4 ways Generation Z is redefining work | Employer communication about Israel-Gaza conflict matters | AI is starting to replace human jobs, but future is murky
Generation Z employees are redefining the workplace as they reject traditional expectations by refusing to work late, being open about their mental health, making use of paid sick leave and adopting a more casual, individual communication style. "Gen Z priorities are shifting business practices towards human-centricity and modifying the business landscape rapidly," says Rajesh Varrier, executive vice president and head of digital experience at Infosys. Full Story: WorkLife (12/19)
Best Age to Retire? With the potential benefits of working longer, there are complex questions to consider. Share this piece with clients to help answer them. Find out more.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is affecting 51% of US employees but only 20% say their employer has circulated an official internal statement addressing the issue and just one in six have heard from a manager, according to a survey from The Grossman Group and The Harris Poll. The survey also found confidence in corporate leadership improved by four to six times when employers communicated about the conflict and 43% of those who met with managers felt more engaged. Full Story: PRSAY (12/15)
Why you should consider a digital benefits platform SureCo CEO Matthew Kim explains the benefits of using digital enrollment platforms to implement and administer Individual Coverage Reimbursement Arrangements. The advantages include cost efficiencies that can be funneled instead into development and training, and increased benefits autonomy for employees. Full Story: Training magazine (12/18)
Benefits & Compensation
MA plan retiree benefits popular among large firms The number of large companies offering Medicare Advantage plans as retiree health benefits doubled from 26% in 2017 to 52% this year, according to a KFF analysis. Among firms with at least 1,000 employees, 27% cited lower cost for retirees as the primary reason for selecting MA plans, 17% said the plans offer flexibility for enrollees and 11% said they offer better coverage options. Full Story: KFF Health News (12/15)
The HR Leader
Swipe, sip, split: How workers are ditching the office Nearly 60% of hybrid workers -- and about two-thirds of their managers -- have engaged in "coffee badging," where they come into the office long enough to swipe their ID badge, grab some coffee, and then head back home to work. The practice can be a warning sign of burnout among your employees, says Niki Jorgensen, managing director of client implementation with Insperity, who recommends having frank conversations with team members about their needs and implementing flexible schedules. Full Story: Fox Business (12/18)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Yuck -- eggnog is my least favorite holiday beverage, so it makes no sense to me that there was an "Eggnog Riot" that took place on which military campus?
Aloha dear readers! As I mentioned in yesterday's column, I will spend this week looking at lessons I have gleaned over the last 12 months. Today, I want to talk about the value of learning opportunities and how they transform the employee experience. I cover several education conferences throughout the year. I enjoy these events. The educators who attend are fun and friendly (no cranks or grumps). They believe in their work and want to improve their practice. They engage in discussions. They’re eager to share their successes and their challenges. They soak up information. And when they return to their campuses, they implement what they learned. True professionals are always looking to grow. They don’t sit on their laurels. I like the way Kevin Garnett puts it: “I take a lot of pride in my craft, I work really hard at my craft everyday, and I’m a true professional.” When you send your teams to conferences or pay for them to take a course, you reinforce your respect for them as professionals. You say that you appreciate their work and support their growth. Your efforts help boost morale, combat burnout and support retention. Learning matters, especially now with AI disrupting nearly every field and profession. Employees want to keep pace. Are you providing training and upskilling opportunities? What about for workers who want to try a new role? Are you developing training in-house programs? What other resources -- webinars, newsletters, white papers -- do you encourage your workers to use to build their knowledge? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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