Instacart has announced 1,877 layoffs, including 10 workers in Skokie, Ill., the company's only unionized employees. Instacart attributed the layoffs to changes at some partner stores that are shifting shopping responsibilities to their own employees, but Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, condemned the move as "simply wrong" amid a public health crisis.

Last week, 900,000 workers filed initial jobless claims, down slightly from the 926,000 applications filed the preceding week. Initial unemployment claims are still far above the pre-pandemic peak of 695,000.

Organizations are having to confront a growing problem of opioid addiction among staff members, especially those experiencing increased isolation and stress related to the pandemic. "Employers, as the decision makers of health plan design, have the unique ability to educate and build support systems for employees, particularly those at-risk," said Dr. Doug Nemecek, chief medical officer for behavioral health at Cigna.

Companies do better when their leaders are open, authentic and willing to work hard along with their team, writes Victoria Montgomery Brown, former CEO of Big Think, who describes her shift from control to collaboration. "Sometimes, being a boss just means being a vulnerable human being," she writes.

A five-year-old Kansas City boy was thrilled to get a prosthetic leg decorated with the logo of his favorite football team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The child was born without a leg and is able to imitate his favorite player, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, with the new prosthesis.

A Hawaii girl -- raised on poi, kalua pig and the Makaha Sons -- covering the workforce and K-20 education.

Role players. Often operating in the shadows of their superstar counterparts, these high-output individuals help drive championships. Their work is solid and consistent; they make excellent teammates; and they are comfortable standing back and letting others shine. "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player," said John Wooden, legendary UCLA men's basketball head coach.

How are you supporting the role players on your team? What are you doing to keep them engaged and growing? Let me know. Drop me a line at kanoe.namahoe@futurenet.com.