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CAHRS Top 10 October 2023

1. PubsOnline: My Manager Moved! Manager Mobility and Subordinates’ Career Outcomes

Summary: While manager mobility may have positive and negative effects of subordinates, this study completed by Cornell's ILR School HR Studies Associate Professor JR Keller highlights research done in a healthcare company over the course of eight years, suggesting that manager mobility often results in decreased financial awards but increased promotion opportunity. The paper has been awarded Winner of the Best Published Paper category of the Careers Division of the Academy of Management for 2023.

If you're a CAHRS partner navigating changing environments such as the subject above, mark your calendar for "The Continued Evolution of the HRBP Role" virtual working group on October 17th.

2. HR Digest: How HR Managers Can Foster Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace - A Comprehensive Guide
Summary: Diversity and Inclusion isn't a one-time task but rather an ongoing goal for the organization. This guide outlines practical steps for fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

3. Gallup: Are Remote Workers and Their Organizations Drifting Apart?
Summary: While employee engagement has increased two percentage points since last year, only 28% of the fully remote workers feel connected to the employers’ mission and vision of the organization, down from 31% in 2022 and compared to 35% of hybrid employees and 33% of fully onsite employees.

4. American Psychological Association: Electronically Monitoring Your Employees? It’s Impacting Their Mental Health
Summary: The APA's 2023 Work in America survey reveals the impact of electronic monitoring on employees' mental health and well-being. It reveals that employees who are monitored by technology at work report more negative psychological outcomes, such as poor mental health, stress, and feelings of being spied on, compared to those who are not monitored. The experts suggest that involving employees in the design of monitoring technology and addressing their privacy concerns are important steps for employers to maintain trust and a healthy workplace culture.

5. Human Resource Executive: To Make RTO Work, HR and the CEO Need to Have Some Tough Conversations
Summary: CAHRS Academic Director and William J. Conaty Professor of Strategic Human Resource Studies Brad Bell says that as CEO's are considering and/or planning to bring employees back to the office, CEOs need to ensure they have compelling rationale to bring employees back to the office. It is HR's responsibility to lay out the risks involved with mandating employees to return to the office including potential challenges with retention and recruitment.

6. Mercer: Smart Personalization - Providing Employee Benefits for Every Generation
Summary: Currently 41% of employees feel their benefits could be further personalized to fit their needs. Gen Z is needing more mental health support while Millennials and Gen X are needing support for their dependents, and Boomers need additional health support.

7. JumpStart: Screen Burnout - What Is Zoom Fatigue and How to Tackle it
Summary: "Zoom Fatigue" is a unique form of physical and mental strain experienced after virtual meetings on video conferencing platforms. Causes of Zoom Fatigue include phenomena such as mirror anxiety, Zoom dysmorphia, and hyper gaze. This article provides strategies to prevent this syndrome, including planning and prioritizing meetings, using alternative forms of communication, and being flexible with scheduling.

ILR School research examines another aspect of virtual meetings: How good are we at telling how others judge us on Zoom?

8. The JUST Report: In the Fog of the ESG War, Companies Continue to Drive Change
Summary: In the midst of the ESG debate and corporate social responsibility discussions, a newly published report reveals that numerous large companies are taking action to align with public opinion, such as raising wages, expanding parental leave, and engaging diverse suppliers. Companies continue these efforts, primarily driven by the expectations of both their workforce and investors, as research shows that employees and institutional investors increasingly demand corporate leadership in areas like wages, benefits, social impact, and ESG performance.

Summary: In an environment of widespread layoffs, surviving employees often experience a domino effect where they become more likely to voluntarily quit their jobs, especially high-performing workers, as the psychological impact of layoffs erodes confidence, trust, and job security. Layoffs can create a sense of urgency among employees who fear their roles might be next, leading them to seek other opportunities even if they can't leave immediately, particularly in sectors with numerous companies implementing headcount reductions.

ILR School's Professor and Director, Institute for Workplace Studies Global Labor and Work (GLW) Louis Hyman studies mass layoffs, and says that they have been normal for a very long time.

10. eCornell: AI and the Future of Work
Summary: This webcast focuses on how AI is accelerating workplace shifts. CAHRS Advisory Board Member Nickle LaMoreaux '01 and IBM Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, along with ILR Dean Alex Colvin, Ph.D. '99, discussed the impact of the AI revolution on workers, employers, and consumers. Other topics explored include IBM's investment in AI within HR and how it drives productivity and cost savings, along with the ILR School's research in the realm of AI.