Initial US jobless claims ticked upward slightly last week, increasing by 6,000 to 227,000, according to the Labor Department. Layoffs in July hit an 11-month low and unemployment remains near its lowest levels this year.

Workers are struggling with return-to-office mandates for various reasons, but there may be some truth in workers' claims that it's challenging to get work done in the office. Hybrid work arrangements may be negatively impacting productivity after an extended period of remote work weakened skills like selective attention and blocking out distractions, neurologists and behavioral scientists say.

Denny's has created a new program aimed at helping employees further their education and professional development. The company has teamed with GEDWorks to help staffers earn GEDs, certifications and college credits, and the program will also focus on life skills and team with consultant Kim Cliett Long to open career opportunities for high school students interested in the restaurant business.

Employers hiring 2023 graduates should recognize that they will need to train them on the job, as pandemic-related disruptions may have affected their education, some experts say. At John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Mich., for example, managers work with seasonal workers in their teens and early 20s on basic skills for customer service.

Only 33% of corporate travelers are happy to be resuming business trips, according to a World Travel Protection Survey, with many people facing flight delays and interruptions and feeling more stress and anxiety than before the pandemic. Safety is also a major concern, particularly for women and LGBTQIA+ employees who fear danger and harassment when traveling to areas of the US and around the world that don't protect their rights.