Traditional 9-to-5 workdays are evolving, with the average workday now starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 4:39 p.m., more than 40 minutes earlier than the 5:21 p.m. end-of-day in 2022, according to ActivTrak's 2025 State of the Workplace Report. Despite the shorter hours, productivity has increased by 2%. The report also highlights differences in productivity and collaboration among remote, hybrid and office-only employees, as well as a significant rise in AI usage at work.
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Despite an increase in job applications, offer acceptance rates can be below 70%. Companies can improve these rates by being transparent about compensation, showcasing a positive company culture, and streamlining the hiring processes to not miss out on the best talent. It also helps to ask candidates why they turned down an offer.
The average deductible for single coverage under employer plans is approximately $1,800, significantly lower than the $5,000 to $6,000 range for the lowest-premium silver plans on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, according to a Commonwealth Fund report. The report suggests linking subsidies to gold plans to reduce financial burdens.
Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, participated in a fireside chat with Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian to discuss her career journey, challenges as a female person of color in corporate America and the importance of lifelong learning, hard work and perseverance. "Curiosity has got to be (your) middle name because the world around you is changing in such profound ways," said Nooyi, who was at the university to receive the M&T Bank Center for Women and Business' 2025 Impact Award.
Welcome to Friday Faves! Every Friday, I spotlight books, podcasts, articles, email newsletters, documentaries or other content pieces that I enjoy. I also share suggestions that I get from you. Got a favorite for your peers? Send it to me. I may include it here for a future column.
Aloha dear SmartBrief on Workforce readers,
I Hate it Here is an email newsletter, podcast and peer community for HR professionals, produced by Hebba Youssef, chief people officer for WorkWeek. I discovered it a few weeks ago and have really come to enjoy the content.
So, in honor of March Madness, this week’s Friday Fave is a podcast episode that looks at leadership through the lens of basketball. It’s terrific! Youssef’s guest is Chris Henrichs, co-founder and head of partnerships at Boon. Youssef and Henrichs, both athletes and former basketball players, share insights on how basketball applies to HR.
My favorite part was their discussion about competition. Henrichs says that competition builds resilience in the workplace. “Your whole goal is to figure out how you move people forward to try to go win the next time,” he says. I pumped my fist in the air at his words.
Winning doesn’t happen without competition. It’s impossible. Competition sharpens awareness, builds toughness and trains focus. It fosters humility and character. It holds us accountable. It prepares us for hard decisions and hard work. Competition drives us to persevere when we’re wrung out, physically and emotionally.
Competition builds champions.
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