From mouse and keyboard jigglers to looped video backgrounds, employees have devised creative hacks to feign productivity when working from home. But companies are cracking down on these workarounds, as exemplified by Wells Fargo’s recent firing of over a dozen employees for simulating keyboard activity. While the company didn’t disclose its detection methods, the use of electronic worker surveillance systems is becoming increasingly common, with 50% of larger companies implementing them in 2023, according to Gartner. As worker hacks grow more sophisticated, so do surveillance tools, with some employing machine-learning algorithms to identify repetitive cursor movements and irregular computer activity patterns. Though there is no legal issue with employers using tracking tools, experts warn that too much monitoring may backfire. In fact, a recent Glassdoor survey found that 41% of workers say they\u2019re less productive when their work devices are tracked.<\/p>\n
The Nigerian food delivery industry is experiencing rapid growth, attracting foreign investors and homegrown startups backed by leading startup accelerators. These companies are competing to serve the country with the largest population in Africa, which spends an average of 60% of their income on food. The market is also expected to more than double to $2.4 billion over the next eight years, according to IMARC Group. Experts say the industry’s expansion is driven by a growing population, changing consumer habits accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and greater internet access and usage among the younger generation. Despite concerns about the country\u2019s inflation, which stands at a three-decade high of nearly 34%, investors are betting on Nigeria’s youth to continue reshaping the country’s food service landscape in the coming years.<\/p>\n"}]},{"main_heading":"The AI corner","content_block":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","content":"
As many businesses continue to try and effectively adopt AI technology in their workplaces, consulting firms are capitalizing on their role as guides in the emerging AI landscape. IBM alone has garnered over $1 billion in generative AI consulting commitments, while Accenture secured $300 million in generative AI sales last year. The surge in demand includes companies looking for regulatory compliance advice and practical AI applications, driving the U.S. management consulting industry towards projected sales of $392.2 billion this year \u2013 a 2% increase from the previous year. This trend places consulting firms with AI expertise at the forefront of how businesses will harness this transformative technology in the future.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles’ $6 million investment in Ed, an AI platform touted as a revolutionary force in education, crumbled within months of its launch. AllHere, the company behind Ed, let go of most of its staff and lost its CEO just two months after the platform’s introduction to the schools, cryptically citing its \u201ccurrent financial position\u201d for their fate. This failure highlights the significant risks associated with investing public funds in untested AI technology, especially for children’s education. Key concerns include chatbot accuracy, student data privacy, and the potential for misinformation among a vulnerable population. AI experts are labeling the Ed debacle a cautionary tale for school districts nationwide, which spend billions annually on educational technology.<\/p>\n"}]},{"main_heading":"Taking time off to drive productivity","content_block":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","content":"
Remember the days when you were a student, and that meant you got seasonal breaks to rest and recharge?<\/p>\n
Ah, to be young. Aside from the occasional government holiday, for most employees, getting a chunk of time away from work requires using vacation days.<\/p>\n
The problem? Though organizations are required to offer employees paid time off (PTO) each year, not everyone feels comfortable taking it. Nearly 50% of U.S. workers who receive PTO from their employer \u2013 whether for vacation, doctor\u2019s appointments, or minor illnesses \u2013 take fewer days off than they are offered, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. And on top of not using all of their PTO, roughly half still find themselves working on their vacation days.<\/p>\n
Between being part of an environment that doesn\u2019t encourage taking time off when needed, to feeling guilty about leaving work behind for coworkers, to trying to save PTO days for emergencies, most employees have a list of reasons why they\u2019re not taking advantage of their paid vacation days.<\/p>\n
But when we don\u2019t take time to rest and recover, we risk burnout. And there\u2019s nothing less productive, and frankly costly, than a burnt-out workforce.<\/p>\n
So, as a leader, how can you encourage your employees to take time for themselves in order to maximize efficiency?<\/strong><\/p>\n When you talk about planning time off in front of your whole team, it instantly makes the concept feel more openly accepted. So, in your next group meeting, leave time at the end to discuss the topic and emphasize the importance of taking vacations. Let your employees know that you recognize their hard work and want to make sure they feel comfortable taking time for themselves when they need it.