Welcome to “The Most Interesting HR Stories of the Week,” a weekly post that features talent insights and information from around the web to kick off your weekend. Here’s what’s of interest this week:
Top Articles to Read Now
Deadly Collapse at Amazon Warehouse Puts Spotlight on Phone Ban
After recent tornados devastated entire communities, including an Amazon warehouse, details are emerging about Amazon rules against cellphone use by employees in warehouses. As this Time story explains, “The company backed off during the pandemic, but has been gradually reintroducing it at facilities around the country.” Given the recent tragedy, however, the retail giant’s policy is again the focus of scrutiny. Let’s see what happens.
Is Reskilling People More Radical Than Realistic?
“How well do businesses understand what kind of training and development their employees want?” begins this article. New research suggests not very well and that “the concept and story of ‘radical reskilling’ may be more complex than the tales of success that often find their way into the news.”
Cyber Attack on UKG Ruins the Holiday Season
A ransomeware attack on payroll and benefits giant UKG is disrupting services at many major organizations. From Whole Foods to Tesla to major cities, the incident is causing numerous employers headaches as they to pay their workers on time. Worse, UKG says problems may take weeks to resolve.
Compensation Is Going Up. But, Is It Enough?
Check out new findings from Mercer about the state of comp. Recent research shows that compensation budgets are going up, but will such increases lead to better retention? Will they finally lead to retiring the phrase “Great Resignation”?
Immigrant Employees Boost Performance
Researchers recently looked at the influence of immigrant players on the performance of soccer teams. OK, soccer isn’t the same as a corporate workplace. But still, the findings were interesting and it’s not a stretch to see how they might apply to companies. Among the points the pieces makes: “While the study finds that immigrants improve the performance of an organization, diversity alone does not. It’s well-documented that diverse perspectives can increase innovation and creativity in the workplace, but they can also create conflict.”
Employees Are Disappointed by Lack of Support for Their Wellbeing
According to recent research by the Achievers Workforce Institute (AWI), about half of HR leaders say that their workplaces support wellbeing. If only their people agreed: Only 24% of worker claimed the same. Why the disconnect? And also really interestingly, how to attitudes differ based on geography? Some really fascinating insights here.
Humanizing ESG
What’s “ESG”? It’s OK. You’re not the only one who may be unfamiliar with the acronym. It stands for environmental, social, and corporate governance. And this article from Wharton dives into the increasing emphasis on the “S.” Furthermore, the story points out that “social” really stands for is people, in that: “Employees, supply chain partners, customers, and the larger community are all affected by the operations of a firm, so prioritizing them depends on which group is most important.”
The Pandemic Has Increased Employee Engagement — Except Where It Hasn’t
Survey results from HR.com indicate that the pandemic has increased employee engagement. How can that be? It feels like we’ve been hearing about how today’s uncertain times have been causing havoc in the workplace, with wellbeing among the top areas that are cause for concern. How, then, to explain the rise in engagement? By also looking at the fall. I know that makes no sense here, but it does in the article!
Jorts the Ginger Cat Sparks Debate About ‘Perpetuating Ethnic Stereotypes’
Because what list of HR articles would be complete without a post about cats, right? A life-changing article that will have you rethinking your profession and life.
Read the most interesting HR stories of past weeks here.
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