An executive order has been signed by President Joe Biden to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour for federal contractors and phase out the tipped minimum wage by 2024. The rise from $10.95 per hour for federal contractors goes into effect in January with implementation no later than the end of March, and the order could raise the salaries of up to 390,000 workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Companies are focused on meeting the needs of a multigenerational workforce, but the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the workplace environment. Urban Curry Consulting CEO Erica Curry Van Ee said that, before the pandemic, age and generation diversity could be difficult to navigate and different work style preferences could create problems, but that changed when people of all ages began working from home.

An Aon and Ipsos study of employers in 41 countries found that an organization's performance is closely tied to the emotional, social, work/life and financial wellness of its workers. Survey responses showed that 87% of employers offer some sort of well-being initiative or tool, but only 55% have an overarching well-being strategy.

Encouraging risk-taking and embracing students' ideas can help them develop critical-thinking skills, Christi Hildebrand, principal at Elm Street Elementary School in Georgia, writes in this blog post. Hildebrand explains how to model critical thinking for them and notes that this skill will be crucial no matter which jobs students pursue.

As more employees return to job sites, organizations must check how their culture performs in terms of respect, accountability and cooperation, S. Chris Edmonds says in this blog post and video. "If you find that the health of your work culture is lacking, it's time to engage your senior leaders in proactive culture refinement by defining, aligning and refining your desired work culture," Edmonds says.

Jackie played midfield for us. She wasn’t our best player -- she had average speed and ball skills -- but her spirit made her a solid 10.

Jackie was comfortable with everyone -- from our highly talented goalkeeper with the big personality to the socially awkward players who struggled to interact with their teammates. She could quell tense situations and bring everyone together. She earned the respect of her teammates and coaches. She later went on to captain her high-school team.

Jackie exemplifies the positive mood contagion that Wharton professor Sigal Barsade talks about in today’s Leadership & Development story about emotional contagion. Her personality and leadership style fostered a healthy team dynamic and bolstered our performance (girls that get along together, talk and play well together). We had low turnover because our team culture was positive and absent the gossip and toxicity we saw on other teams.

How are you managing emotional contagion on your workplace? Let me know! And pass along this link to anyone else you think needs to receive this brief.