Initial unemployment claims in the US ticked upward to 229,000 in the week ending May 20, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week, according to Labor Department data. Data from the prior two weeks was revised downward by 50,000 claims after Massachusetts reported fraudulent claims over the past three months that totaled 171,000. Full Story: The Associated Press (5/25),MarketWatch (tiered subscription model) (5/25),Bloomberg (5/25)
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Recruiting & Retention
Employers gain by providing emergency savings accounts Emergency savings accounts, funds that can be offered by employers that encourage employees to set aside money for short-term needs, help employees cope with unexpected expenses and restore employees' focus because they are less preoccupied with financial concerns, writes Devin Miller of SecureSave. Average participation in plans managed by SecureSave is 58%, and user retention month-over-month is almost 100%. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (5/24)
Report: Hidden Hazards of Working Remote Get Traliant's free report: Working from Home and the Hidden Hazards to learn the steps employees can take to protect themselves while working remotely, including becoming a safety advocate, performing a job hazard analysis & more. DOWNLOAD REPORT
Survey shows rising retirement pessimism Americans are growing more pessimistic about retirement, according to a Gallup poll that found that the share of people who expect to live comfortably after leaving the workforce has declined 5 points from last year to reach 43%. However, 77% of current retirees reported they are living comfortably, a percentage that has held relatively steady since Gallup started asking the question two decades ago. Full Story: The Hill (5/25)
Being a sports coach can provide a playbook for leadership of a company, writes Doug Walner, CEO of Align Technologies. Sports strategies that can be applied to a business context include having a flexible game plan, prioritizing collaboration between employees and tracking indicators that provide information about progress toward goals. Full Story: Entrepreneur (5/22)
Workplace Chatter
How one reporter sparked community response to layoffs Kati Kokal, an education reporter, began an aid network for journalists who lost their jobs during Gannett layoffs, providing a template for others across the country to help people find jobs plus financial and emotional support. "We can challenge the idea that this is a personal failure you shouldn't talk about and that you shouldn't seek help," Kokal says. Full Story: Poynter (5/25)
Editor's Note
SmartBrief will not publish May 29 In observance of Memorial Day in the US, SmartBrief will not publish Monday, May 29.
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Where was "Dracula" author Bram Stoker born? Check your answer here.
The evaluators walked around the practice field, carefully assessing each player and marking their observations on their data sheets. They were looking for technical acuity. How well does she control the ball? Can she attack? Can she defend? Can she win a ball in the air? How fast is she? The data would be used to help determine who would be on the team. Shaan Rais talks about the value of data in today’s HR Leader story. “Smart business decisions are driven by data, not emotions; therefore, it's essential to collect and utilize data as much as you possibly can,” he writes. I’m going to push back a bit against Rais here. Someone can look great on paper, but be a car wreck in real life. Like the player who checks all the boxes for technical and tactical skills, but turns out to be a complainer and gossip. Or the graphic designer with an impressive portfolio who turns out to be incapable of taking criticism from clients. Data has its uses, but it can’t paint a full picture. Smart leaders use data in conjunction with discussion and experience to make decisions. It lends objective direction and can help in tie-breaker scenarios. But it should never be the only tool we use in our toolbox. Do you use data often in your leadership work? How do you make sure it's used properly? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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