Research: Restructure work around employees' peaks | Half of US workers worried about layoffs in their industry | Hired a winner? Feature them on social media
Productivity peaks for more than a quarter of Generation Z workers between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m., but the business world has been built around daytime hours, according to research. Employers should update processes, implement the right tools and trust younger employees, most of whom say they would leave a job over schedule and location flexibility. Full Story: Fortune (tiered subscription model) (4/25)
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Recruiting & Retention
Half of US workers worried about layoffs in their industry Three-quarters of workers are concerned about widespread layoffs in the US, with 49% of them worried about layoffs in their own industry, according to a Morning Consult report released last week. There is a disconnect between the fear and the current reality, but it's never too early to prepare for a downturn at your company. Full Story: Kiplinger (4/21)
See 5 Workplace Culture Trends for 2023 In 2023 companies will compete for the engagement and loyalty of employees who are still deciding how much of their lives to give to their jobs. What does this mean for workplace culture? Download our white paper and see how you can prepare.
Poor working conditions contribute to mental distress Late-night shifts, inflexible schedules and a lack of paid time off for illness were major contributors to workers' psychological distress that required treatment and impaired their functioning, according to CDC data. Such work conditions tax mental health, and people need to feel in control to avoid distress, experts say. Full Story: CNN (4/25)
Path to Workforce
Lilly teams up with tech school to grow biopharma workforce Eli Lilly and Co. is funding a $15 million, five-year biopharmaceutical industry workforce program at Ivy Tech Community College and Marion County high schools in Indiana. The Lilly Scholars @ Ivy Tech program aims to bring more first-generation American students and students from low-income families into the biopharmaceutical workforce, and the program's first summer boot camp is expected to start in July. Full Story: WFYI-TV/WFYI-FM (Indianapolis) (4/19)
The HR Leader
Strengthen broken culture in 5 key areas Ill-defined company values, lack of respect -- especially for younger employees -- and a disregard for employee well-being are culture flashpoints that spark concern in leaders, executive consultant S. Chris Edmonds says in this video. Window-dressing diversity and selfish leadership also can erode a company's culture. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (4/25)
SmartBrief Podcast Network
Pivot Energy's Peters: The basics of community solar Kacie Peters, senior director of communications at Pivot Energy, outlines the basics of community solar and highlights the momentum this segment of the renewables industry is enjoying. Peters also discusses some of the challenges the sector is facing -- including "astroturfing" -- and details how more consumers and business owners can access community solar to power their homes and/or operations. Full Story: Renewable Energy SmartPod (4/20)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
In the sport of cricket, what is a "sticky wicket"? Check your answer here.
Dear GenZers and millennials, The standard work day, right now, runs from roughly 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in your respective time zone. I live on the West Coast, but work East Coast hours. I’m at my desk working at 5 a.m. Pacific time and work until roughly 2 p.m. Do I jump out of bed? Not every day, no. But I’ve trained myself to do it, so it’s not a chore anymore. Did you catch that? I trained myself. Discipline. Practice. Making my body and mind do it until it became rote. And do you know why? Because I like a paycheck. And I love my work. My employer says it needs me online, working, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, and I’m fine with that. I knew it when I took the job. I signed up for it. So did my colleagues. “I work better at night. I’m more productive then,” you say. Cool. There are companies that can work with those hours and offer that flexibility. All you need to do is find them. “Well, companies need to do a better job of accommodating –” you start to say, but I cut you off. “Stop,” I say. Organizations are far more flexible today than they were 5, 10, 15 years ago. They’re working hard to strike a balance between flexibility and productivity. Flexible is nice, but at the end of the day, companies need to make money. It’s how they operate. Yes, employee needs are important. But also important are the priorities of the organization and the customers it serves. Organizations have to run their businesses during times when customers need them. Now, I realize I’m not talking to all GenZers and millennials. I raised one of each and they both have no issue working at 8 a.m. Many of their friends and other GenZers and millennials I work with are the same (I know because I asked them). They have sense. They know what hours their companies require them to work and they knew that when they took the job, they agreed to work those hours. And since they did, they’ve received promotions, higher salaries and earned the trust of their management teams. They’re requested to work on projects and listened to when they have ideas. These folks are widely admired for their work ethic and unspoiled demeanor. “Well, that’s harsh,” you sniff. No, darling, that’s the real world. And we want you in it. We admire your talent. But you may have to adjust. Because that's life in the grown-folks world. Sincerely, Kanoe, the GenXer 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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