Business Insider is laying off 21% of its workforce as it shifts focus to artificial intelligence and live events. CEO Barbara Peng says the company is scaling back on underperforming categories and exiting most of its e-commerce business. The Insider Union has criticized the layoffs and the emphasis on AI, calling it a move driven by "greed." Full Story: Variety (5/29)
C-suite leaders with ADHD are applying their unique strengths to their leadership roles, such as the ability to hyperfocus and high energy levels that are advantageous in demanding roles. Leaders like Nathan Friedman highlight how these traits can be leveraged as "superpowers" to drive innovation and problem-solving in a business setting. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (5/28)
Company-paid education emerges as key employee benefit Many companies are offering flexible, debt-free educational opportunities as a key benefit, realizing it better positions them to attract and retain talent, build a future-ready workforce and increase their competitive advantage, James Guajardo of AllCampus writes. By investing in this approach, companies not only support employees' educational goals but also aid long-term business growth. Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (5/28)
Quality of work product depends largely on the quality of relationships that leaders have with employees, leadership researcher Zach Mercurio writes. At the core of those relationships are meaningful interactions. Mercurio cites the example of Tanya, a cleanliness support coordinator at a major airline, whose team consistently generates high cleanliness scores. Tanya's secret, Mercurio discovered, is that she personally engages with her team and colleagues, daily. “Relationships are my job. Everything else, including quality, follows," Tanya said. Full Story: Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (5/29)
The Hawaii Department of Education has recognized Hawaii Creole, commonly known as Pidgin, as a language worthy of the Seal of Biliteracy for the first time. Ten students at Waipahu High School wore medals at graduation to mark their proficiency in Pidgin. The school let students know about the new biliteracy seal in January with an announcement in the daily bulletin, spoken in Pidgin: "Sup Seniors! Pidgin stay one reckanized language fo' Da Seal of Biliteracy now, li'dat. Howz dat? Pretty mean, ah?" Full Story: Honolulu Civil Beat (5/24)
About the Editor
Reflections
(Kanoe Namahoe)
Welcome to Friday Faves! Every Friday, I spotlight books, podcasts, articles, email newsletters, documentaries or other content pieces that I enjoy. I also share suggestions that I get from you. Got a favorite for your peers? Send it to me. I may include it here for a future column. I grew up speaking Pidgin English, a creole dialect spoken in Hawaii. It evolved during the 1800s, as laborers from other countries came to Hawaii to work in the plantations. It’s a mix of Hawaiian, English and other languages that they brought to the islands. Pidgin has its own slang and rhythm. It has huge cultural significance. But I was raised on the mainland, and Mom and Dad had rules about using Pidgin. “Only here at home, when we wit’ family or when we in Hawaii,” Dad said. “English everywhere else.” Mom nodded her agreement. “And good English,” she added. Don’t misunderstand. My parents weren’t clipping our cultural wings. They were actually protecting them. They grew up with similar rules, even in Hawaii. My grandparents -- especially my maternal grandmother -- were sticklers for proper English. They didn’t ban Pidgin, but they knew that some folks wouldn’t understand it -- or worse, would judge it. They would take it as a reflection of a lower intellect, not as a cultural language. And no one was having that. Thankfully, though, times have changed, as we see in today’s Workplace Chatter story and this week’s Friday Fave. Hawaii’s Department of Education is now offering the Seal of Biliteracy for Hawaii Creole, the formal term for Pidgin English. Students can earn the seal by demonstrating proficiency in English or Hawaiian and one other language. Those who gain the seal will wear a medal, indicating their mastery of the language, at their high school commencement ceremony. Check it out, Gramma -- Pidgin legit now! Whatchu tink? Pretty cool, eh? I can almost see her smiling and shaking her head and wagging her index finger at me. No worries, Grandma. I got you. *wink, throws shaka* Do you enjoy this brief? Share it with others. Want different stories? Something about it bug you? Tell me. In the words of Frasier Crane, “I’m listening.”
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