Survey: US workers' mental health is improving | These skills boost remote workers' appeal as candidates | This leader is making a brighter future for at-risk students
Eighty-eight percent of US employees responding to a poll described their mental health as good or very good, researchers at Leapsome reported. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed indicated that their mental health had improved over the past year, and researchers attributed the positive trend to better work-life balance and a higher level of career fulfillment. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (10/5)
These skills boost remote workers' appeal as candidates When hiring for remote positions, recruiters and employers tend to look for several traits that indicate creativity and commitment, according to research by FlexJobs. Good communication, critical thinking skills, a decisive attitude, and discipline are most in demand, and employers also value initiative, innovation, efficient home-based work practices, familiarity with technology, healthy outside interests, and a sense of humor. Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (10/4)
Properly managed self-funded health plans can save money for small businesses without skimping on benefits, health insurance executive Steve Palma writes. Employers can realize savings through data insights, protections against cash-flow turbulence and monthly reviews of costs, quality and employee satisfaction, Palma notes. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (10/5)
Leaders can sharpen their skills by working with an executive coach to help them see the value of feedback and provide insight into the best ways to build trust with all stakeholders, authors Jacquelyn Lane and Scott Osman told John Baldoni in an interview about their new book, "Becoming Coachable." Coaching, Lane says, "helps you become more self-aware, it helps you understand your blind spots and how to be in better relationship with all those people." Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (10/5)
Workplace Chatter
Pa. woman helps female inmates prepare for success Linda Loop, CEO of Dress for Success Luzerne County, Pa., wants to help women succeed, so she reached out to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility to see how she could help women who are being released. Loop teaches Saturdays for Success workshops twice a month at the prison and offers them career clothing guidance and job-hunting assistance. Full Story: Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) (10/3)
Editor's Note
SmartBrief will not publish Monday, Oct. 9 In observance of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day in the US, SmartBrief will not publish Monday, Oct. 9.
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Oct. 6 is World Smile Day. Who created the iconic yellow smiley face?
Aloha all, I will not be publishing SmartBrief on Workforce on Monday as we will be closed for Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. I am deeply grateful for the contributions all cultures and people groups make to this country -- food, arts, music, language, faith and more. We are a quilt of many colors, rich textures and diverse traditions. We are not perfect. There are dark patches in our history and painful wounds that continue to heal. But that pain brought growth. It uncovered realities and forced us to call Injustice by its name. And when we did that, we gained strength. Toughness. Wisdom. We pried open the doors of education and pursued advancement. We established pathways of success for our children to follow. We did that. All of us, even those who committed wrong. We all helped build a country of freedom, hope and opportunity. I’m deeply honored to be part of that. 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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