Ex-Twitter director warned Musk about workloads, burnout | "Hushed hybrid" has managers turning their heads | Adopt sports strategies to create a championship business
Elon Musk, owner of X, formerly Twitter (Marc Piasecki/Getty Images)
Esther Crawford, a former Twitter director, went viral in 2022 for a staged photo of her sleeping at the office during intense work periods imposed by Elon Musk. While she initially supported Musk's vision, Crawford privately cautioned him about the dangers of employee burnout. After being laid off, Crawford moved to Meta, where she continued to champion a rigorous work ethic under Mark Zuckerberg. Full Story: Yahoo (8/25)
Recruiting & Retention
"Hushed hybrid" has managers turning their heads The "hushed hybrid" work model, where managers permit remote work despite formal RTO policies, is becoming popular as it aligns with team preferences and helps retain talent. Experts say hushed hybrid work supports flexibility and collaboration, but can harm company culture by fostering a lack of transparency. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (8/15)
Our energy ebbs and flows during the day, so the best leaders understand when they'll be at their best and when they may need a break from the computer or other tasks and take a walk or lie down for a short nap, writes Kristen Hendrix. If a nap isn't feasible (especially if there are policies against it), Hendrix recommends stepping away from your work and finding a quiet place to settle your mind, do a mental check-in and regain focus from your "racing brain." Full Story: Leadership Vitae (8/22)
Benefits & Compensation
European HR pros offer US peers tips on benefits European HR strategies provide valuable lessons for US benefit pros aiming to tackle workforce challenges like burnout and lack of job satisfaction. Flexible holiday policies, generous leave entitlements, remote work options, high-quality food options and community service programs are common in Europe and have been shown to improve employee morale and retention. Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (8/26)
A visit to artist Edward Fuglø's "Whale Wars" sculpture at the Faroese National Gallery in the Faroe Islands taught innovation advisor Larry Robertson about the value of leaning into conversations after having to physically lean into speakers near the installation to hear sounds of the sea and people talking. The experience reminded Robertson that real conversations with your team -- preferably face-to-face -- are crucial for innovation, problem-solving and relationship-building. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (8/23)
Besides the mirrored C's of the Coco Chanel brand, lions are also on brand for Chanel. InStyle magazine says the lions are symbolic of Chanel's love of what city?
Naps make a difference, as we see in today’s Health & Wellness story. I agree -- 100%. I nap daily and it helps me sustain my physical and creative energy throughout the work day. I’m careful with them, through. Long naps can leave me drained and sluggish. Short catnaps -- 20 to 30 minutes -- help me recharge. And naps are only one part of the formula. I have to eat right and exercise too. Interestingly, many European companies have made employee wellness a priority, as a component of productivity, as we see in our Benefits & Compensation story. The story offers several examples of European organizations that have implemented benefits programs -- eatery and social clubs, remote work flexibility, fitness events, job coaching -- aimed at bolstering worker physical and mental health. Smart! What did you think of the examples in these stories? Do you have suggestions to share? Let me know! Are you enjoying this brief? Great! Please tell others so they can benefit also.
Sharing SmartBrief on Workforce with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free.
