Report: Job satisfaction hit 36-year high in 2022 | Initial jobless claims at highest point since Nov. 2021 | Employee resource groups bring together caregivers
Just over 62% of workers in the US were satisfied with their job in 2022, an increase from slightly more than 60% in 2021 and almost 57% in 2020, and marking the highest levels in 36 years, according to the Conference Board. The study found employees with hybrid working models and those who had changed roles voluntarily during the pandemic were among the most satisfied. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (5/11),Fortune (tiered subscription model) (5/11)
Ready or Not: Navigating the Return to the Office There's a lot of debate about returning to the office. At the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2023 this June 11-14, join thousands of your peers and over 325 subject matter experts in discussing and learning about the challenge of returning to work, mental health, equity and so much more. Register today.
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Recruiting & Retention
Initial jobless claims at highest point since Nov. 2021 Initial jobless claims increased to 264,000, up 22,000 from the prior period and the largest tally since November 2021, according to the Labor Department. The four-week moving average of claims also climbed, hitting 245,250. Full Story: The Associated Press (5/11)
Help employee caregivers — and morale. When you create a more caregiver-friendly workplace, you can increase productivity and lower turnover. And that makes everyone feel better. AARP has free tips, tools and helpful insights. You'll find them in the AARP Employer Resource Center. Learn more.
Many employers to continue preventive care coverage About 72% of employers responding to a survey from the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions plan to continue full coverage of preventive care services, despite a Texas judge's decision striking down most of the Affordable Care Act's preventive care provisions, but 6% said they will be more selective about coverage and 22% were unsure. About 71% said they will align coverage of COVID-19 treatment after the end of the public health emergency with coverage of similar non-COVID-19 services, while 24% plan to cover that care in full. Full Story: Healthcare Finance (5/10)
"Ted Lasso" star Jason Sudeikis (Kayla Oaddams/WireImage/Getty Images)
TV character Ted Lasso recently told his soccer team to "hush their butts," but workplace growth and development consultant Julie Winkle Giulioni heard it as "buts" because of the proliferation of the qualifier in office conversations. Winkle Giulioni explains how to rein in inaction that follows "buts" and respond in ways that "hush the negativity." Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (5/11)
Workplace Chatter
Calif. town rallies around beloved chef battling cancer David Raigoza, a Santa Paula chef who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, is well-known in the community for his generosity and outreach, including distributing leftover food to local homeless people and hosting a full Thanksgiving dinner -- for free -- for those who had nowhere to go. Friends, customers and local businesses are now collaborating to raise funds for his care, and Raigoza describes the support as "almost beyond belief." Full Story: Ventura County Star (Calif.) (5/11)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Who established Mother's Day celebrations on the second Sunday in May, and in what year? Check your answer here.
In this final piece for our Teacher Appreciation Week series, I pay tribute to one of the most powerful teachers in my world: my mom. The lessons I’ve learned from her patient example and diligent tutelage have shaped my 52 years on this earth. Read on. Marta and David. Marta and her two young children came to our house late one night. We knew them and Marta’s husband Cosme from church. We spent a lot of time with them. So when Cosme got violent with Marta, she called my mom for help. Mom sent my dad to get her and the children. “They’re going to stay with us for a bit,” Mom explained to us the next morning. David is my ex-husband and the subject profiled in today’s Workplace Chatter story. Despite our divorce, David and I remain friends and he’s loved by my parents, siblings and extended family. He was recently diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. A friend of his started a GoFundMe to help raise money for his medical and living expenses. As soon as she heard, Mom made sure she and Dad made a sizeable donation to the cause. The lesson: Be generous in your help to others. I like the way my sister Kawehi puts it: “We have a kuleana to lend a hand to others in need, especially women. Regardless of their situation, you should help.” Mom led this charge in our family and it became our norm. Kitchens and vacuum cleaners. Some women got excited about cars and clothes -- my mom got excited about a great vacuum cleaner. I remember the one she bought when I was in middle school. It was an upright, with a blue bag, and built like a tank. She vacuumed everything -- every day! -- the first week she had that vacuum. She took meticulous care of it and we had it for years, well into my adulthood. Mom prized a clean home. During the day, it might get a bit messy, especially when she had young children in it, but at night, before she went to bed, she made sure it was tidy. The kitchen was spotless -- dishes washed, food put away and counters clear. The living room was in order -- toys, books and games stowed away in baskets and drawers. And the bathrooms were clean -- washcloths wrung out, towels hung properly. The lesson: Invest money in good cleaning equipment and time in keeping a tidy home. It makes a difference. I learned that when I became a parent. Reliable equipment kept the house clean and a clean home felt warm and comfortable. And this helped my little family function better. Scrabble. Mom taught me to play Scrabble when I was about 8 years old. I took to it immediately, loving the challenge of forming words from the lettered tiles. When we first started playing, Mom helped me create words and taught me the strategy of word placement. She would spot me 10-20 points so we could keep score and I wouldn’t get discouraged. We spent hours playing. I couldn’t get enough. Eventually, Mom stopped spotting me points. “You don’t need it anymore,” she told me as we set up the board for a game with the aunties. The lesson: Share your interests with your children. It nurtures relationship. I shared my interests with my babies and they became “our thing.” I built strong bonds with each of them over books (Kiaha) and nachos at soccer games (Kawai). All these lessons affected me as a woman, mother and professional. I’m better in all these roles because of what Mom taught me. As we end Teacher Appreciation Week and head into the Mother’s Day weekend, I exhort you to reach out to those who have made a difference in your life. Tell them the impact they’ve had on you. That exercise is good for them and good for us. It nurtures goodness in our character and warmth in our spirits. Have a great weekend! How can I serve you better with this brief? Let me know! And if you enjoy this newsletter, tell others so they can benefit also.
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