New research uncovers the "entrainment cycle," a phenomenon where employees synchronize with their organization's relentless work pace, leading to overwork and burnout. Employees internalize the organization's rhythm, making it difficult to disconnect even during holidays or downtime, leading to a persistent pattern of overwork and psychological attachment to the organization's tempo. Full Story: Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (7/9)
Today is Black Women's Equal Pay Day Black Women's Equal Pay Day, which this years falls on July 10, highlights the wage gap, with Black women earning 63 cents for every dollar paid to White men and non-Hispanic men. Career expert Ericka Spradley stresses that Black women should not accept offers without knowing their market value and encourages them to seek roles where they are both compensated and celebrated. Full Story: BET (7/10)
How to network best in an online MBA program Online MBA programs are expanding networking opportunities beyond traditional formats, offering virtual career fairs, business visits, guest speaker events, and in-person gatherings open to online students. Many programs also provide collaborative team-based assignments, discussion boards and digital platforms like Canvas and LinkedIn to help students connect. Full Story: U.S. News & World Report (7/9)
The Landscape
Report: AI-related layoffs may be miscategorized Despite growing concerns around automation and artificial intelligence, only 75 of the 20,000 technology-related layoffs cuts among US employers in the first six months of 2025 were explicitly attributed to AI, according to a Challenger, Gray & Christmas report. However, analysts suspect that companies may be categorizing AI-driven layoffs under broader terms like "technological update," possibly to avoid negative press. Full Story: HR Dive (7/9)
Women gain ground in Wall Street leadership Women are projected to control 38% of all US assets by 2030, marking a significant increase from less than a third just over a decade ago. This demographic shift means women could manage an estimated $34 trillion, prompting major financial institutions to pay closer attention to female clients and leaders. While this growth signals broader influence over wealth, industry parity remains a work in progress. Full Story: Bloomberg (7/8)
Is unlimited PTO a thing of the past? Employers are offering unlimited paid time off less frequently, with only 2.9% of job postings on Indeed featuring the benefit in June, down from 8.8% in March 2022. The decline is attributed to the shift to an employer's market and a decrease in software development jobs, where the benefit was prevalent. HR consultant Bryan Driscoll says, "The drop in unlimited PTO doesn't surprise me because it was never about generosity from employers. It was about optics and control." Full Story: Newsweek (tiered subscription model) (7/9)
AtkinsRealis has developed a more inclusive hard hat designed to accommodate various hair types and religious headwear. "This is an issue for men and women with long hair, or hair styles and headgear for religious or cultural reasons which do not suit conventional hard hats, as well as many bald people who can find that standard issue headwear can rub and cause discomfort," says surveyor Laurienne Buhinja, who inspired the hat. Full Story: Construction Briefing (7/8)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says inventor Nils Bohlin's three-point seatbelt saves over 4,000 lives per year. Bohlin received a US patent for it while working for which carmaker?
Webinar: How to Create the Best Workplace Experience
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I thought this might be of interest, from sister publication AV Technology: Join us July 30 when a panel of experts discusses the AV/IT technologies that are transforming in-office and remote productivity with easy-to-integrate and use solutions. Here's how to register. -- Janet Connor Kahler, editor of Your Career
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