US District Judge George O'Toole Jr. held that federal labor unions lack standing to challenge the Trump administration's resignation offer for millions of federal workers. O'Toole ended a pause on the program, and about 75,000 federal workers accepted the offer before the administration closed it on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, another lawsuit by federal labor unions alleges that an executive order calling to sharply reduce the federal workforce violates the constitutional separation-of-powers doctrine. Full Story: USA Today (2/12),NBC News (2/12),Bloomberg Law (2/12)
Recruiting & Retention
Want to motivate employees? Act on what they tell you Employee feedback surveys are an effective way to determine what motivates work teams, provided leaders follow up on the information they glean, says Rebecca Lyons, CEO of Exera Solutions. "You really have to commit to taking action, otherwise you'll lose the trust of your work force and demotivate people, which is the opposite of what you want," says Lyons. Full Story: The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model) (2/13)
Washington considers $25 minimum wage by 2032 Washington state senators are considering a bill to raise the minimum wage to $25/hour by 2032, aiming to address stagnant wages and improve worker benefits. While labor advocates support the proposal, small business owners express concerns over potential financial burdens and increased closures. Full Story: KIRO-FM (Seattle) (2/12)
Digital employees are becoming a reality, performing tasks with speed and accuracy that surpass human capabilities, writes Chetan Dube, CEO of Quant. HR leaders must program AI employees ethically and involve diverse testers to ensure alignment with company goals, Dube writes. Full Story: HRZone (UK) (2/11)
The HR Leader
How companies can stave off employee burnout Eighty-one percent of US workers fear job loss this year, according to a MyPerfectResume survey, leading to burnout as employees overwork to secure their positions. The Society for Human Resource Management reports that 45% of burned-out workers are actively job hunting, and some are willing to take lower-paying jobs to preserve their mental health. To maintain engagement, businesses must address burnout by implementing strategies like the SMART work design, which focuses on stimulating tasks and manageable workloads. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (2/12)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
The record for solving a Rubik's Cube in competition is 4 seconds. How many seconds did it take winner Minh Thai to solve it at the first ever 1982 World Championships?
