Trending Topics in the World of Work
Our June issue of SHIFT looks at protecting communications in the workplace; the current pace of hiring; what effective leadership looks like today; and burnout among workers.
“Off” and “on” channel communications in the workplaceProtecting communications in the private workplace has always been challenging. Our constitutional privacy protections are geared to protecting U.S. citizens from the government, not from their employers — and state and federal courts have long confirmed that there is little protection for employees, according to Reuters. However, beginning with the internet, and becoming more compelling with the development of messaging platforms and the cloud, legislators and courts agree that there is some expectation of privacy when it comes to personal data in the workplace. |
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The pace of hiringThe pace of hiring remains strong for lower-earning Americans, holding steady above its pre-pandemic baseline even as the demand for higher-income workers has waned slightly, according to new data from Vanguard. The hires rate for the bottom third of workers by income (who earn less than $55,000 a year) was 1.5% in March, where it has largely hovered since September 2023, according to a new Vanguard analysis. Vanguard is among the nation’s largest 401(k) plan administrators. Its analysis is based on new enrollments in its 401(k) plans. |
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What defines leadership in 2024?What are some of the behaviors that make a good leader in 2024? Here’s Forbes’ take on answering that question: Emotional intelligence and empathy; Adaptability and resilience; Collaboration and inclusivity; Visionary thinking; and Ethics and responsibility. |
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Addressing burnout in the workplaceBurnout in the workplace is not new—but it is worsening. SHRM’s Employee Mental Health in 2024 Research Series, released for Mental Health Awareness Month in May, found that 44 percent of 1,405 surveyed U.S. employees feel burned out at work, 45 percent feel “emotionally drained” from their work, and 51 percent feel “used up” at the end of the workday. |
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