Private employers added 330,000 jobs to payrolls in July, according to payroll processor ADP, which is a sharp decrease from the 653,000 jobs Dow Jones economists had predicted. The job growth in July was the smallest increase since February and illustrates the uneven progress of the employment market, said Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist.

Older workers often face stereotypes related to their age, potentially causing valuable experience and knowledge to be overlooked. Ignoring this type of discrimination can have a negative impact on staff performance and morale.

With employee wellness a key concern, Naz Beheshti, founder and CEO of corporate wellness firm Prananaz, outlines the positive effect of adding game-playing elements to a serious work environment. Consider integrating challenges through wearable health apps and devices, choosing different activities to keep interest high and remembering to be playful in your routines.

Companies are turning to "culture-as-a-service" software such as Microsoft Viva and Workvivo to build on HR technology, shaping culture and employee engagement. The software incorporates "things like feedback on performance, onboarding and value sharing, learning and development, team activities," says Casey Flint of venture capital firm Square Peg.

The idea of a "monger" can have a bad reputation, but "someone who has unusually deep expertise combined with a love of their calling" is a desirable trait for companies and for people looking to improve themselves, Steve McKee writes. McKee shares stories of meeting cheesemongers and asphaltmongers and the delight in learning from them.