 minimum annual salary for teachers. Sanders said the effort was aimed at attracting more teachers to the profession. Full Story: Education Week (2/14),The Hill (2/14)
eLearning or in-person learning? Having learning options doesn't have to mean making a difficult decision. Studies show eLearning can be just as effective or even more effective than face-to-face instruction when proven learning methods are used. Our latest blog shares a formula for using eLearning to increase effectiveness. Read the Blog.
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Recruiting & Retention
How AI can blow the whistle on fraudulent applicants Artificial intelligence can be valuable in detecting applicant fraud in the hiring process, argues CEO Dan Finnigan of Filtered. An example: When an applicant's answer to a question was too much like others, "it can indicate the answer was shared online or with the candidate directly." Full Story: Spiceworks (2/14)
Most employers plan to update health benefits, providers A survey by the WTW advisory firm found that a majority of US employers are considering a switch in health and wellness benefit providers this year or next, in an effort to address staff members' changing needs. Eighty-eight percent of the 232 employers surveyed said they intend to make changes including expanding, adding or canceling certain benefits or partnering with new vendors, and the new offerings they are looking for include well-being programs, solutions for particular health conditions, mental health services, digital health platforms and navigation and advocacy programs. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (2/13)
Recent mass layoffs by big tech companies could be a boon for agtech and farm equipment companies that need tech talent as the machinery they are making becomes more sophisticated. Some of the 350 new engineers hired at CNH Industrial last year formerly worked at Amazon and Microsoft, and competitors Deere & Co. and Caterpillar are both actively courting former Silicon Valley tech workers. Full Story: Reuters (2/13)
The HR Leader
Helping staffers overcome the obstacles they face People may procrastinate when they are unsure of what to do next, but leaders can help by prompting staffers to discuss the obstacles they are facing during team meetings, writes Ron Friedman, founder of ignite80. This prompt serves as "an invitation to step back and think deeply about what they are really trying to achieve, as well as the barriers getting in the way," Friedman writes. Full Story: Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (2/14)
About the Editor
Thoughts for the day
Kanoe Namahoe, editor
I slid into the backseat of the Lyft. The driver smiled a greeting at me, then pulled away from the curb. As we made our way onto the crowded freeway, I asked how long he had been driving for Lyft. About a year, he told me. “I’m a teacher. I do this to help make ends meet. I drive during breaks and sometimes the weekends,” he explained. I cringed inside. I travel a fair amount for work and often run into teachers whose side hustle is driving for Lyft and Uber. There’s no shame in that at all. It’s legitimate work and they like the flexibility. But I hate that they have to do it. Many of these individuals have master’s degrees – for which they paid thousands – and have been in the classroom for 10 and 20 years or more. And yet, their salaries hover lower than those of other professionals with similar levels of experience and education. “Kanoe, educators chose their professions. They knew going in what they would make.” True. But that doesn’t mean the salaries should stay where they are. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders aims to change this with the introduction of legislation that would set a base salary for teachers at $60,000 a year. His bill, the Pay Teachers Act, would complement similar legislation proposed by the House in December. Teaching is hard. It’s a craft. And I have enormous respect for those who do it well. Like the reading teacher who discovers why Jesse is struggling then helps him turn the corner and start to read. And the high school special education teacher who teaches Sonny -- who has multiple learning delays -- how to apply for a job, open a bank account and find an apartment. And the algebra teacher who helps Sydney get past her math anxiety and work through a page of equations without dissolving into tears. It’s time to up the wages for teachers. If we want to draw talented, dedicated professionals to the classroom, we have to pay them a salary that allows them to take care of their families and responsibilities without having to live paycheck to paycheck. What do you think? Is this base too low (it is in my area) or too high? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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