Apple has released a statement to employees on an internal portal that confirms the company's commitment "to providing employees with a workplace where they feel safe, respected, and inspired to do their best work" and says, "Our policies do not restrict employees from speaking freely about their wages, hours, or working conditions." The statement follows the launch of an #AppleToo movement by employees in August to share stories about their experiences of discrimination, sexism and racism within the company.

Salaries for new recruits to the banking industry have surged by 50% over the past six months and the trend is becoming a concern for banks, said compensation consultants, headhunters and company officials. One head of investment banking said pay expectations "have become ridiculously high."

Tart cherries are a good source of melatonin, and registered dietitian Beth Czerwony said they may help people fall asleep faster and sleep longer. Czerwony recommended starting out by eating a serving of tart cherries -- about one-half cup -- or drinking 4 ounces of unsweetened cherry juice about an hour before bed.

Employers can take advantage of technology and automation to better understand their staff members' mental health and wellness requirements. Companies and providers should take the approach that good mental health support is not just about telling the patient to see a therapist or take medication, it's also about understanding the individual's unique set of circumstances and providing benefits to match.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are foundational issues for anyone trying to understand the Great Resignation, how leadership has changed and what still must be done, writes Jennifer Brown, CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting. "Vulnerability, understanding and empathy -- qualities that were once seen as signs of weakness -- have now emerged as the very qualities expected of leaders," Brown writes.

Gratitude. Of course that’s the theme of the week -- certainly Thursday -- but I’d like to look at it a bit deeper.

Gratitude makes you humble. People who are grateful are people who are generally unselfish, friendly to everyone (not just those in their circle) and generous about the limelight and praising others.

Ingratitude is the opposite, isn’t it? People with this ailment tend to be complainers, gossipers, prideful, selfish and puffed up about things that don’t matter.

I won’t lie. I strive to be the former but struggle with issues of the latter. But I'm praying that as I practice gratitude -- being intentional about it -- it can help nurture humility even as it kills what’s toxic.

Thoughts? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.