Worker productivity in the US increased by an annualized rate of 7.3% in the second quarter, the biggest quarterly rise since 2009, and labor costs spiked 12.2%, marking the biggest increase since 2014, the Labor Department reports. Also, the number of hours worked fell 43% during the same period, the greatest plunge since records began in 1947. Full Story: ABC News (8/14),Reuters (8/14)
Introducing Fidelity® Health Savings Funds The industry's first mutual funds developed for investing in HSAs, designed to help people address the uncertainty of saving for medical expenses. Learn more
4 steps for creating an ERG Employee resource groups can help give a voice to often unheard employees and improve engagement and productivity, particularly for Black employees, writes The Clorox Company's Cameka Jackman. Jackman outlines four steps for establishing effective ERGs, including prioritizing inclusiveness rather than diversity and enlisting a C-suite sponsor. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (8/13)
3 Dimensions for Safely Reopening the Workplace Is it possible to get back to work safely? How do we do it? And where do we start? This session will explore the critical factors of getting back to work readiness to maintain employee safety and business continuity during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. Register here.
Insurer offers virtual camp for employees' families John Hancock is among the companies offering a virtual camp for employees and their children to help people stay connected and maintain a good work-life balance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The insurer also offers free virtual exercise, meditation and yoga classes, extra days off, and a guest speaker series focusing on managing stress and finding moments of levity. Full Story: Human Resource Executive (8/14)
The HR Leader
Apps to save time setting up virtual meetings Working from home requires attending a lot of virtual meetings, and the app Meeter lets you call up meetings on different platforms, such as Google Meet, Zoom or Cisco Webex, all with one click so you're not navigating each one separately. Other apps for remote workers include Boomerang and Calendly, which let you suggest available times to schedule a meeting without the back and forth of emails. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/16)
