The National Labor Relations Board is proposing a rule that would count an employer as a company that controls, "whether directly, indirectly or both," the work requirements, wages or hiring of a worker. "Contracting as a whole could face legal jeopardy in the context of this rule," said US Chamber of Commerce's Glenn Spencer.
The rise of the virtual-first health plan The dramatic increase in telemedicine use seen early in the pandemic also fueled the rise of virtual-first health plans, an emerging model that is testing flexible, consumer-centric care for the digital health era. Register for this industry roundtable.
Long COVID may be keeping millions of Americans from returning to the workforce, say labor and public health observers, who suggest the US should collect more data related to persistent COVID-19 symptoms. "We don't know what proportion of people are having very debilitating symptoms with a lot of certainty," says Julia Raifman, assistant professor at Boston University's School of Public Health.
If an employee appears to be in crisis, ask directly if that person has considered suicide, writes behavioral health consultant Carl Clark, who shares tips to promote mental health in the workplace during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In addition, HR consultant Matthew Burr outlines how an employee assistance program can help, and how he handled it when a colleague died by suicide.
Cybersecurity management jobs continue to severely outpace qualified candidates, so Bank of America and New Jersey's Liberty Science Center will provide programs for high-school students in STEM, with a focus on cybersecurity. Students who complete a program could be offered careers at the bank.
Burnout has physical ramifications as well as mental ones including muscle strain, gut issues and negative reactions to high-intensity exercise. "When I found that [burnout is] actual brain damage, I was really horrified. Your prefrontal cortex actually shrinks, and it takes time to build back up again," says one worker who had to take a month off from work to recover.
It was a Friday night, and Kawai was at the movies with some friends. Her dad, Kevin, called.
“Hey, is Kawai there?”
“No, she’s at the movies with Briana. What’s up?”
What he said next made my stomach churn over and I had to quell the urge to vomit.
Lacey,* a friend of Kawai’s, had taken her own life. Kevin explained that Lacey and her mother had gotten into a fight and afterward Lacey stormed out of the house and got into her car. She drove onto the freeway, pulled off to the side, got out and stepped in front of a semi-truck. She was killed instantly.
I remember collapsing onto my couch, feeling sick and stunned and paralyzed all at the same time. I hurt for Lacey. For her mother. For her sisters. For the kids who knew her.
Including my daughter, who crumpled, screaming and crying into my arms when I told her minutes later. Nothing in the parenting books prepares you for that sickening, heart-scraping moment. All I could do was rock her and pray. And cry.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Today’s Benefits & Compensation story talks about how employers can set up employee-assistance programs to help workers who are struggling with this and other issues. HR consultant Matthew Burr speaks candidly about his experience dealing with a colleague’s suicide and what he learned from that situation.
Lacey’s death taught me that suicide doesn’t happen to just “certain people.” It’s not just the angry outsider, withdrawn introvert or the social misfit that everyone ignores. Lacey was creative, smart and funny. She was well liked by her peers. Dozens of students attended the vigil held in her honor. Several told stories about her love of music and art and animals. Lacey battled personal demons, to be sure, but in so many ways, she was like any other teenager I knew.
So I keep praying. For my kids, for Lacey’s mother and sisters, and for increased sensitivity and wisdom to support those who are battling the storms of life.
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*Names changed to preserve the victim's privacy.
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