Jobless claims drop to 201K, the lowest level in a month | Study: Nurse shortage eases as workforce rebounds | Ask questions to gain insight, heal from perfectionism
Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell to 201,000 last week, dropping 12,000 from the prior period to reach the lowest level in a month. Continuing claims also decreased to the lowest reading in a month, reaching 1.86 million.
For two years in a row, Forbes Advisor has ranked S&T's online psychology master's program in the Top 10 of the country. S&T graduate students receive a core foundation in statistics and research methods so they can quickly begin solving for tomorrow's workplace psychological needs. Learn more.
The shortage of registered nurses during the pandemic's initial years was likely temporary, as the workforce rebounded in 2022 and 2023, with many nurses moving into settings like nursing homes and long-term-care communities, according to a study in JAMA Health Forum. While there was a notable decrease in the RN workforce in 2021, hiring increased in subsequent years, leading to a 6% growth in full-time RNs by 2023, with projections indicating continued growth in the future, particularly in nonhospital settings.
To find the highest meaning for life, we must trade the endless pursuit of happiness for a sense of well-being and purpose, writes former FBI agent turned consultant LaRae Quy, pointing to great philosophers and research that confirms true happiness is an inside job. "To be happy, we should focus only on things under our control, namely our reactions and responses to situations in the world," Quy writes.
Some employers are recognizing the importance of innovative benefits to better serve the needs of working parents, especially as some workplaces are expecting them to return to the office. Initiatives include coaching for family caregiving journeys, child care assistance and more flexible scheduling options.
In some cases, two people may share leadership responsibilities, either by serving as co-CEOs or at lower levels of management. Co-leaders can build trust and encourage cooperation by being authentic with one another, asking for advice and clearing up ambiguity about who will handle which responsibilities, writes leadership coach David Lancefield.
“I just talked to the doctor, Mom. Dad has a week.”
My son’s words dropped on me like boulders. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I asked Kiaha if he was okay and he said he was. Then, he outlined for me how he planned to manage the rest of his week.
“I talked to James. I’m working tomorrow, but taking Friday off,” he said, his voice low and robotic. “I’ll do my on-call this weekend, but next week, others are covering for me.”
I let out another deep breath, this one of gratitude. Kiaha’s managers have been exceptional through this process. I expect that most supervisors would have extended sympathy and offered support in a situation like this, but to do it for as long as they have (about four weeks) takes true leadership skills. It’s one thing to be compassionate. It’s another to be compassionate and keep a business running smoothly. They’re excelling at both.
What does it take to manage your teams when the real things of life -- big and small -- hit? Maybe it’s an employee caring for a sick parent. Or maybe, like in today’s Benefits & Compensation story, it’s a working parent trying to coordinate care for their children. How do you balance empathy with responsibility? What does that look like in real-world practice?
I really want to hear from you on this. We are gathering input for future stories. How do you apply a human-first approach? What do those conversations sound like? What parameters and expectations do you set? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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