Rising unemployment makes job hunting harder in the US | Student-led TikTok attack dismantles teacher morale | This leadership tip is not just for the birds
US job seekers face a tougher market as the unemployment rate climbed to 4.1% in June, the highest in three years. The number of unemployed people rose to 6.8 million, driven by more people entering the workforce and the quit rate holding steady at 2.2%. Full Story: CNN (7/8)
Middle-school students at Great Valley Middle School in Pennsylvania created fake TikTok accounts impersonating teachers, leading to online harassment and significant unease among staff. The attack has left some teachers hesitant to call out misconduct in class and others to reconsider their willingness to continue in the profession. "It was so deflating. I can't believe I still get up and do this every day," says Patrice Motz, a Spanish teacher who has taught for 14 years at the school. Full Story: The New York Times (7/6)
Nature can help nurture staff wellness Research suggests that people with regular access to nature and the outdoors may experience lower stress levels, better brain function, and a greater sense of well-being. Employers can help their workers improve wellness by offering paid breaks for walks and other outdoor activities, and by including green spaces in the work environment. Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (7/1)
Benefits & Compensation
Tech giant to pay $14.4M in protected leave settlement Microsoft has agreed to a $14.4 million settlement in a case where California employees alleged unfair company retaliation when they used protected family, parental or disability leave. The bulk of the settlement funds will be distributed to affected personnel, and managers and human resources staff will be given relevant training if the settlement is approved by a judge. Full Story: CNBC (7/3)
The HR Leader
Why you should recognize your team every week Recognizing your team members for a job well done on a weekly basis can create a sense of psychological safety, but psychologist Jordan Scott Birnbaum says we resist doing that because we may feel such frequency will only pump up an employee's ego. Recognition, though, isn't the same as a compliment, Birnbaum clarifies; it's a clear message that their work matters to the organization and their job is secure. Full Story: Psychology Today (7/5)
When a middle-school student was confronted about her participation in the mass TikTok attack on teachers at her school -- our Recruitment & Retention story today -- her response made me sick. “Move on. Learn to joke. I am 13 years old and you’re like 40 going on 50,” the student told her teacher. The “joke” this student is referring to involved setting up fake TikTok accounts for the teachers, then populating those accounts with “pedophilia innuendo, racist memes, homophobia and made-up sexual hookups among teachers.” Some of the student harassers are unrepentant. They plan to start up the posts again, but make them private so teachers cannot find them. “This is awful, Kanoe, but why is this in an HR newsletter?” you ask. Two reasons. First, what happens in education affects society -- and the workforce -- at large. We learned that from the pandemic. When schools closed down, children had to stay home and attend school online. That meant parents and guardians had to stay home. And that meant that workplaces had to make accommodations so staff could fulfill family obligations. The teacher workforce is already suffering shortages. If the shortages continue, schools could be forced to increase class sizes, shorten the school day, change school schedules or cut class offerings. All of these could have an impact on workers who are parents and guardians. Second, taunting and threatening behavior would never be tolerated in any other workplace. Employees are protected by protocols designed to address and shut down abuse. Schools have these too, but somehow behavior like this TikTok attack slide through. For some reason, the protocols don't change the day-to-day nonsense. “OK. You make good points. But now what?” Support the educators in your community. Not just with gift cards and donations to their classroom (though don’t stop doing that!), but with action. Here are some ideas: Share this story with your children and grandchildren and talk to them about why this behavior is unacceptable. Make sure they know this isn't a "joke" or "harmless." Be open to hard conversations with your children and grandchildren’s teachers. Do you suspect your child may be engaging in similar behavior? Don’t sit on the sidelines. Don’t let the school do your job. Get in there and join forces with the educators. Be the solution -- not the rash. Talk to your local school’s teachers and principals and find out how you can support them better. Is there a place where you can volunteer and be a positive, firm adult influence? I’ll say it again: What happens in our schools affects our workplaces. Let’s get ahead of things and help support the educators who watch over our children. We’ll all be better for it. 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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