Best of the week roundup

November 29, 2024 12:00 PM

Contributing writer Keith Button examines why it's not a good idea for employers undertaking mass layoffs to ask employees to reapply for their jobs.

As some employers are demanding that workers to return to the office, many employees are none to thrilled about the prospect. For employees who want to continue to work from home, editor Lee Hafner compiled a list of 20 companies that are hiring remote-only workers.

Senior reporter Dianna Cuadra reveals how Gen Z is using TikTok to express their dissatisfaction with workplace culture and bond over shared dislikes.

And contributing writer Carolyn Bradner Jasik, chief medical officer at Omada Health, advocates for behavioral health support for employees taking weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Read about these topics and more in our weekly roundup.

Why it's not a good idea to make employees reapply for jobs

Recent news about layoffs at HSBC has sparked criticism in some HR circles about a tactic the bank is reportedly deploying: Making employees reapply for their jobs.

As a part of restructuring plan announced in October, "hundreds" of managers from HSBC's commercial banking division and global banking and markets division have been asked to reapply and interview for jobs, competing to work in a newly formed corporate and institutional banking division as "several hundred" positions are eliminated, Bloomberg News reported. Interviews were underway last week, according to Bloomberg.

Generally, implementing a reapply-for-your-job technique during workforce reductions is counterproductive, says Elaine Varelas, managing partner at Keystone Partners, a Massachusetts-based HR and career services advisor. Even the employees who win their jobs back will feel rejected by their company and lose trust in their employer, she says.

How TikTok is reshaping workplace culture, starting with Gen Z

Could a platform like TikTok change the way we work? For Gen Z, it already has.

According to the World Economic Forum, 73% of Gen Z workers say their workplace expectations or behaviors have changed due to content they've seen on TikTok. From videos depicting someone sprinting to their favorite co-worker to share gossip they heard in the office, to clips of people expressing frustration at getting more work instead of better pay for excelling at their jobs, TikTok has become a convenient place for workers to share—and sometimes complain—about their professional experiences.

But amidst the somewhat satirical videos about how workers pretend to look busy in the office, or day-in-life posts showing a person's day consumed by their commute, it's clear that young workers are unhappy about the culture in their workplaces.

20 companies still offering remote work in 2025

As more organizations bring their workforce back into the office, employees are having to decide whether staying on or finding a new, more flexible job is in their best interest.

Amazon, Starbucks and Meta are just some of the large companies that have put return-to-office policies in place this year, and with more companies sure to follow suit. For employees who want to opt out of in-office work, FlexJobs has put together a list of 20 companies that are posting remote-only jobs.

Why GLP-1 patients need access to behavioral health support

All anyone in obesity care seems to be talking about these days is GLP-1s, which is drawing plenty of attention among benefit brokers and advisers who are talking with their employer clients about offering and managing the cost of these drugs.

The historic weight loss, along with a high price tag, side effects, impact on lean body mass and weight regain are all hot topics. But as an eating disorder and obesity specialist, I am mystified about why we are not also talking about behavioral health — a known risk factor for and comorbidity of obesity. Those of us who have worked in obesity care for a long time know that undiagnosed or untreated behavioral health conditions are often at the heart of why obesity treatment doesn't succeed. We can (and should) do more.

3 vital components of a psychologically safe workplace

Most workplaces have clear policies in place for things like showing up late or missing deadlines, but what about guidelines on employee behavior?

A psychologically-safe environment is key to good retention and productivity levels, and 84% of employees rated this as one of the top three things they value most in an organization, according to a report from global employment platform Oyster HR. Thus, the way employees interact with one another matters, and company expectations for this need to be clear, and not just assumed.

4 workplace wellness myths debunked

While the onset of the pandemic pushed many employers to emphasize the importance of mental health and work-life balance, it's unclear whether corporate culture in the U.S. has genuinely improved in the last five years.

According to the American Psychology Association, 57% of workers are suffering from the negative impacts of burnout, citing feelings of emotional exhaustion, irritability and anger. And yet, Mercer, a consulting firm, found that 94% of employers with 500 or more employees have increased their mental health coverage or wellness-related benefits in the last three years. Does that mean employers' efforts are in vain?

Sarah Sarkis, senior director of performance psychology at corporate and athletic coaching provider Exos, asks that employers turn their attention to their workplace culture and consider what is holding employees back from utilizing available resources.

How Mattel's child care center has supported working parents for 30 years

Developing on-site child care centers is no easy task, and it doesn't come cheap, between building the center itself, employing providers and complying with state regulations. But after three decades, Mattel can confidently say their Child Development Center has been worth it.

Located in the El Segundo, California campus, Mattel's subsidized, on-site care center celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. The center, which is managed by the child education company Bright Horizons, provides care for employees' children, ranging from infants to pre-kindergarten. In addition to full-time employees, contractors and part-time staff can also access the benefit, with approximately 2,300 eligible workers.

"Mattel early on recognized the many benefits of on-site childcare as part of our commitment to investing in employee well-being and supporting the needs of our parent workforce," says Karen Ancira, executive vice president and chief people officer for Mattel. "Our facility offers programs designed to accommodate the varied schedules of Mattel employees, including full-time and part-time enrollment options, as well as drop-in care."