Retailers such as Amazon, Tops Markets, Sheetz and Ollie's Bargain Outlet are offering sign-on bonuses to attract new staff, and a Korn Ferry survey found the tactic is being employed by 29% of major US retailers as they face challenges in filling vacant positions. The US retail sector had 878,000 open vacancies in March, up 53% from 2020, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Korn Ferry's Craig Rowley said the bonus trend "tells you how needy retailers are for staff."

Amazon has begun its "Returnship" program with plans to help professionals who have been out of work for more than a year get back into the workforce through paid training and job opportunities with the retailer. The program is especially for women who had to leave their positions because of the pandemic, and Amazon said it plans to hire 1,000 people through the program in the next several years.

Workplace allies champion the interests of underrepresented groups, of which they are not a member, to promote diversity and inclusion, writes PDT Global's Angela Peacock. Peacock explains five types of allies and advises leaders on how to cultivate an allyship culture.

The Enhancing Emergency and Retirement Savings Act of 2021, introduced by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., would allow retirement plan enrollees to dip into their accounts penalty-free in case of a family emergency. Participants would be allowed to take one emergency distribution each year, limited to vested amounts above $1,000 and with a yearly maximum of $1,000, and would be required to replace the funds before any further emergency withdrawals could be made.

Employers and employees alike must admit they are resisting changes created by the pandemic and that short-term solutions are needed to help get to longer-term answers of what culture looks like, Marlene Chism writes. "Co-create a hybrid model with your team based on core values, culture, your new definition of productivity and how to best serve your clients," Chism writes.

Middle managers are often the unsung heroes in our organizations, aren’t they? I like how Zahira Jaser calls them “connecting leaders” in today’s Leadership & Development story. Middle managers are the ones navigating teams through the choppy waters of change while having to take direction from others at the top. It’s a delicate balance.

But an important role. I work alongside some exceptional middle managers and I’m often impressed by how well they move and pivot between different teams and leaders. They know how to connect the right people in the right situations. They keep the organizational engines running. 

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