Judge halts federal employee buyout plan -- for now | Ex-NFL players bring gridiron grit to corporate roles | Return-to-office plans needed to be about more than logistics
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February 7, 2025
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Judge halts federal employee buyout plan -- for now
(Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images)
Judge George O'Toole Jr. has halted the implementation of the Trump administration's federal employee buyout plan, citing the need for further legal review. The buyout, which aims to reduce the federal workforce, faces opposition from unions who claim it lacks legal grounding and threatens job security.
Full Story: ABC News (2/6) 
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Recruiting & Retention
Ex-NFL players bring gridiron grit to corporate roles
Will Rackley (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Former NFL players like Will Rackley are transitioning into corporate roles, bringing unique skills such as resilience and the ability to hear constructive feedback. Despite lacking traditional work experience, programs like the one offered by Atrium and Microsoft help bridge this gap by providing technical training, making these athletes attractive candidates for companies like Verizon and others participating in career fairs for NFL retirees.
Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (2/5) 
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Leadership & Development
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Benefits & Compensation
With 15 states now enforcing pay transparency laws, employers face the challenge of adhering to diverse requirements, such as job posting disclosures and internal communication obligations. Companies are advised to review their workforce demographics and develop processes to ensure compliance, including maintaining records and conducting pay audits.
Full Story: JD Supra (2/6) 
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The HR Leader
Chief HR officers should bring employees' ideas and concerns to C-suite meetings and focus on showing competence and compassion, encouraging collaboration and understanding the context of situations, says Ellyn Shook, an Accenture executive who formerly served as the company's chief leadership and HR officer. "What CHROs do is very hard, and you've got to be able to demonstrate confidence because people, during good times and difficult times, are going to look to you to show confidence," Shook adds.
Full Story: LinkedIn (2/5) 
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Workplace Chatter
Embracing neurodivergence as a teaching strength
(Pixabay)
Fatema Elbakoury shares her journey as a neurodivergent teacher, detailing the challenges she faced with mental health and how she has developed tools to manage her condition. Elbakoury emphasizes the importance of preparation and self-awareness, using strategies such as graphic organizers and checklists to support her teaching and students.
Full Story: EdSurge (2/5) 
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About the Editor
Reflections
Reflections
(Kanoe Namahoe)
Welcome to Friday Faves! Every Friday, I spotlight books, podcasts, email newsletters, documentaries or other content pieces that I enjoy. I also share suggestions that I get from you. Got a favorite for your peers? Send it to me. I may include it here for a future column.
 
Happy Friday SmartBrief on Workforce readers,
 
My Friday Fave pick comes from our Workplace Chatter story today, featuring a first-hand account by neurodivergent educator Fatema Elbakoury. In it, Elbakoury lays bare the severe mental health struggles she faced during student teaching and how the experience nearly derailed her career. 
 
But she persisted. She decided that she wanted to work with people who also battled mental health challenges. “The person I wanted to be there for the most was the younger version of myself,” she writes.
 
Elbakoury has made enormous strides. The woman whose student-teaching mentor predicted she would not last in the profession has learned how to embrace her neurodivergence and use it to be a more effective educator. I love how she phrases it:
 
“If there’s anything I’ve learned as a neurodivergent educator, it's that an ableist world will not wait for me, so I must know what I need. Over the past few years, I’ve learned that I cannot simply 'wing' a lesson plan. Due to my anxiety, I need to know exactly what I am doing well in advance to be present for my students’ needs. In order to be present, I prepare extensively because I accept that this is what I need to succeed,” Elkaboury writes.
 
This was my favorite part of the story. Elbakoury understood the world would not stand still for her. She didn’t waste time bellyaching about it. She figured out what she needed to do -- prepare, prepare, prepare! -- and got ahead of the game. Her response rings with integrity and professionalism.
 
Elbakoury’s story inspired and encouraged me. Hope it was uplifting to you as well. Have a great weekend!
 
Do you enjoy this brief? Share it with others. Want different stories? Something about it bug you? Tell me. In the words of Frasier Crane, “I’m listening.”
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