Unemployment claims in the US rose significantly last week to 242,000 -- a jump of 22,000 over the previous week, marking the largest increase in over four months, according to the Department of Labor. This spike, exceeding economists' expectations, may signal emerging issues in the labor market, although it could also reflect temporary factors like holiday effects and severe weather. Economists caution that while immediate effects on the labor market are limited, the broader economic implications could be significant if laid-off workers fail to find new employment. Full Story: CNN (2/27)
Ninety-five percent of those responding to the 2025 State of Moral Leadership in Business survey say moral leadership is needed now more than ever, but researchers found on 9% of CEOs and 11% of managers fit the criteria of inspiring others, following their values and fostering high standards of conduct, says S. Chris Edmonds, an executive consultant with The Purposeful Culture Group. "This report provides a road map for how leaders and workers can embrace observable, tangible and measurable moral leadership behaviors in daily interactions and operations," Edmonds notes. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (2/25)
With one in four American adults identifying as disabled, the definition of disability is expanding, leading to increased workplace accommodation requests. This shift raises concerns about potential misuse and the impact on genuine needs, as highlighted by individuals like Justina Plowden and Keely Cat-Wells, who stress the importance of recognizing both visible and invisible disabilities. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (2/26)
AI agents are set to become as integral as human colleagues, predicts Slack CMO Ryan Gavin. Companies like Salesforce and Sierra are pushing autonomous agents that perform tasks from sales to personal shopping. While AI agents can be inconsistent and may lead to job displacement, experts say they offer cost-effective solutions and can achieve "superhuman results" through creativity. Full Story: Axios (2/25)
Political tensions in the workplace have intensified since President Donald Trump returned to office, with 80% of US employees discussing politics weekly and 33% daily, according to a Resume Now survey, which also found half of employees avoid colleagues with differing political views, potentially harming collaboration and productivity. To minimize disruption, "HR leaders must create a culture in which employees feel safe and included and healthy disagreements don't spiral into perpetual conflict," says Emily Killham, senior director and head of the center for workforce transformation at Perceptyx. Full Story: WorkLife (2/25)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
When Napoleon abdicated the French throne the first time and was exiled to Elba, which king took over?
