Is work getting lost in the "dead zone"? | Some AGs warn companies about certain diversity policies | Expert: 3 things to document for successful hybrid work
The time between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. have become a "dead zone" at some companies that offer flexible scheduling with employees leaving early for appointments or personal time. Many managers are frustrated by the impact to productivity -- collaboration stalls and colleagues become unreachable -- but workers value the freedom to set their own schedules, and striking a balance is crucial for employees and employers.
Citing the Supreme Court's recent ruling against affirmative action in higher education, a group of Republican state attorneys general warned that certain workforce diversity policies could be impermissible. Letters sent to the 100 largest US companies specifically pointed to race-based quotas or preferences as part of contracting, hiring or promotions.
A worker cools off in while working in a street in Sevilla, Spain. (Cristina Quicler/Getty Images)
Extreme heat like what a large swath of the US is experiencing can have detrimental effects on mental health, including reduced feelings of happiness and increased anger, in addition to affecting sleep and cognition, experts say. Additionally, research points to higher numbers of emergency department visits for mental health reasons during hotter months, and heat has been associated with increased risk of suicide, they add.
People born between 1965 and 1980, a cohort known as Generation X, that have a private requirement plan have about $40,000 in savings, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security, and lower-income Gen Xers have $4,300. NIRS also reported that only 55% of Gen-X workers participate in an employer-sponsored plan and that wage growth has been flat for most of this generation's time in the workforce.
Collaboration can be difficult when a co-worker hogs the conversation, business consultant Karin Hurt writes. One way to take an eager contributor down a notch is to ask them privately to help encourage others to speak up, Hurt says.
I spent the day with my cousin Saturday. We ate and browsed stores along the beach promenade and caught up on each other’s lives. She told me about her new job. For the most part she likes it, but last week was rough, she said.
“It’s stupid, I know, but the air conditioner is broken,” she explained. ”Made me cranky all week.”
“I don’t blame you,” I said, turning to her. “It’s been close to 90 all week here. That’s like sitting in a car with the windows rolled up. There’s no way I work in an office like that.”
My cousin’s response to the stuffy heat of her workplace makes sense, according to today’s Health & Wellness story. "People will talk about how they have reduced feelings of joy and happiness and increased amount of stress, anger and fatigue, even with temperatures above 70 degrees," says Dr. Beth Oller, a family physician.
I get it. I can’t stand being hot. I’d rather be cold than hot. If a space is too hot, I can’t work. My mind wanders and my body feels sleepy. It’s why I choose to work at Starbucks or other coffee places during the summer.
What about you? Are you heat sensitive? Does it affect your work? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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