The Supreme Court has confirmed a special session on Jan. 7 to review the legal challenges to the Biden administration's two vaccine mandates, one for large employers and the other for health care employees. "We are confident in the legal authority for both policies and DOJ will vigorously defend both at the Supreme Court," said Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary.

Leaders are employing a range of strategies to keep workers; some save costs elsewhere to invest in employee training and benefits. One-fourth of companies are offering signing bonuses, a survey shows.

Companies and organizations are realizing the benefits of digital tools and services to enhance staff members' health benefit experiences, including those that support mental health. Professionals who make benefit decisions should review options and innovations to see which can produce the greatest impact on patient care quality and cost effectiveness.

Since March 2020, the need for talent development and supporting tech has risen as companies seek new ways to collaborate with and train employees. Leveraging at-hand resources such as tablets and smartphones can help your company grow the skills and capacity of its current workforce.

Flexible leaders seek to engage their employees in every aspect of the business, including defining acceptable behaviors, treating them as peers instead of subordinates and occasionally letting them choose how to run meetings, writes Kate Nasser. "As you show them it's good to question traditional ways of working, you lift their morale with the possibilities of change," Nasser writes.

In observance of Christmas and New Year's holidays, SmartBrief will not publish Friday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Dec. 31. Publication will resume Monday, Jan. 3.

The boys had a game last week and I was there to film. I talked with Coach Ray after the game about what I saw as I filmed.

"They don't rebound," I said, and he nodded his agreement. "Why? They could have had more buckets but they don't rebound."

Rebounding takes heart, he answered. "Determination -- it's you going to get something," he explained. He gave the example of retired Chicago Bulls star Dennis Rodman. "Rodman couldn't do anything else, but he was the best rebounder in the game. He had toughness. Rebounding takes heart and toughness."

I thought about that as I edited today's issue and considered the events of this past year. Employers needed heart and toughness to navigate their organizations through choppy, and sometimes unfamiliar, waters -- vaccine mandates, return-to-work policies, employee morale, wage pressures and worker mental health, to name a few. It was a lot.

But you're rebounding beautifully. I've heard from many of you since I started this column this past spring. I'm so encouraged by your transparency and how well you've managed in the face of uncertainty and Kilimanjaro-like challenges. I'm confident that will continue. Please let me know how this brief can help you stay that course.

And thank you for your wonderful support this year. I appreciate all of the notes and kind words you sent. As we take a break for Christmas and get ready for the new year, I exhort you to rest, refresh and reflect. I know I will. And I look forward to reconnecting with all of you when we're back on January 3.

Mele Kalikimaka a me hau'oli makahiki hou!