In Northern Virginia, remote workers now make up at least a quarter of the workforce, new data shows, a trend more often seen in Western states. And rural counties are seeing an increase in remote workers, a move that could offset the population drain. Full Story: Cardinal News (Va.) (1/24)
SHRM Spring Summer seminars announced! The new year is the perfect time to plan for career growth. Whether you prefer virtual learning or in-person interaction, SHRM seminars are designed to empower professionals at every stage of their journey. Explore the Spring/Summer programs today!
ADVERTISEMENT:
Recruiting & Retention
Learning leader: Employers choosing skills-based hiring Higher education often fails to equip people with the skills they'll need in the workforce, writes Multiverse Chief Learning Officer Gary Eimerman, who points out many employers are removing college degree requirements and focusing on skills-based hiring. Eimerman recommends employers develop existing employees, offer apprenticeships and intense "bootcamp" skills training programs, and recruit new employees through online career sites that allow searches for skills. Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (1/23)
A global Randstad survey of employees found they value work-life balance, flexible schedules and mental health support over career aspirations. "Embodying a talent-first mindset and truly understanding their personal motivations and priorities will help set businesses apart," says Sander van 't Noordende, CEO of Randstad, which found 72% of employees emphasize the importance of development opportunities. Full Story: HR Dive (1/23)
Learning to play poker can teach women managers strategic thinking skills and is the focus of the Power Poker class at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. Women who have taken the course said they learned to negotiate, read a bluff, and maintain a poker face. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (1/23)
Zookeepers at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in England are integrating the five foul-mouthed African gray parrots donated to the zoo in 2020 along with three newly donated foul-mouthed birds with other parrots after keeping them isolated failed to clean up their language. The parrots could learn to make inoffensive noises, or they might teach the 92 other parrots some highly offensive expletives, says park CEO Steve Nichols. Full Story: CNN (1/23)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Of the 22 operas composed by Wolfgang A. Mozart, most were in Italian and German -- except for one. "Apollo and Hyacinth" was written in what language?
What say you? It’s Friday, so let’s wrap up the week with a fun poll. What is your pet peeve? This question is a great party icebreaker. It always elicits discussion, even among people who don’t know each other. In fact, I’ve seen people become friends after conversations on this topic. I talked with some colleagues to get their input. The post generated nearly 100 responses in Slack, in less than an hour. Here are some of my favorites. Which one spikes your blood pressure? (Did I miss yours? Send me a note!)
How can we better support your story coverage needs? More information on best practices? Is there a publication source you go to for this type of content? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
Sharing SmartBrief on Workforce with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free.
