President Barack Obama has approved a 2.1% pay increase for federal civilian workers. In a letter to the president, some Democratic lawmakers requested the increase, citing civilian employees' important work carrying out "critical missions under difficult circumstances."

Steady Navy contracts will allow submarine builder Electric Boat to hire 14,000 workers over the next 13 years as Congress pushes for new fleets with ballistic missile and nuclear warhead capabilities. The company says the hiring plan will replace retirees and includes shipyard personnel, with many expected to come from local training programs.

The winter holiday season is a time when many workers struggle to stay motivated amid growing demands outside of work, writes Kim Thompson. Be willing to ask for help or take a few days off if needed and make sure to focus on one project at a time for improved productivity during the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

The NAACP, the Service Employees International Union, Families USA, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Center for American Progress are uniting to form an advocacy group called Protect Our Care. The group wants to prevent Congress from repealing the Affordable Care Act until another law is passed that ensures continued coverage for the 20 million people who depend on the ACA.

Leaders should make asking questions while coaching team members an everyday habit, writes Michael Bungay Stanier. "By asking questions, you get to the heart of whatever issue your employee is facing -- sometimes it's not the surface issue that's really affecting them, and you won't realize this until you've delved a little deeper," he says.