A strike by New York prison guards has entered its third day, prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul to threaten deploying the National Guard and taking disciplinary action. The guards are demanding higher pay, stricter security checks for visitors and a rollback of prison reforms, including limits on solitary confinement. Guards throughout the state say they have been working 16-hour shifts on a regular basis, according to Jennifer Scaife, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York. Scaife says these schedules are not sustainable and signal a "crisis" in New York's correctional system. Full Story: CBS News (2/19),The New York Times (2/18)
Best Buy has expanded its education benefits by offering to cover the cost of college degrees for every full- and part-time employee in the US. The new benefit starts on the first day of work, and the program, in partnership with Strayer University's Degrees@Work, includes options for certificates and degrees in fields such as business and IT. Employees also have access to Sophia Learning for general education courses. Full Story: HR Dive (2/18)
Committee eyes cutting tax benefits for US workers The House Ways and Means Committee has proposed eliminating certain tax benefits to fund the extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a move that could save $157 billion over a decade. The proposal targets employer-provided fringe benefits such as athletic facilities, transportation, lodging and meals, potentially increasing employees' tax liabilities significantly, and raising concerns about employee morale and attractiveness of these benefits. Full Story: Kiplinger (2/18)
Path to Workforce
3-year degrees offer a faster path for career Three-year bachelor's degree programs are gaining traction among US universities as a way to save students time and money. These programs, including those at Johnson and Wales University, reduce the typical credit requirement from 120 to about 90, allowing students to finish their degrees in less time. While appealing to career-focused students, some worry that the compressed curriculum might limit opportunities for exploring different fields or accumulating a broad knowledge base. Full Story: WBUR-FM (Boston) (2/18)
Leaders want to reduce "bad friction" that frustrates employees or customers, but organizational psychologist Bob Sutton recommends creating some "good friction" that improves processes and products by taking time to sort helpful ideas from harmful ones. Good friction is needed in the form of being intentional when forming a team, taking time to make solid decisions even when pressed for time and being deliberate about collaboration during creative work, Sutton says. Full Story: Big Think (2/12)
About the Editor
Reflections
(Kanoe Namahoe)
One of the first lessons you get in a motorcycle safety course is about using the “friction zone.” Basically, the friction zone is the point in the clutch lever movement where the clutch is partially engaged -- when it starts to “catch.” Knowing how to use the friction zone properly is critical to controlling the bike’s power and riding smoothly and safely. The same is true with friction in our work, as we see in our HR Leader story today. Organizational psychologist Bob Sutton points out the difference between good and bad friction. “Good friction” aims to improve results. It lets stakeholders slow down to weigh decisions, address issues and ensure they’re on target for the desired outcome. An example of good friction is the vetting stage of a product pitch when decision-makers come together to carefully evaluate the merit and potential of the product idea. “Bad friction,” however, creates lags and frustration. It’s unproductive. Like a stall or jerky start on a bike, it impedes forward progress. An example of this is unnecessary meetings -- time suckers that land on our calendar with no real purpose. How do you foster good friction and eliminate bad friction in your work or with your teams? Managing this right will determine how fast -- and smoothly -- you get to where you want to go. 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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