Just 15 companies out of almost 200 responded to a survey request from Fast Company about their response to the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade and how they plan to manage health benefits and reproductive care in the possible aftermath. The issue of abortion is a divisive one, and employers that make statements "will alienate at least 15 to 30 percent of their stakeholders," Katie Cwayna, executive vice president for media strategy at public relations firm Zeno, stated in an email to staff that was leaked to the press. Full Story: Fast Company (tiered subscription model) (5/16)
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Recruiting & Retention
Staff productivity is on the rise, but stress is too A survey of human resources executives conducted by The Conference Board found that productivity has increased as remote work has become more common, but staff burnout also has become more of an issue. About 77% of respondents said they had noted a rise in workers who say they feel burned out, up from 42% in September 2020, and employees are using less of their vacation time, experiencing lower morale and feeling less engaged in their workplaces. Full Story: Law (tiered subscription model) (5/12)
Human-led approach to diabetes management For your employees diagnosed with diabetes, effective diabetes management is key to positive outcomes. Learn more about equipping them with a human-led, holistic approach to diabetes management and a realistic view on the myths of "diabetes reversal" in the The 5 Myths of Diabetes Management. Find out more.
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Premiums could rise 53% when ACA enhancements expire A Families USA report estimates that Americans who enroll in health insurance coverage through HealthCare.gov could see their premiums rise by 53%, on average, next year when enhanced Affordable Care Act premium assistance expires. West Virginia would see the greatest average premium hike at $1,536 per year, followed by Wyoming and Delaware. Full Story: Business Insider (tiered subscription model) (5/16)
Path to Workforce
Google arm invests $14M in workforce development effort The Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator has received a $14 million contribution from Google.org, Google's philanthropic arm, to support its mission-related work of helping underrepresented people train for and access well-paying jobs. The investment supports Google.org's $100 million Google Career Certificates Fund to help people secure digital economy jobs, said executive Hector Mujica. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (5/11)
The HR Leader
How to make office politics work for you Whether you're liked, trusted and respected in the workplace affects how far you can advance and how much influence you can have, writes Steve McIntosh, founder of CareerPoint. McIntosh offers five ways to constructively play office politics and increase influence. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (5/17)
About the Editor
Kanoe Namahoe
On the Friday following the death of George Floyd, I had an uncomfortable conversation with a dear friend. Mr. Floyd was killed on Monday, May 25, 2020. The days that followed were a blur for us in the media. The news cycle was on fire and we were running to stay on top of breaking news. “You haven’t said anything about George Floyd,” she said to me in a text. I was startled by her tone and suggested we talk on the phone. Tone and messaging can be misunderstood in text and email, and I didn’t want to risk that, especially for a topic as sensitive as this one. She agreed that the phone would be better, and we planned to talk after work, when we could both focus. It didn’t go well. We didn’t argue, but it did get very tense. I explained the busyness of the news cycle and its impact on my time. I said that I did plan to make a statement, but that I needed to be thoughtful in my response. “What’s there to think about?” she demanded. Her voice raised, which was unusual for her, but I understood. This was very personal to her. We talked for a few minutes more then got off the phone. It ended civilly, but the tone was still chilly. That weekend I wrote my response and posted it on Instagram and Facebook. It was a letter from me to my grandchildren in which I talked about (among several things) how they should live out biblical principles, extending love, kindness and compassion to all people. I received several comments from people praising the tone and message of the post. Unfortunately, my friend was not one of them. Social issues are personal to people, and companies know this, as we see in our top story today. I’m not surprised that many large organizations are taking a measured approach to their public response. I’m not an employer -- or even a well-known editor -- but I know that statements have consequences. I wasn’t going to let anyone goad me into a hasty response that wasn't authentic. My story has a happy ending. My friend and I recently reconnected. She reached out to me and asked for a chat. We had a wonderful conversation and toward the end, she confessed she had missed me and that she was sorry about how things had ended two years ago. We talked a bit longer and it was honest and refreshing. We were better able to understand each other’s perspectives and knew that we both genuinely appreciated the gravity of the situation. I will be visiting her and her son this summer. 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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