The US economy added 209,000 jobs last month, and May's job gain was revised downward to 306,000, according to the Labor Department. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate declined to 3.6% in June from 3.7% in the previous month. Full Story: Axios (7/7),The Wall Street Journal (7/7)
Recruiting & Retention
Report: Fewer small-business pay increases in June The net share of small businesses that reported raising pay in June fell to 36%, the lowest level since May 2021, according to data from the National Federation of Independent Business. Forty-two percent of respondents indicated that they had vacancies they were unable to fill. Full Story: BNN Bloomberg (Canada) (7/6)
Sleep is key to cognitive benefits of exercise Research indicates that getting enough sleep is vital for the brain to receive the full cognitive benefits of regular exercise. Investigators looked at data from almost 9,000 adults who participated in the English Longitudinal study of Ageing and found that people who were physically active and got six to eight hours of sleep at night had better cognitive function outcomes, while those who were more sedentary and had poor sleep patterns tended to experience worse cognitive results over time. Full Story: CNN (7/6)
Benefits & Compensation
Rx optimization programs may help employers save money Using Rx optimization programs is one way employers can help control medication costs and reduce unnecessary spending. Also known as Rx navigation programs or Rx overlay programs, they can work in conjunction with pharmacy benefit managers, rebates and formularies to give employees access to lower net-cost, higher-value drugs, and they also can help employers identify and correct areas of overspending. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (7/6)
Improve your listening skills by putting away all distractions so you can be present, being curious about what's being said and asking questions to clarify anything that may be unclear, writes Lolly Daskal. "[T]he consequences of not listening are numerous, including a loss of teamwork and camaraderie, missed opportunities and ideas, overlooked logical discernment and cost-saving processes, and a breakdown of trust and respect," Daskal notes. Full Story: Lolly Daskal (7/4)
I’m dragging a bit this morning. I’m in Kona to help manage some family business. I got in late last night and was up early to work on briefs. So I can attest to the impact of lack of sleep on cognitive function, which is the topic of today’s Health & Wellness story. The story talks about the long-term effects of poor sleep on cognitive capabilities, but there’s certainly an immediate impact too. I’m on my second cup of coffee (I’m going to need to buy Mom some dark roast) but my brain still seems to be running slow right now. A good long rest after deadlines should help. Kick your week off right. Make sure you get refreshing sleep at the end of your day. 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.
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