Reduce burnout with a "right to disconnect" | Report: Public safety pension plans critical to recruiting | Use "debate prep" tactics when the stakes are high
The US should take a lesson from countries like Australia, Germany and Argentina by offering employees the right to disconnect, which could help reduce employee burnout. Employers can help employees disconnect by giving them paid mental health days, insisting they take their PTO and limit outside-of-office hours communication. Full Story: Human Resource Executive (6/28)
Recruiting & Retention
Report: Public safety pension plans critical to recruiting As some public safety agencies struggle with staffing, a new report from the National Institute on Retirement Security recommends that benefit plans could be crucial in attracting new hires and retaining staff. "This new research is important because it details precisely how pensions are magnets for public-safety employees who fill critical roles that are increasingly difficult for state and local governments to staff," said Tyler Bond, NIRS research director and report co-author. Full Story: Pensions & Investments (free access for SmartBrief readers) (6/25)
Collaborative Learning for Remote Learners Its official, companies need to create collaborative learning spaces to meet learner expectations. But including remote employees equally can be difficult. This eBook looks at ways to impact learning culture with better strategy and better tech. Access eBook »
Is psychedelic therapy the new benefit? Employers are increasingly exploring nontraditional mental health treatments like ketamine and psychedelic-assisted therapy to address rising mental health issues among employees. Companies like Enthea are offering ketamine-assisted therapy, with plans to expand to other psychedelics pending FDA approval. Full Story: Human Resource Executive (6/28)
The HR Leader
Calif.'s new law address workplace violence California's new workplace violence law, effective July 1, requires employers to implement prevention plans supported by 90% of employees surveyed. As the incidence of workplace violence increases, 27 states are considering more than 100 workplace violence bills. Full Story: Human Resource Executive (6/27)
Strong workplace friendships are good for employee morale and productivity, especially in today's remote and hybrid work environments, where people can feel isolated and alone. Many employers are taking steps, such as hosting events and creating office spaces that are warm and inviting, to help nurture friendships among their workers. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (6/26)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
"Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble!" When the Globe Theater burned down in 1613, what Shakespeare play was being staged?
Stacy gave me my start in B2B publishing, selling print and online ads. We bonded over a shared love for soccer and a soul commitment to our children. She walked me through one of the toughest seasons of my life. Stacy taught me, pushed me, encouraged me and helped me develop Teflon skin for life and business. Claudia helped me move from the sales side to the editorial side in publishing. We had similar cultural backgrounds. She quickly became like a sister to me and an aunt to my children. She let me work on small projects while I was still in sales and marketing. Those projects helped me learn the basics of writing and editing, but more importantly, they helped me discover where I really wanted to go with my career. Rhea picked up where Claudia left off, in terms of mentoring. We both have a dry, sarcastic sense of humor and made each other laugh often. But she’s also whip smart and I learned a ton from her. She is the one who taught me the nuances of strong and weak writing and how to plan an editorial calendar, work with fussy writers and make a good story a great one. Through our friendship, I tapped into and sharpened my inner word nerd -- and never looked back. Jared and I hit it off immediately. He is bright, creative and widkedly funny -- and one of the best marketing minds I’ve ever known. Together, he and I were the dynamic duo of product development. We came up with our first product -- SmartFocus -- over a snack of oatmeal cookies and ginger ale. The product took off and became one of the best selling content offerings developed by SmartBrief. That cemented our friendship and work partnership. We went on to create more content products and events together, each one a success. Work friends are not a luxury. They are often the key to us not just enjoying our work, but getting better at it, as we see in our Workplace Chatter story today. Each person I mention above was pivotal in helping me get established and grow in my career. I’m deeply grateful for their friendship, wisdom and support. Do you have a close work pal? What impact have they had on your career or work engagement? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
Sharing SmartBrief on Workforce with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free.
