The Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act, introduced by three Republican senators, would allow companies to offer benefits to gig workers without classifying them as employees. The legislation aims to address the growing need for gig workers to access benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. The bill does not mandate benefits, and similar voluntary programs in the past have been modest.
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Young American workers are content with in-office work and seek regular feedback, according to a Generation Lab survey of nearly 18,000 Americans ages 18 to 34 for CNBC. Regular and in-person feedback from supervisors is highly valued, with 64% preferring feedback on at least a monthly basis, ideally in-person and from multiple people or perspectives. Career and skill development are also top priorities, with more than one-third of younger workers identifying them as the most important factor besides pay.
Employees in public-facing positions, particularly in health care, education and service industries, have a 15% to 24% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The risk is heightened by significant emotional demands and confrontational interactions, and it is exacerbated by low workplace social support, according to the study.
Employers can help staff members enjoy summer more by optimizing benefits seasonally. Suggestions include making the PTO process easier and offering engaging workplace perks.
Leaders can enhance decision-making and innovation by using the Curiosity Curve framework to move from certainty to curiosity, author Jeff Wetzler writes. The framework encourages leaders to imagine, empathize, experiment and enlist others to gain new perspectives, Wetzler says.
It’s great to be back with you. I hope all of you enjoyed a long, restful weekend with family and friends and got out into the gorgeous summer weather.
I spent 4th of July with friends. It was a blast. My friends live in a fun, friendly neighborhood near the beach. Everyone knows everyone else and there are always lots of activities during Independence Day weekend -- parades, concerts, arts and crafts booths, etc. It’s a great community.
When I arrived Friday afternoon -- with my lemon-basil pasta -- my friends rushed me to set down my food so we could run around the neighborhood to check out the concerts. I thought we were walking to the concerts. I was wrong.
“We’re bicycling around the neighborhood?” I asked, incredulously, staring at the mountain bike Jen earmarked for me.
“Yeah!” she grinned happily, as she did circles in the driveway on a pink Schwinn that looked like its better days were behind it. “C’mon!”
I didn’t want to be a party pooper, so I tried to get on the bike. Didn’t work. It was too tall. After two failed attempts to pedal it, Jen traded her Schwinn for mine. I climbed on and glanced over at my friend BJ who had also been talked into this bicycling adventure. He rolled his eyes and muttered, “Let’s get this over with.”
BJ and I decided to do a quick practice run up the street to get comfortable. That’s when I discovered that my body operates on autopilot when it’s in a situation that feels familiar.
When I sat on the bicycle, my body must have thought it was on the motorcycle. My left hand kept squeezing the brake, thinking it was a clutch. My feet, which are used to just shifting gears and braking, now struggled to pedal properly. That caused some balance issues. I kept tipping over every few feet. My right hand was battling to keep the bike in a straight line. My quads were the most unhappy. They don’t do anything when I ride my motorcycle. Now they had to push me up a street. They began burning almost immediately.
I realized that if I was going to pull this off and not crash into innocent bystanders, I had to focus on what I was doing. I had to think about my hands, my feet and my legs. I had to be intentional.
BJ and I reached the end of the block, then wheeled around and headed back to our friends. The four of us set off to find the music. I concentrated on the bike and the road. The shaking eventually stopped, and the bike straightened out. It did get a little iffy when we hit a crowd of young partiers, but I made it through without casualties.
Focus makes all the difference, doesn’t it? It’s easy to let our focus wane during the summer, but I encourage us all to rein that in. Being intentional helps us stay balanced and on track.
Make it a great week!
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