President Trump has offered federal workers who do not want to return to their on-site offices a buyout option if they resign by 6 Feb. Employees who accept the offer will receive pay and benefits through September 30. This move, which could save the government up to $100 billion annually, has been met with criticism from unions and experts who fear it may drive away experienced employees and undermine government efficiency. The offer excludes military personnel, Postal Service workers, and those in immigration and national security.
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Bethany Wilinski, an associate professor of teacher education at Michigan State University, shares her experience of planning a sabbatical amid personal challenges, highlighting the importance of aligning the sabbatical with personal needs rather than solely for career expectations. Initially planning a year in Tanzania for research, she realized she needed rest and chose to spend time in Bordeaux, France, which helped her overcome burnout and reconnect with her family and work.
Walmart is increasing annual compensation for market managers to as much as $620,000, from a range of $320,000 to $570,000, to bolster retention and recruitment amid a tight labor market. The company also has raised hourly wages by 30% in recent years and has introduced a bonus program for hourly employees based on tenure. Market managers oversee multiple regional stores and are "key for our business and for serving our customers however they shop," a Walmart spokesperson said.
Undergraduate certificate programs have seen a 28.5% enrollment increase since 2019, driven by a shifting labor market and the need for specific skills, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. These programs, often completed in a year or less, are popular among students seeking to enter the workforce quickly or enhance their resumes.
Despite political pressure and recent government actions against diversity, equity and inclusion programs, companies are integrating DEI into broader business strategies. While companies such as Harley-Davidson and Walmart have publicly reduced DEI roles, many businesses continue to prioritize inclusion and meritocracy, according to research from Josh Bersin.
What would it look like if you took a year off for a sabbatical? What would you do -- and why?
If you are thinking about taking a sabbatical, “consider pausing for a moment to ask yourself what you really need from your time away, and to make that your starting point for developing a sabbatical plan,” writes Michigan State University professor Bethany Wilinski in our Recruitment & Retention story today. “You may end up having a sabbatical that is very different from the one you first envisioned, and it may even be life-changing.”
When Wilinski initially began planning her sabbatical, her mind and body were spent. Family deaths, plus the challenges of the pandemic, left her exhausted and burned out. It soon became evident that the sabbatical she was planning was not the sabbatical she wanted -- or needed. So she pivoted, changing her plans from doing research in Tanzania to spending a semester in Bordeaux, France with her family.
And she was better for it. Wilinski writes that she returned to her classroom, recharged and reinvigorated for her work.
This story made me think; that’s why I included it in today’s issue. Sabbaticals are common in academia, but not so much in the business world. Maybe they should be. How would our leadership be better if we took time away from our work to focus on something different? Something unique and fresh? Something bigger than our day-to-day existence -- something that caused us to look outside of ourselves to the world and people around us?
These are questions worth pondering. I know I am. I’d love to know your thoughts. Drop me a line and tell me where you would go and what you would do. And why. I can't wait to hear!
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