Lawmakers demand action on FDIC harassment allegations | Host a "fail party" to boost team productivity | Strategies to combat workplace productivity killers
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) building in Washington DC. (Anadolu/Getty Images)
Seven senators, including Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, have criticized the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s inspector general over the response to sexual harassment allegations within the agency. The FDIC has undergone an audit in light of the review and established an Office of Professional Conduct to oversee law firms' independent reviews of allegations against executives. Full Story: Banking Dive (11/18)
Nadya Zhexembayeva outlines three science-backed strategies to enhance team productivity as 2024 comes to a close. The methods include hosting a "fail party" to encourage creativity by sharing embarrassing stories, analyzing peak experiences to identify what energizes the team, and embracing "anti-power hours" to allow for creative downtime. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (11/19)
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Investing in employee experience is crucial for enhancing customer experience, with AI technologies offering tools to improve both. Companies should take a holistic approach, as only 18% of decision-makers focus on talent management, which is vital for sustainable business growth. Full Story: Training magazine (11/14)
Benefits & Compensation
DOL rule broadening overtime eligibility is struck down US District Judge Sean Jordan has ruled for Texas and business groups in a dispute over a Labor Department rule that had increased the threshold for overtime eligibility for certain employees, allowing overtime for those whose annual salary is below $43,888. A further increase to $58,656 had been scheduled for next year, but the threshold is now set to return to $35,568. Whether the department will appeal the decision is uncertain. Full Story: The Associated Press (11/15)
The HR Leader
Survey: Discussing personal issues at work unpopular Forty-five percent of employees feel comfortable talking about personal issues with a supervisor, according to an Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll. Only 24% of baby boomers feel comfortable compared with 53% of millennials, according to the survey, which also found 80% of employees set professional boundaries easily and 76% receive constructive feedback. Full Story: Human Resources Director (11/14)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
"Ben-Hur" won 11 Academy Awards. "The Turning Point" was nominated for 11, but won zero. Which other film did the same?
What can leaders learn from (ethical) hackers? A lot, according to today’s Leadership & Development story from VentureBeat. Hackers -- good and bad -- are driven by passion. They chase curiosity and find creative ways to get around barriers. They don’t settle for what’s right in front of them. They mine the dark, dusty areas, looking for hidden opportunities. They accept risk as part of their process. They are used to working with things that are broken. In fact, they will break things so they can create something new or make something better. They are unafraid of competition. On the contrary, they seem to thrive with the pressure of challenge and competitors breathing down their necks. They embrace transparency. They communicate publicly and seem to accept accountability as a sharpening tool. They are learners! This was my favorite trait. “Most hackers are self-taught enthusiasts,” writes Chris Evans of HackerOne. All the hackers and geeks I know enjoy learning. They don’t even see what they do as true learning. For them, it’s just “figuring it out.” Flexing creative muscles. Building knowledge. Unearthing gems of opportunity. Turning something old into something new. Seeing broken pieces with fresh eyes. What stood out to you? What would you adopt from this hacker mentality? Let me know! Do you enjoy this brief? Share it with others. Want different stories? Something about it bug you? Tell me. In the words of Frasier Crane, “I’m listening.”
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