OSHA has proposed a rule to safeguard millions of workers from extreme heat exposure, mandating employers develop comprehensive plans to mitigate heat risks, including hydration, rest and heat control protocols. The proposal would also require training and emergency response measures for heat-related issues.

Employees hired for their personality traits, rather than technical skills, are becoming more common as companies seek to improve workplace morale and client relations. "Just because you're a personality hire doesn't mean you're bad at your job; it just means your personality got you the extra oomph to get it," says Daniel Bennett, founder of DX Creativ.

Research suggests that people with regular access to nature and the outdoors may experience lower stress levels, better brain function, and a greater sense of well-being. Employers can help their workers improve wellness by offering paid breaks for walks and other outdoor activities, and by including green spaces in the work environment.

Political arguments in the office can harm employee engagement, writes Michael Lee Stallard, president and co-founder of Connection Culture Group, who recommends training managers to create a culture of connection through effective communication, team building and conflict resolution. "Leaders need to know how to create an inclusive environment where all employees feel respected and valued, regardless of their political beliefs," Stallard writes.

Fossilized grape seeds in Peru, Panama and Colombia indicate that dinosaurs' mass extinction allowed the fruit to thrive, possibly as long ago as 60 million years, researchers write in Nature Plants, hypothesizing that the lack of large dinosaurs led to denser forests that were friendlier to vines and other climbing plants. In addition, mammals and birds that also diversified in dinosaurs' absence could have spread the grape seeds.