Advanced tech skills give workers the upper hand | Replace knee-jerk negativity with a positive intent | How to prevent exit interviews with stay interviews
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Advanced tech skills give workers the upper hand Employees with skills in 5G, machine learning, edge computing, robotics and other advanced tech earn nearly 49% more, compared with U.S. employees who don't have such tech skills, according to a report from Amazon Web Services and Gallup. At least 4 of 10 workers also believe that acquiring digital skills helped them increase their income, get promoted or work more efficiently. Full Story: CNBC (4/13)
Workplace misunderstandings often stem from assuming others' malintent, such as when you're uninvited to a meeting, writes workplace growth and development consultant Julie Winkle Giulioni. By always striving to assume positive intent instead, leaders "preserve precious mental, emotional and relational resources" -- and also model that behavior for their team, Winkle Giulioni notes. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (4/13)
Hire Smart
How to prevent exit interviews with stay interviews Exit interviews help business managers identify and remediate workplace problems, while the newer practice of stay interviews is a more proactive approach that might prevent employee exits, says Karen Felsted, a financial and operational consultant to veterinary practices. Felsted suggests creating an atmosphere that promotes open, honest communication, conducting stay interviews with all employees, explaining the interviews in advance, asking open-ended questions and refraining from giving explanations or defensive justifications. Full Story: AVMA News (4/12)
The Landscape
Weekly jobless claims rose higher than expected last week Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose to a seasonally adjusted 239,000 last week, up 11,000 from the prior period and above the estimate of economists surveyed by Reuters. If claims were to rise above 270,000, that would indicate deterioration in the job market, according to economists. Full Story: Reuters (4/13)
Governments face challenges in push to hire social workers State and local governments are ramping up efforts to hire social workers who can address the mental health and social justice issues affecting communities, but it will likely remain a challenge to fill roles quickly. "There's definitely a demand for social workers, but salary structures are still not great. There's not enough policy-level funding to fit the need," says Nancy Smyth of the University at Buffalo's School of Social Work. Full Story: Fortune (tiered subscription model) (4/11)
Balancing Yourself
Shifting from therapy to work requires time for reflection Therapy sessions can bring out a range of emotions, which can be challenging when trying to transition from the session back to work. Licensed clinical social worker Michelle Felder suggests taking a moment for mindfulness before starting work tasks, while psychotherapist Daryl Appleton recommends trying not to schedule anything for an hour or two after the appointment to allow time for reflection. Full Story: Well+Good (4/9)
"Ground Theme," or the iconic musical accompaniment to the original Super Mario Bros. video game, will join 24 other audio pieces to be inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Library. It's the first video game theme to be honored by the Library of Congress, which called it "perhaps the most recognizable video game theme in history." Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin are also among the 25 inductees. Full Story: The Verge (4/12)
If you've flown on American Airlines recently, there's a chance your plane was fueled by a small amount of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Jill Blickstein, vice president of sustainability at American Airlines, outlines the latest advancements in SAF, fleet upgrades the airline has made to enhance its sustainability and an AI-enabled system called "Smart Gating" that conserves fuel and saves time for travelers. American Airlines is undertaking numerous initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, and as Blickstein explains, many of those efforts come in places passengers might not notice but are contributing to more sustainable air travel. Full Story: Sustainability SmartPod (4/11)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Bruce Springsteen's song "The Ghost of Tom Joad" references a character in what classic novel? Check your answer here.
