When delivering constructive criticism to team members, adopt a "mentor mindset," says psychologist David Yeager, who recommends telling them you want to give them some direct advice, but before doing so, you want to know their thoughts on what went well and what they can improve. "Not only does this make your employee a partner in the critique, but it starts to provide them with an internal dialogue they can have with themselves in the future so that they can begin to improve their own performance," Yeager says.

Leaders can help their direct reports reach their full potential by coaching them, helping them turn mistakes into lessons and being clear about their tasks and performance standards, writes executive coach John Baldoni. "Managers must assess each employee's capabilities and limitations. Some team members must be kept on a short leash, while leaders can give others more autonomy," Baldoni writes.

With evolving pay transparency laws, job seekers are increasingly encouraged to discuss salary early in the interview process. Stacie Haller of ResumeBuilder supports initiating the salary conversation to align with the employer's budget and suggests asking what qualifications are needed to reach the top of the salary range. Conversely, Brianna Doe of Verbatim says to wait for the employer to bring up pay to better understand the company's culture and avoid lowballing oneself.

Since its launch in 2022, New York's Health Care Worker Bonus program has awarded $2 billion in bonuses of up to $3,000 to more than 800,000 frontline health care workers making $125,000 or less a year. Medical fellows and residents are among those eligible for the statewide program, which aims to ease health care workforce shortages and help the sector recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The previously tight hourly labor market is beginning to exhibit signs of easing, with companies like ABM Industries and John Deere no longer struggling to fill positions. At 4.3% in July, unemployment remains historically low, but recent trends such as decreased job creation and weaker wage growth have raised concerns of an economic downturn.

An increasing number of older adults, especially those over 75, are reentering the workforce, with LinkedIn data showing a 23.9% increase in baby boomers returning to work last year. Key reasons include longer lifespans, inflation and inadequate retirement savings. Experts note that working again can offer social benefits and a renewed sense of purpose, but retirees need to consider the effects on Social Security, Medicare and taxes before unretiring.

If a boss or colleague has ever denied making a promise or deliberately withholds information or shifts blame to you for something they did, they could be gaslighting you, write Saima Ahmad and Melissa Wheeler, who recommend keeping detailed records of all interactions, setting boundaries and seeking the support of other colleagues or human resources if it persists. "You are not responsible for the perpetrator's behavior, but you can empower yourself to reclaim your sanity and work in a healthier environment," they write.

European cities like Barcelona have found success in creating healthier, more pedestrian-friendly spaces without increasing traffic in other areas by building "superblocks" -- three-block by two- or three-block groupings where traffic is largely restricted to outer roads and inner spaces focus on green, walkable places for residents to enjoy. Studies indicate that emissions and overall traffic in superblock neighborhoods have decreased without hurting local businesses while green spaces have increased.