Research conducted by ChamberofCommerce.org suggests that the average annual cost of commuting to work in the US is $5,748, or $22.11 per day, and about 90% of companies in a ResumeBuilder survey said they will expect staff members to work in the office at least part of the time by the end of next year, raising questions about the affordability of working in person. The most expensive locations for commuting are San Francisco and Fremont, California, Washington, D.C., Jersey City, N.J., and New York City. Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (9/11)
Recruiting & Retention
8 ways to help employees serve their colleagues' needs Internal customer service has three parts: "the warm welcome, service or product delivery and fond farewell," writes consultant Micah Solomon. Internal customer service training should stress listening to co-workers, careful choice of language and no tolerance of bad behavior, Solomon writes. Full Story: Entrepreneur (9/8)
Think Like A CEO: Learning's Impact Learning leaders are increasingly aware of the need to link learning measurement to broader business objectives. This research summary looks at how organizations are measuring the business impact of learning.
C-suite executives can mitigate employee concerns about the CEO-to-worker pay gap with a team-forward philosophy and more equitable compensation structures, CEOs and experts say. Airbnb and Box are on a list of 15 companies with more equitable CEO-to-worker pay, and leaders who follow suit may be able to improve employee moral and productivity, Brandon Rees of the AFL-CIO and many others say. Full Story: Fast Company (tiered subscription model) (9/13),Fast Company (tiered subscription model) (9/12),Fast Company (tiered subscription model) (9/13)
Leaders who cannot recognize or relinquish their rigid ideas or who refuse to openly communicate with colleagues or staff and seek to cultivate a "cult of personality" could end up like the children's story of the emperor with no clothes where everyone sees they are unfit for the job, writes Michael Nathanson, the CEO of The Colony Group. "Distributing leadership among several individuals and ensuring everyone understands that the organization transcends any one person is the best way to ensure that a leader's clothes are real and not imaginary," Nathanson writes. Full Story: Chief Executive (9/12)
Workplace Chatter
Calif. social worker succeeds after rough start Ben Buckner, a therapist at Tam High School in Marin, Calif., had a rough start in life and was even expelled when he was in high school. But a principal at another school saw something in him that pushed him to succeed and he then struck up a friendship with a social worker, Buckner became interested in social work and went on to receive an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree and then went on to graduate school for social work. Full Story: Marin Independent Journal (San Rafael, Calif.) (9/10)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
At 7 feet, 3 inches, Kristaps Porzingis is among the tallest currently active NBA players. Who here is taller?
With 9:22 on the clock, on second and nine at LSU’s 13, Grambling State’s Myles Crawley connects with receiver JR Waters in the end zone (about :20 in the video). The catch was nothing short of spectacular. Under tight coverage by LSU’s Denver Harris, and just inches from being out of bounds, Waters hurls his 6’3” frame into the air and secures the ball. The stands and sidelines explode in cheers from fans and teammates. Waters and Crawley celebrate their score. And on my couch, in my living room, my hands folded over my heart, I smile and cry. “Well done, son,” I whisper. JR is a friend of my nephew’s. The boys grew up playing football together. I began mentoring JR during his final semester in high school, to help him graduate and get ready for college. He had received a full-ride scholarship to Oregon. He was excited but nervous about the transition. Academics hadn’t been his strong suit, but he truly wanted to succeed in college. He understood the value of the opportunity in front of him. He had a bumpy start. First time leaving home. Demanding football programs -- and football politics. Rigorous academics. The birth of his first child. The arrival of COVID-19. Transferring schools -- twice. Learning about finances. The birth of his second son. Moving from Oregon, to Utah, to Louisiana. Integrating into a new program. Competing for playing time. It was a lot. So when he caught that pass last weekend, it was more than just a touchdown. It was a life victory. It was the culmination of his efforts to endure, fight and grow. It was him learning to not just believe in himself but demand the best from himself. Today’s Workplace Chatter story about Benjamin Buckner, rebellious teenager turned social worker, reminds me of JR’s journey. Buckner makes poor choices, lands in juvenile hall, but is humbled through the experience and turns his life around. It takes a long time, but he commits to it. Today, he’s a successful social worker using his experiences to guide troubled young people. I love 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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