Allison Williams, a reporter at ESPN, left the network after refusing to adhere to its vaccine mandate, because of her concerns it might negatively affect her fertility or a future pregnancy. An ESPN spokesperson said the company is "granting accommodations consistent with our legal obligations," and doctors are reporting similar concerns among female patients even though the CDC says no link has been found between the vaccine and fertility or pregnancy issues.

Southwest Airlines has announced they will not place unvaccinated employees on unpaid leave, so they can continue to work by adhering to masking and social distancing guidance, at least while requests for medical and religious exemptions are considered. "While we intend to grant all valid requests for accommodations, in the event a request is not granted, the company will provide adequate time for an employee to become fully vaccinated while continuing to work and adhering to safety protocols," said Brandy King, a Southwest spokesperson.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a significant increase in virtual health care visits. Remote care originally was necessary in many cases to guard against spread of the coronavirus, but now employers are viewing it as an important component of expanding health care access for their staff members, including primary care.

An organization known as Hope Chicago has formed, led by former Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson, to help 30,000 residents complete college or trade school over the next decade. "If you want to disrupt cycles of poverty, education is the best lever," Jackson said of the program, which is one of two in the US with a parent-child component.

Rituals remain important for team camaraderie, but they've had to change during the pandemic for teams that stopped working together in person, says Erica Keswin, a workplace strategist and executive coach. Rituals also help with meetings and one-on-ones, whether it's one-word check-ins with a group or asking, "How are you really, really doing?" with your direct reports.

I spent about six hours in the emergency room yesterday getting treated for high blood pressure. That’s not new. I have a family history of hypertension and have been taking blood pressure medication since my mid-30s. That medication, plus exercise and moderate eating, have helped me keep fairly normal.

But as I was laying in the ER last night, drowsy from the cocktail of Benadryl and Lisinopril pumping through my IV, I had to be honest with myself. Numbers don’t lie and the numbers on my chart pointed to poor habits and lazy eating. My weight is higher than it should be and my blood pressure is much higher than normal.

And I know most of this is stress-related. I am usually pretty good about managing stress, but lately, it’s gotten away from me. My daughter and two of my best friends took me to task on it last night. They’re not wrong.

So starting Monday, I’m adding a new weekly section to SmartBrief on Workforce called, “Health and Wellness.” The section will include stories about exercise, nutrition, physical health and mental wellness. I figure we can all benefit from information that can improve our minds and bodies and lead to healthier workers and workplaces.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Tell me what publications you rely on for health news. And if you think others can benefit from this information, send them this link to sign up.