The opioid abuse crisis cost the US economy an estimated $504 billion in 2015, according to an analysis from the White House Council of Economic Advisers. That figure is over six times higher than previous estimates. The council said the report, released less than a month after President Donald Trump declared opioid abuse a public health emergency, presented higher estimates than earlier studies because it adjusted for underreporting of opioid-related deaths, used a different method to determine the value of lives lost and accounted for the cost of illicit drugs in addition to prescription drugs.

Technology helps HR with many of the tasks related to finding talent, but the hiring process still requires skilled recruiters who have good judgment, are good interviewers and can promote the company, writes Linda Brenner, managing director of Talent Growth Advisors.

The best way to motivate employees is by nurturing personal interaction and human relationships, writes Mark Sawyier, CEO of Bonfyre. Sawyier suggests four ways to foster "intrinsic motivation" in the workplace, including promoting small, informal events to let employees know they matter and rethinking digital platforms that encourage impersonal interactions.

More than 60% of parents struggle to find child care or preschool facilities that are up to their health and safety standards, and about 50% of parents are not confident they can identify a healthy and safe facility, according to a national poll by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital of 307 parents of youths ages 1 to 5. The poll also finds safety is the main concern, with about 70% of parents rejecting facilities in "sketchy" locations.

To change your company's culture, focus on a few key players, writes Jerome Parisse-Brassens, regional director for Walking the Talk Asia Pacific. "Build your tipping point for change as you would play a game of chess: Think strategically, don't move too fast, and analyse your pieces," he writes.