25% of workforce will be over 55 by 2024 By 2024, 25% of the US workforce will be at least 55 years old, according to the US Department of Labor, and companies will need strategies in place to retain and engage that demographic, writes Mark Miller. Some firms have already embraced practices to facilitate an older workforce, offering flexible work options and promoting age-neutral language. U.S. News & World Report/Reuters (6/21)
Ebook: Managing Employee Turnover Managing turnover is about creating a workplace that supports high performers while providing a means to efficiently and fairly weed out poor performers who compromise company goals. Download this ebook and explore why turnover matters and what it really means to manage it.
Employees value the ability to bring their dog to work It is "Take Your Dog to Work Day," and while the event focuses on encouraging pet adoptions, a survey by Wellness Natural Pet Food found 37% of people would give up benefits such as vacation time or a pay raise for the ability to bring their dog to work. There may be health benefits to bringing a pet to work, and Alison Sullivan of Glassdoor says being pet friendly gives employees "flexibility in balancing work and their furry family members." USA Today (6/22)
President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday announced a plan to merge the US Department of Education with the Department of Labor to create the Department of Education and the Workforce. The move is a part of the administration's plan to reduce the size of the federal government, but any such merger would have to obtain congressional approval. CNBC (6/21),Education Week (tiered subscription model) (6/21)
Workplace Chatter
IBM system debates human competitors An IBM artificial intelligence system, named Project Debater, squared off against two human debaters on Monday at a demonstration in San Francisco. In a survey, the audience indicated that the machine delivered more useful information as it argued in favor of telemedicine and subsidies for space exploration, but that human debaters delivered their arguments more effectively. The Verge (6/18),NBC News (6/18),The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (6/18)
