GM, UAW come to terms on tentative deal to end strike | Challenges likely ahead for new NLRB joint employer rule | How "shallow work" is hampering productivity
General Motors and the United Auto Workers came to terms on a tentative agreement Monday to end a strike that started Sept. 15. GM followed fellow automakers Ford Motor and Stellantis in reaching an agreement on similar terms with the UAW, including higher wages and bringing back cost-of-living adjustments. Full Story: The Associated Press (10/30)
Recruiting & Retention
Challenges likely ahead for new NLRB joint employer rule The International Franchise Association says it might bring a legal challenge to the National Labor Relations Board's new joint employer rule, while a Congressional Review Act resolution targeting the new rule is expected to be filed in the Senate. The new rule, set to go into effect Dec. 26, rolls back a 2020 version of the rule by broadening the type of evidence that can support a joint employer finding. Full Story: Bloomberg Law (10/27)
Retirement Income Dilemma While the retirement income discussion is mostly around products, putting the focus on plan design could be a silver lining. Learn more.
Tips to get the most from applicants' references Employers can glean useful insights about the character of potential hires from their references, such as whether those listed are expecting to be contacted and if they've chosen a suitably representative sample list. When talking to references, ask questions to gauge their feelings toward the candidate and draw out specific examples of how they work. Full Story: Training magazine (10/27)
Benefits & Compensation
Hourly workers face challenges in saving for retirement Employees who are paid by the hour feel less confident they will be able to retire comfortably than people who earn a salary, a Human Interest poll found. The survey also showed that a quarter of US workers don't have access to an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan, hourly workers making under $60,000 a year have less access to a plan than salaried employees who make about the same amount, and about 30% of hourly employees have no access to employer-based savings arrangements, all of which could negatively affect financial stability in retirement. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (10/27)
Use a "fire board" to list out problems in need of solving, starting with the worst problem first, to prevent negativity from festering within your team, writes speaker and coach Anthony Iannarino. In addition, do not allow one toxic team member to drive others away; instead, work with them to improve, and if they don't, "you must remove them from your team before others fall under their spell and become negative themselves," Iannarino advises. Full Story: Chief Executive (10/27)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
"Trick or treat, smell my feet, gimme something good to eat!" In a 2023 National Retail Federation survey, which pet costume ranks first?
Aloha all! It’s good to be back with you. But now I am slogging through a deluge of email and Slack messages. I did a quick skim this morning for important notes, but am saving the rest for this evening when I’m watching the Spurs/Suns game. I’ve learned to put parameters on communication platforms. If I don’t, my day turns into a giant game of Whack-a-Mole and productive work goes out the window. Our Leadership & Development story from InsideHook talks about this phenomenon. I was surprised to learn that the average knowledge worker checks his or her email or instant messaging every six minutes. Every six minutes? How in the world do you get any focused work done? I couldn’t. What about you? How do you keep work communication tools from intruding on your productivity? Any policies you implement? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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