Feeling overworked and undervalued? Experts offer tips | Survey: More than half of employees face racism at work | US jobless claims drop to 8-month low of 198K
An effort-reward imbalance -- the feeling that rewards and compensation are insufficient compared with the time, energy and emotion needed to complete a job or task -- violates the human sense of fairness and can contribute to burnout and depression, experts say. People who perceive an effort-reward imbalance should first compare their compensation with that of peers in a similar role and consider any intangible rewards, then discuss the situation with a manager, stop overcommitting and, as a last resort, look for another job. Full Story: The New York Times (10/19)
Recruiting & Retention
Survey: More than half of employees face racism at work A Catalyst survey found 52% of employees have faced racism at their current jobs, with 48% being subjected to workplace harassment such as derogatory comments and 32% earning less or getting fewer promotions than colleagues. "When Whiteness is the default at work, people from marginalized racial and ethnic groups are pressured to conform to White standards of leadership, presentation and self-expression," says Joy Ohm, vice president and knowledge architect at Catalyst, which surveyed more than 5,000 employees from the US, UK and four other countries. Full Story: HR Dive (10/18)
Affordability is greatest concern in paying medical bills Research from patient financial engagement company Cedar shows that about three-quarters of consumers consider affordability to be the most significant challenge in handling their large medical bills, while 58% say paying their bills is stressful and 18% have trouble understanding their benefits and costs. The company suggests solutions such as offering consumers payment flexibility and boosting collaboration between payers and providers. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (10/18)
A new manager successfully transformed a dysfunctional department by bringing the team together to define their Rules for Success -- a set of guidelines that helped solve problems and disputes with clarity, writes leadership consultant Art Petty. By answering seven key questions, the team created actionable operating principles that focused on communication, collaboration and accountability. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (10/19)
Haunted houses are a mainstay for Halloween lovers, but those who stage the attractions -- like Blood Manor in New York City -- are paying scary high prices from $25,000 to upwards of a million dollars on everything from high-tech props, actors, sound engineers, security, make-up artists and concessions. Jennifer Thaler, who runs TransWorld, the haunted house industry's biggest trade show, says customers are expecting the best scare for their buck. "You go to a haunted house now and it's an evening, you're not just walking through a haunt. They've turned into three-ring circuses." Full Story: BBC (10/17)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Osamu Shimomura, whose work with green fluorescent protein won a Nobel Prize in chemistry, is most associated with what animal?
I’m not a fan of horror movies or haunted houses. I don’t enjoy gore. But I do enjoy watching other people go through haunted houses. That’s comedy. And what better way to wrap up the week than with a hearty laugh? Check out the defensive line of the Washington Commanders* creep, cower and scream their way through Shocktober, a haunted house in Leesburg, Virginia. Or laugh until you cry as Andy Lassner and Amy Rhodes, of the Ellen Show, brave the Walking Dead maze at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. The best one, though, is Rhodes and her mother go through the Queen Mary Dark Harbor. Watching these two ladies -- in dress suits and heels no less! -- scream and clutch each other as they make their through the haunted ship is just priceless. They’re an adorable mother-daughter team and the belly laugh feels so good. The week takes a lot out of us. Laughter helps us breathe and relax again. So, grab a snack and get your giggle on. I will be out next week, at my dad’s memorial in Hawaii. I look forward to connecting with all of you when I get back. Have a great weekend! 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. *At the time this video was filmed, the team was called the Washington Redskins.
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