Initial jobless claims hit 3-week low at 230K | Saying thanks, checking in and other keys to onboarding | What goes into a strong policy on workers' tech use?
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 230,000, according to the latest report from the Labor Department. Continuing jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 1.702 million in the latest reading.
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Well-planned onboarding primes business relationships -- with employees and clients, alike -- to be positive and productive for years, PR firm owner Emily Reynolds Bergh writes. Bergh shares five steps for internal and for external onboarding, with both lists including expressions of gratitude and check-ins for no reason beyond, "How are things going?"
Some 77% of large employers report an increase in mental health issues among their workforces, up from 44% in 2022, according to a survey from Business Group on Health. Some 80% of respondents said mental health was their top priority this year and 97% intend to boost access to digital resources such as webinars, apps, videos and articles.
Leaders often hesitate to do difficult things, such as terminate an employee, because they are plagued by doubt, guilt or fear of how it may look to other employees, especially if it's a popular team member or senior executive, writes Ed Batista. Leaders should consider the long-term consequences of leaving a poor-performing team member in place, including the loss of good workers who may be adversely affected by their behavior, Batista notes.
Virtual friendships formed by young men in online gaming communities are giving them more than a sense of camaraderie, a yearlong study of 40 males who are part of a college football gaming group found. Researchers discovered that participants often talked about personal issues and mental health-related topics with one another, forming "vital informal support networks," writes lead study author Tyler Prochnow.
A large number of my high school and college classmates went into education. They are serving as teachers, principals and coaches at the elementary, middle- and high school levels. Most of them entered the field in their 20s with bright-eyed ambition and an arsenal of instructional tools they were eager to employ.
Fast forward 25 years. Most of my former classmates-turned-educators are still in the profession. But they are worn out. The daily challenges of dealing with disrespectful students, difficult parents and demanding expectations, have left their mental health in shreds. School district leaders across the country are looking for ways to tackle these issues and better support their staff.
Educators are not alone in this situation. According to our Benefits & Compensation story today, 77% of large employers have seen an uptick in mental health issues among employees, including depression, substance abuse and anxiety. These employers know that they can’t abandon the workers wrestling with these challenges. They know they have to improve access to resources and expand mental health networks and offerings.
The impacts of waning mental health are real. And they do affect the workplace and work product. What are you doing to help your workers maintain mental and emotional equilibrium? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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