Over the past couple of years, a lot of companies looked at what AI could do and made a simple calculation: If a machine can handle the work, why keep paying a person to do it? So they let go of staff, pointed to the technology, and told everyone how much leaner and faster they […]
Employee Recognition & Motivation
Bringing Your Team Together Around the World Cup
The World Cup is on right now, and it’s getting good. The group stage is behind us and we’re into the knockout rounds, where every match is win or go home, all the way to the final on July 19. These are the games people plan their whole day around, and odds are good that […]
Why Branded Drinkware Earns Its Keep in Front of Customers
A little while back we walked through the ASI Global Ad Impressions Study and made the general case for putting your logo on something people actually want to keep. This is the first of a few follow-ups where we go product by product, and we’re starting with drinkware. Once you see the numbers, you’ll understand […]
The Office Has to Earn the Commute Now
The return-to-office fight is loud again. Just last week, hundreds of California state workers drove into downtown Sacramento and stopped traffic for blocks, protesting a new in-office mandate and asking for a daily stipend to cover the cost of the commute. Banks like PNC have gone to five days a week. Fidelity, Instagram and NBCUniversal […]
People Skip Your Ads. They Keep Your Swag
If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you’ve probably handed out a branded pen or a logo mug at some point and wondered, somewhere in the back of your mind, whether any of it actually does anything. It’s a fair question, and as it turns out, somebody has been answering it with […]
Netflix Has a Harsh Question It Asks About Every Employee
Netflix has never been shy about doing things differently. No formal vacation policy. No traditional expense rules. And a management philosophy called the Keeper Test that’s been part of their culture for years — and is getting fresh attention in 2026. The idea is simple, and a little uncomfortable. Netflix asks its managers to consider […]
Deloitte’s Latest Survey Shows Gen Z and Millennial Workers Are Still Stressed — But Hopeful
Deloitte has been running its Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey for fifteen years now, and if you manage a team that includes younger workers, it’s one of the more useful reads you’ll come across. The latest results are out, and as with most years, the picture is a little complicated. The headline numbers look […]
What Happens When Recognition Is Inconsistent
Most managers have good intentions when it comes to recognizing their employees. They mean to say something. They plan to make a bigger deal of the next win. And sometimes they do, and it’s great. But then a few weeks go by, and then a month, and before long nobody can remember the last time […]
What the Best Companies to Work for All have in Common
Every year, Fortune and Great Place To Work release their list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, and every year, the business world pays attention. The 2026 list is out now, and it’s got the usual suspects near the top: Hilton, Cisco, American Express, NVIDIA, names that have been doing this well for […]
National Nurses Week is Coming Up!
If your business touches the healthcare world in any way, you likely have National Nurses Week circled on your calendar. It runs May 6 through May 12 this year, and it’s a whole week set aside to recognize the nurses who keep everything moving. But honestly, you don’t need a healthcare connection to have a […]