Employees often feel overwhelmed by task management, losing up to seven hours weekly, according to an IFTTT survey. CEO Linden Tibbets suggests leaders encourage automation without fear of job loss, establish artificial intelligence guardrails, allow team-based tool testing and promote the use of saved time for professional development and wellness and family activities. Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (6/20)
The Prison Education Initiative in Michigan is transforming Thumb Correctional Facility into a college campus to provide higher education to over 1,000 inmates. This initiative aims to create a secure learning environment with classrooms, a library, and a cafe, helping inmates focus on self-improvement and reducing recidivism. Full Story: Prison Journalism Project (6/17)
Rachel Strella, founder and CEO of Strella Social Media, shares how she has used social media to build a strong culture at her remote social media management agency. Strella highlights the use of a private Facebook group for updates and celebrations, the "Lunch Connect" initiative for team bonding and the "Fundamentals" program to reinforce core values through actionable behaviors. Full Story: Training magazine (6/16)
Benefits & Compensation
Well connected benefit procedures can help save costs Research shows that employees only spend an average of 18 minutes choosing their workplace benefits, feeding into a growing "benefits paradox" -- employers' costs are rising, but staff satisfaction and utilization are not. Better decisionmaking processes, a well connected benefits hub and human-centered artificial intelligence tools can help employers conserve time and money, writes Eddie Pinto of PlanSource. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (6/13)
The HR Leader
How to address employee concerns about ICE raids More business leaders are finding they have to address employee concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids as immigration crackdowns intensify. Kevin Martin of i4cp stresses the importance of internal communication to address these concerns, as employees may be indirectly affected through friends and family. Employers can support workers by offering flexible work arrangements and referrals to external resources such as immigration attorneys. Full Story: Fortune (tiered subscription model) (6/23)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Without Title IX, the gender equity law that opened up school sports to more women, we might not have heard of Caitlin Clark, Mia Hamm or Simone Biles. What year was it enacted?
And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.