A strike by New York prison guards has entered its third day, prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul to threaten deploying the National Guard and taking disciplinary action. The guards are demanding higher pay, stricter security checks for visitors and a rollback of prison reforms, including limits on solitary confinement.

Guards throughout the state say they have been working 16-hour shifts on a regular basis, according to Jennifer Scaife, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York. Scaife says these schedules are not sustainable and signal a "crisis" in New York's correctional system.

Best Buy has expanded its education benefits by offering to cover the cost of college degrees for every full- and part-time employee in the US. The new benefit starts on the first day of work, and the program, in partnership with Strayer University's Degrees@Work, includes options for certificates and degrees in fields such as business and IT. Employees also have access to Sophia Learning for general education courses.

The House Ways and Means Committee has proposed eliminating certain tax benefits to fund the extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a move that could save $157 billion over a decade. The proposal targets employer-provided fringe benefits such as athletic facilities, transportation, lodging and meals, potentially increasing employees' tax liabilities significantly, and raising concerns about employee morale and attractiveness of these benefits.

Three-year bachelor's degree programs are gaining traction among US universities as a way to save students time and money. These programs, including those at Johnson and Wales University, reduce the typical credit requirement from 120 to about 90, allowing students to finish their degrees in less time. While appealing to career-focused students, some worry that the compressed curriculum might limit opportunities for exploring different fields or accumulating a broad knowledge base.

Leaders want to reduce "bad friction" that frustrates employees or customers, but organizational psychologist Bob Sutton recommends creating some "good friction" that improves processes and products by taking time to sort helpful ideas from harmful ones. Good friction is needed in the form of being intentional when forming a team, taking time to make solid decisions even when pressed for time and being deliberate about collaboration during creative work, Sutton says.