Weekly jobless claims up slightly amid signs of slowing economy Initial claims for unemployment benefits increased by 10,000 to 227,000 for the week that ended Saturday, with a four-week average of 221,250. The overall economy seems to be slowing, and the unemployment rate remains at 3.6%. Reuters (6/27)
Leverage Employee Relationship Data Personal interactions in the workplace positively affect employee well-being and more. This report is a complete guide to measuring employee bonds, harnessing that data, and empowering managers to improve engagement and performance in practical ways. Learn more.
Blind resume reviews can help companies improve diversity and eliminate bias, but they're often not sufficient, writes Erin Thomas, Midwest managing director at Paradigm. Other identity cues like ZIP Codes or sports preferences should be scrubbed as well, and recruiters should be aware of their own blind spots. Fast Company online (6/27)
Bringing More Women to Workplace Leadership For decades, the call for more women in leadership roles has been a constant cry in America's workforce — still, not enough women are invited "to the table" in their organizations. Download this SmartFocus on bringing more women into leadership roles.
Employees' lack of personal finance knowledge an issue Many employees lack a basic understanding of their personal finances, including employer-related elements like 401(k) plans, stock options and other issues, writes wealth manager Bruce Barton. He offers strategies for employers to support their staff. TLNT (6/26)
The HR Leader
Earn respect inside and outside of your career The absence of respect invites ineffective working organizations, negative relationships, and a revolving door of coming and going employees, states Chris Westfall. Having a difficult conversation is often the first step to establishing the respect that can influence your success, Westfall writes. Forbes (6/27)
Workplace Chatter
Use Greek philosophy to understand workplace temperaments Ancient Greek philosophers believed in the four humors, or temperaments -- sanguine, choleric, melancholic and phlegmatic. Using this framework to focus on speed of reaction and length of reaction to external events can help people understand workplace situations, writes time management coach Elizabeth Grace Saunders. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (6/27)
When you look at people who are thriving in their jobs, you notice that they didn't find them, they made them.
