Report: US workplace injuries, illnesses reach 20-year low | Company asks candidates to choose their salary | AI can give you data, but you still need human judgment
US workplace injuries and illnesses hit a 20-year low last year, with a notable 8.4% year-over-year decrease, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report highlights a 56.6% reduction in illness cases, marking the lowest since 2018. The Department of Labor attributes the progress to effective safety measures and partnerships between government and private sectors, emphasizing the importance of workplace safety as a core value.
Ancient Gaming allows job candidates to set their own salary to attract leaders who value autonomy and self-confidence, marking a shift from traditional pay structures. The hiring process is gamified, where candidates face challenges that test their problem-solving and strategic thinking.
The labor and employment landscape in 2025 may lean toward employer-friendly policies under a Trump-Vance administration, with rollbacks on pro-union stances, changes to wage and hour regulations and less emphasis on diversity initiatives by the EEOC and OFCCP. Immigration rules could tighten, noncompete restrictions ease and workplace regulations focus more on compliance than enforcement.
Gen Z is increasingly opting for trades over traditional degrees, driven by job stability, competitive wages and technological integration. To retain these workers, construction companies should offer clear career development, entrepreneurial pathways, tech-forward training, competitive pay and benefits that align with Gen Z values, writes Kit Dickinson from ADP.
Companies that foster a creative culture are more innovative, experience higher growth and have happier employees, writes Itzik Elbaz, the co-founder and co-CEO of Artlist. Encouraging creativity across all departments, adopting a "fail fast" methodology and forming multifunctional teams are key strategies to build such a culture, Elbaz writes.
Attracting talent that is driven, creative and self-confident is the goal of Ancient Gaming’s set-your-own-salary initiative, featured in today’s Recruitment & Retention story. The organization wants employees that can lead with autonomy and tenacity.
I like it. It’s not about money -- it’s about hiring people who will assume ownership of their work. These folks know their value and are confident in their skill set. They throw their arms around what they do and work with a feverish energy. They enjoy the rigor and the vigor of the job.
They think independently, but draw others in. They encourage folks to dig deep, research the unthinkable and crash traditional barriers. They consistently seek new pathways. They are comfortable in the unfamiliar.
These types of people will outwork their salary. That’s why I like this approach. I also think it can work in non-gaming industries. What do you think? Is this a tactic you would be willing to test? Let me know!
Do you enjoy this brief? Share it with others. Want different stories? Something about it bug you? Tell me. In the words of Frasier Crane, “I’m listening.”
Sharing SmartBrief on Workforce with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free.
