Women who respond to the "bro" culture at work by telling sexist jokes themselves can benefit in the short run with a boost in social status and career benefits, while men who did so didn't fare as well, according to research from Mandy O'Neill of George Mason University and Natalya Alonso of Simon Fraser University. But women who try to be one of the boys start to lose their career advantage after about eight years -- and often "burn out and disengage," O'Neill found in additional research, and sexist joking from anyone can "perpetuate gender inequality, including increasing leniency toward discrimination ... and self-objectification of women." Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (8/18)
5 strategies to become more proactive in your career Proactive people who take thoughtful, strategic action to influence their circumstances often find greater career success and happiness, writes sociologist and author Tracy Bower. If you don't have an inherently proactive personality, you can develop the skills by increasing your awareness, making long-term plans, following through with action, persevering in spite of obstacles and looking for leaders who empower you, Bower writes. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (8/20)
Leaders must be continuous learners so they can master their craft, which means knowing their own strengths and weaknesses, being an expert in their industry and collaborating with their team to set clear strategies and goals, along with policies that don't hinder progress, writes Jay Sidhu, the CEO of Customers Bancorp, Inc. "It comes down to being proactive and agile in the face of change, persevering despite obstacles, and passionately seeking continuous improvement," Sidhu writes. Full Story: Chief Executive (8/18)
Making the Connection
Office chitchat doesn't have to be so awkward Many people saw their office chitchat skills get rusty during the pandemic, while others have never had good chitchat skills. Either way, this article outlines tips you can use to make chitchat more tolerable ... if not enjoyable. Full Story: Wired (tiered subscription model) (8/17)
The Landscape
Six-figure AI jobs open in several big tech firms The rise of artificial intelligence may have some negative impact on the general workforce, especially among blue-collar workers, but it also opens up lucrative opportunities for those with expertise. Top tech firms like Nvidia, Meta, Netflix, and especially Microsoft and Alphabet's Google are currently advertising for AI job openings with salaries as high as $900,000. Full Story: Yahoo (8/18)
Calif. to bump minimum wage to $16 per hour in 2024 California has settled on a 3.5% inflation adjustment for all employees, meaning that the minimum wage will reach $16 per hour taking effect at the start of 2024. The minimum wage will apply to employers regardless of size, and it could also affect the compensation paid to some exempt employees. Full Story: The National Law Review (8/17)
Child care price rises at nearly double inflation rate Prices for daycare and preschool services rose 6% in July compared to a year ago, an increase that is nearly double the 3.2% inflation rate. Prices could rise even further as the pandemic-era federal aid program for this sector, the Child Care Stabilization Program, expires next month. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (8/17)
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SmartBrief's inaugural virtual AI Impact Summit, Sept. 27 to 28, will feature OpenAI's Zack Kass as the opening keynote speaker. The event will explore business, workforce, marketing, tech and other topics, such as how AI is intersecting with reinvented workforce training and a talk by Michael Schmidt, vice chair of the labor and employment department at Cozen O’Conner, on what employers need to know about AI in the workplace. Register by Aug. 25.Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (8/16)
One of the most frequent things you'll hear from scientists is how some of their best discoveries are entirely accidental. That was the case for marine scientist Jan-Olaf Meynecke, who encountered a previously undescribed behavior, known as "sand rolling," in humpback whales. It's essentially a form of exfoliation that is another example of how social the whale species are. From a conservation standpoint, a study like this could be used to justify the creation of so-called "whale spas" where this type of social activity can thrive. Full Story: National Public Radio (8/21)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
When the Curiosity rover touched down on Mars in August 2012, the spot it landed on was named after which science fiction writer?
