Freelancers are feeling the impact of AI as jobs requiring basic writing, coding, or translation are disappearing from platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. Jennifer Kelly, a freelance copywriter, lost clients to AI-generated content, only to be asked later to improve the subpar results. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (6/21)
Unmatched Hiring Expertise Beacon Hill's project management, skills assessment, search and staffing professionals can help lead your business forward. With eight divisions, each focused on specific industries and skill sets, we know we can match you with the best of the best. Schedule an Appointment »
Attract top AI talent to your company by establishing an AI department, upskilling current team members, partnering with area colleges and universities, and using "anchor hires," those highly experienced in the field who can attract others who want to work with them, writes Sreedhar Narayanan, the managing director, Americas at Qualitest. "An anchor hire can assist in shaping the strategic direction of the company as they often have an extensive professional network," Narayana notes. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (6/20)
4 Trends in Employee Learning and Development L&D has undergone a profound transformation in recent months with heightened expectations from learners, reaching remote and hybrid learners, and the beginning of the AI era. This eBook looks at four emerging trends in L&D today, beyond the tidal wave of tech talk that is generative AI. Access eBook »
Study assesses Mediterranean diet and MS risk A study published in the journal Nutrients suggested that following a Mediterranean-style diet potentially could be protective against multiple sclerosis. While data did not reach statistical significance, researchers did note that eating oily fish once or twice weekly was associated with a lower risk of MS, compared with eating no oily fish, and alcohol consumption was inversely related to MS risk when comparing weekly to monthly consumption. Full Story: The American Journal of Managed Care (6/19)
Benefits & Compensation
D.C. lawsuit alleges wage theft by construction contractors The D.C. attorney general's office has brought a lawsuit accusing a contractor and subcontractors of the theft of wages and benefits from about 370 workers on the City Ridge mixed-use project in Northwest. The lawsuit alleges that the workers were improperly classified as independent contractors, rather than employees, and therefore were deprived of minimum wage, overtime pay and paid sick leave, running afoul of D.C. labor laws. Full Story: WTOP-FM (Washington, D.C.) (6/19),The Washington Post (6/18)
The HR Leader
Papa Johns' Dough & Degrees is employee perk Papa Johns' Dough & Degrees program provides free education for employees, including associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. In this Q&A, Papa Johns' Chief People and Diversity Officer Elias Reyna discusses the effect the $4.3 million investment has on employee retention and advancement. Full Story: Pizza Marketplace (6/13)
Bitcoin pricing skyrocketed recently. Texas leads all US states in cryptomining when measured by hash rate, per a 2023 report; what state listed here is second?
About a year ago, I got a text from my Uncle Sonny with the phone number of a young lady who had recently graduated from Washington State with a degree in journalism. He told her about me and what I do and said that he would have me call her to talk about the field. I said I’d be glad to do it. Tylor and I had a great call. She was bright, creative and enthusiastic to begin writing and reporting. She had done an internship in college and was hunting around for a job. After telling me her story, she wanted to hear about my journey and perspective on the field. Telling her about my career was easy. Giving her my insights on the field was tougher. As much as I want to encourage the next-generation of writers and journalists, I know that certain variables, notably AI, are making it a tough field to enter and find sustainable work. Newsrooms are laying reporters and editors off in droves and companies are using freelancers less, according to our top story today. Young professionals starting out are looking at a tough climb up a steep hill. So what did I tell her? Be nimble. Editors wear many hats, I told her, and a lot have nothing to do with writing or editing. Make sure you cultivate multiple skills. Learn, learn, learn. Read industry newsletters. What’s hot now? What skill set or change in the profession is gaining steam? Sign up for classes, in person or online, to keep your learning chops sharp. Master a subject area. Expertise will save you in the age of AI. The freelancers who are getting consistent work are those who are fluent in a particular market, topic area or similar. Today’s story talks about a freelance copywriter who knows not just the nuts-and-bolts of his market, but importantly, the nuances. He’s got more work than he can manage. Now more than ever, subject matter expertise has enormous value. Get out there and network. Join a trade association and participate in conferences and networking events. Talk to people. Find out what they do and what things they’re being asked to do. Try to uncover what companies are looking for -- what gaps are they trying to fill -- and consider ways you can help support those efforts. I need to take my own advice and dig into learning and networking more. Our fields and industries are evolving so rapidly and AI is driving much of that change. Gone are the days when we could just settle into our existing skills and expect them to keep us secure. Everyone, not just rookies, needs to be ready to shift, adjust, learn and change. What do you think? Is this where we are in workforce history -- at the dawn of a new phase of disruption? How are you maintaining your value and contribution to the workforce? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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I never think of this business as fun. ... It's joyful, it's passionate, it's rewarding, it's a pursuit of truth, but I don't think of it as fun. It's not a game.
