Almost a third of women business leaders possess technology expertise, double that of their male counterparts, and one in four FTSE 100 board members is proficient in technology, a 12% increase over the past three years, according to Accenture. "It's hugely encouraging to see the experience women in technology are bringing to leadership teams today," says Emma Kendrew, UK technology lead for Accenture, adding that the varied experiences diverse teams bring to the table fuel innovation.

"Anticipatory gratitude," or thanking someone in advance for doing something for you or excusing your mistake, can improve employee resilience and persistence, says Mandy O'Neill, an associate professor of management at the Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason University. "Gratitude can't be a substitute for fair pay and decent work conditions, for example. But our findings are clear: anticipatory gratitude works; it is effective," O'Neill says.

ZipRecruiter has launched ZipIntro, a new tool that schedules introductory calls with potential candidates using AI. Employers can input job details and select call times, and the tool matches them with candidates, sending out invitations. The platform facilitates initial screenings and video calls, with responses typically received within 20 minutes.

US job openings dropped to 7.67 million in July, the lowest since early 2021, as layoffs increased, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The latest data signals continued cooling in the labor market as demand for workers decreases.

Job seekers in the US are finding it increasingly difficult to land new positions, although job security for current employees remains high. Since March 2022, job openings have fallen by more than a third, and temporary-help firms have cut jobs for 26 of the past 28 months. "Because of the gradual drip of layoffs in tech and finance, in professional services over the past year and a half, there have been a lot of high-skilled, experienced folks on the job market," said Aaron Terrazas, chief economist at Glassdoor.

Japan's rigid work culture, characterized by long hours and high pressure, has led to the rise of resignation agencies like Momuri that help employees quit their jobs without confrontation. Despite the government's attempt to address unethical employers by blacklisting over 370 companies, many workers still face significant harassment when trying to quit, especially younger workers who prefer a stress-free exit strategy to lifetime employment.

A new trend in email auto-responses is emerging: the shift from "OOO" (Out of Office) to "on PTO" (Paid Time Off). This change reflects a growing emphasis on work-life balance and privacy, with employees choosing less detailed messages about their absence. Some people continue working while they're OOO while other people message colleagues who are OOO, so experts say PTO helps set clearer boundaries between work and personal life.

Scientists have proposed that orcas ramming yachts in the Iberian Peninsula may be using the boats as practice targets for hunting Atlantic bluefin tuna, a theory that emerged after young orcas started hitting and sinking boats in 2020. Data from sailors helped researchers model orca movements, revealing that their behavior aligns with tuna migration patterns. The study suggests that orcas are refining their hunting skills by targeting boat rudders, similar to how they isolate and catch tuna.

Is your team innovating with AI? SmartBrief's newest Innovation Award will recognize AI products and solutions that are making a difference in the retail, IT/cybersecurity, education and people management industries. If your team has a tool in market or poised for market entry in 2025, submit your application by Sept. 20. There is a fee to enter, and winners will be selected based on degree of innovation and business impact. Learn more and apply.