Weekly jobless claims reach highest level since 2021 | Workers believe in-office work provides more opportunity | Why asking questions is a good strategy for small talk
Initial jobless claims increased by 28,000 to 261,000 in the week ending June 3, according to Labor Department data. The increase in unemployment applications is the largest since July 2021 and the 261,000 total is the most since October 2021. The latest data shows layoffs may finally be taking their toll on the American workforce, but the labor market continues to show strength and continuing jobless claims remain low. Full Story: Bloomberg (6/8),Reuters (6/8)
73% of U.S. workers are also home caregivers The need for caregivers is increasing. So is the demand on family members who have to step in. This has a large impact on employers and employees. Is it affecting your company? Attend a caregiving webinar hosted by Tricia Sandiego, Senior Advisor for the AARP Caregiving & Health team to learn more. Register Now.
ADVERTISEMENT:
Recruiting & Retention
Workers believe in-office work provides more opportunity A survey conducted by CNBC and SurveyMonkey reveals that 56% of employees believe in-office workers will have better career opportunities compared to their hybrid or fully remote counterparts, up from 47% in later 2021. Employees' beliefs may be heavily impacted by employers' push for more in-office days over the past year as companies have started to crack down on in-office attendance. Full Story: CNBC (6/8)
Financial jargon is a barrier for retirement investing Financial jargon has resulted in a significant number of consumers aged 50 or older to lose confidence in retirement products, according to a survey from Unbiased, which found that three-quarters of this group have "little or no confidence at all" in them. Almost half of the respondents rely on their family, friends or online searches for financial advice, and three out of 10 have contacted a financial adviser. Full Story: MarketWatch (tiered subscription model) (6/7)
Leaders in the workplace need to be conscious of how their body language comes off to their team and avoid leaning back or closing off their body language when an employee speaks, turning away or focusing on something else or allowing interruptions, according to Linda Clemons, body language expert and CEO of Sisterpreneur. Gaining control of your body language begins in the brain, so changing your mindset is key to ensuring that your body language remains open, Clemons says. Full Story: Fast Company (tiered subscription model) (6/8)
Workplace Chatter
Some parents zooming in at their kid's job So-called helicopter parents who have sought the best schools and experiences for their children are now extending their outreach to jobs as young adults. In Zoom interviews with job candidates, one recruiter says she has heard parents whispering "say this" or "ask about that," while some parents have even showed up at their kid's job to demand a raise. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (6/7)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Which horse won the Triple Crown on June 9, 1973? Check your answer here.
When I got my job here at SmartBrief, I showed my son my offer letter and the benefits package email. He was getting ready to graduate from college and start looking for a job. We had already worked on his resume, I wanted to school him on what to expect and how to manage the process. But that’s where my help ended. The rest was up to him and he handled it beautifully. He’s now gainfully employed as a NOC engineer at an IT outsourcing firm. So I don’t get the helicopter parents who poison their (adult!) children’s careers with their interference. Today’s Workplace Chatter story had some mouth-dropping examples: Coaching their kids during Zoom interviews; confronting their children’s manager to demand a raise; or (my favorite) applying for jobs on their child’s behalf! Wow. These young people don’t need our “help.” They’re smart and capable. And going through the process is how they learn toughness (which they need). If we back up off them, we give them room to take flight and soar. Have you seen this crazy behavior? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
Sharing SmartBrief on Workforce with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free.
