First-time unemployment claims rose to a three-month high last week, reaching a total of 885,000, according to the Labor Department. It was the second consecutive week of rising claims.

US employers that are considering mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations must be ready to allow exceptions for those with disabilities or religious disagreements, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Employers are only allowed to ask workers why they have decided not to be vaccinated if the matter is "job related and consistent with business necessity," the EEOC says.

Employers including insurer TIAA, software provider Appian and digital health care provider Buoy Health are offering their staff members at-home COVID-19 tests as an added employee benefit. "Given the recent rise in COVID-19 cases nationwide, it felt like the right time to make testing available to ease the burden of associates needing to find testing facilities and risking being exposed to the virus when leaving their homes," said Sean Woodroffe, TIAA's chief HR officer.

Seventy-six percent of US workers report feeling burned out, and women between ages 18 and 44 are the most affected, according to a Burnout Nation survey. HR leaders can heed the top requests from respondents regarding alleviating burnout, which include reduced working hours, having an understanding, supportive manager, more paid time off and mental health policies.

A 19th-century Christmas game called snapdragon involved dousing almonds and raisins with brandy, setting it all on fire, then reaching into the flames to retrieve and eat the treats without getting burned. The key to the game, says retired fire scientist Jack Cohen, is to create a blue flame that produces a lot of light but very little heat.