<\/p>\n In the next few weeks, set aside some time to review each of your employees\u2019 available vacation days and keep an eye out for anyone who hasn\u2019t taken time off in a while. Then, allot time in your next one-on-one sync to check in. Emphasize that you support them taking time off to recharge, and create space for them to share why they aren\u2019t using their vacation days in order to effectively address the root of the problem. For example, if your team member feels like there\u2019s no one on the team they trust to step in while they\u2019re gone, build an action plan together for them to train another team member on their duties. This way, your employee can feel more comfortable stepping away when they need some time to disconnect, and you can demonstrate that you are here to help them do so.<\/p>\n Putting together a vacation calendar is a great way to give your team members the flexibility needed to plan ahead and ensure there aren\u2019t too many people taking off at the same time. Additionally, it can offer some inspiration, because when people see their teammates planning time away, they\u2019ll likely be more comfortable taking time off for themselves.<\/p>\n And remember, there\u2019s no need to ask employees to list where they are going on this calendar because a relaxing staycation is a perfectly acceptable way to spend time off. Keep it simple, and use this shared calendar to align schedules and send the right message to your team. For a useful time off calendar template, click here.<\/p>\n When things at work are under control, it\u2019s much easier for your team members to allow themselves to unplug and actually disconnect on their days off. So, encourage your employees to schedule time with you before an upcoming vacation to walk through all of their tasks together and prioritize their workload. Additionally, ask them to identify relevant teammates who can serve as a point of contact for each of their projects while they\u2019re gone to ensure everyone is adequately prepared and no one needs to disturb them during their time off. This allows them to leave feeling confident about where everything stands.<\/p>\n As a manager, it\u2019s your responsibility to let your employees disconnect. If you\u2019re contacting them after hours or while they\u2019re away, they\u2019ll feel pressure to respond. So, make an active effort to avoid reaching out to them while they\u2019re off unless it\u2019s absolutely urgent. When you make it clear that you don\u2019t expect to hear from them when they\u2019re not working, you can help them effectively unplug and recharge.<\/p>\n When you manage a team, you set the tone for what\u2019s considered appropriate work behavior. That means if you make yourself completely available during a vacation, your employees will feel pressure to do the same. So, try to set a healthy standard and allow yourself to really unplug when you\u2019re out of office. A great way to do this is by designating a trusted team member as the point of contact while you\u2019re gone, and giving them your personal phone number so that they can determine if something needs to escalate to you. In case of something urgent, they can reach you directly by phone, so you won\u2019t need to check work messages during your time off.<\/p>\n"}]},{"main_heading":"Water cooler chatter","content_block":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","content":" In 2030, the Danish government is going to tax cows passing gas<\/strong> \u2013 120 Danish kroner (~US $17) per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted from each cow. And with a typical Danish cow producing 6 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year, the average charge per cow will be more than $100 per year. Given that cows are significant contributors to methane emissions, this first-of-its-kind law aims to drastically reduce the country\u2019s carbon emissions.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","quote_text":"We will take a big step closer to becoming climate neutral in 2045.","quote_author":"Jeppe Bruus Christensen, Danish Taxation Minister","quote_author_avatar":false,"quote_author_position":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","content":" The NBA may witness its first-ever father-son duo playing simultaneously.<\/strong> The Los Angeles Lakers have selected Bronny James, LeBron James’ eldest son, in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. What\u2019s left is to see whether LeBron opts into the final year of his Lakers contract, setting the stage for an unprecedented family affair on the court.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","quote_text":"Bronny is, first and foremost, a person of high character, and second, he is a young man that works incredibly hard. Those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental corps at the Lakers.","quote_author":"Rob Pelinka, Lakers VP of Basketball Operations and General Manager","quote_author_avatar":false,"quote_author_position":""}]},{"main_heading":"Just for laughs","content_block":[{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image_type":"normal","image":159514,"image_link":null}]},{"main_heading":"Question of the week","content_block":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","content":" Last week\u2019s answer:<\/strong> 90%<\/p>\n This week\u2019s question:<\/strong> On average, how much less have women saved by the time they retire, compared to men?<\/p>\n"}]}]}],"lobby_image":false,"post_thumbnail_title":"","hide_post_info":false,"hide_bottom_cta":false,"hide_from_blog":false,"landing_page_layout":false,"hide_time_to_read":false,"sidebar_color_banner":"","custom_tags":false,"disclaimer":"","cornerstone_hero_cta_override":{"label":"","url":""},"cluster":"","display_dates":"published","post_date":"20240709","faqs":false,"activate_cta_banner":true,"cta_banner_text":" Don\u2019t miss <\/strong> more quality content!<\/p>\n","use_customized_cta":false,"custom_schema_code":""},"yoast_head":"\nAddress the topic in group settings<\/h3>\n
Actively check in<\/h3>\n
Set up a vacation calendar<\/h3>\n
Help them prepare<\/h3>\n
Respect boundaries<\/h3>\n
Lead by example<\/h3>\n