<img src="//bat.bing.com/action/0?ti=5739614&amp;Ver=2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none; visibility: hidden;">

The Skinny

Did you forget?

Posted on Saturday, February 5

Share:
 

Weekly Skinny

Let’s start off on the right foot

“Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.” –Mae Jemison

skinny_1_Employees_DEI_020522
The skinny

New survey finds that 50% of current employees are demanding their employers do more to enable diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

That doesn’t surprise me.

Not at all, really. Everyone knows that a diverse workforce equates to more $$$ and innovation. The dynamic duo of success.  

Retweet^

#DiversityMatters. So, the question isn’t why it matters, or whether or not you should be investing in a DEI strategy, but how can you do it more efficiently, right?

Bingo.

First and foremost, embracing remote work can really open a lot of hiring opportunities. Specifically, you can target new talent across the country where hiring managers can find underrepresented candidates.

But we don’t want to support remote.

Ok, Boomer. But seriously—maybe think about a hybrid approach? Give the people what they want! 68% of employees prefer to work remotely and 52% prefer a flexible, hybrid format.  

Hmm, interesting.

Sure is. But wait; there’s more. Another #trending hiring topic is addressing unconscious bias during the hiring process. Hot tip: Concentrate on writing inclusive job descriptions with gender-inclusive language.

Got it.

Baby’s first step to diversity, so proud! Speaking of baby… AI for HR was birthed not too long ago, and those first steps were definitely shaky.  

What do you mean?

Well, many AI bots and algorithms that were used to combat unconscious bias were reinforcing them. Remember Tay anyone?  

Facepalm.

Exactly. But the good news is with more efficiency, proven ROI, and DEI-focused initiatives in place, AI-enhanced HR tech is making a comeback and enabling companies to streamline DEI strategies and procedures.  

Totes quotes: “DEI is not a movie, a restaurant, or a ‘lifestyle product.’ It’s about people’s lives and livelihoods, and creating a world that works better for more of us.” –Susana Rinderle, MA, ACC, writer

Further reading: Oppression not feelings should be the focus of DEI.

skinny_2_COVID-Memory_020522
The skinny

It's not just you; the pandemic has negatively affected our ability to create and store memories.

So, I’m not alone?!

You’ve got company, friend. The pandemic has been bad for memory in several ways.

Tell me.

Let’s take a step back for a second and look at how memory works. We encounter a lot of information each day, and your brain does not store all of it away. Forming memories is energetically expensive.  

Sweet, burning cals.

Well…kinda. To form a memory, you need to grow new connections among neurons in your brain. So, when you learn something new, your brain is trying to figure out if you actually need that information to survive later.

So, no celebrity gossip?

RiRidiculous. But the more we use a piece of information, the easier it is to access. But the Groundhog Day that is the pandemic has upended many of the ways we form memories. Like being able to concentrate for long periods of time.

That’s concerning.

Forget me not. Also, our situation hasn’t changed much. Remembering information is easiest when there is some distinct factor that is associated only with that information. Ex: You can recall details from a trip you took to a country you’ve only been to once.  

This has been the worst kind of trip.

Indeed. You probably know what I’m going to say, right? Since our lives have shrunk to our homes, almost every aspect of our days is associated with the same things. Meaning, it’s a lot harder for our brains to distinguish between days and therefore, make memories.  

I don’t want to remember this.

Buck up, buttercup! Try forming some positive memories by working from a coffee shop one day, or going on a walk in a new neighborhood. Anything to switch it up is a good thing and can positively affect your mood—and your memory bank.  

For you: Free memory games for adults. 

Further reading: Greetings from the pandemic memory hole, where the last two years are one big blur.

Here’s something to…


social-corner-icon-skinnySocial Corner

Ditch the duct tape!

workplace-icon-skinny
Blogosphere  

3  Ways COVID-19 Changed Benefits

lasso-roundup-gather-rope
Rae's Roundup - what we're reading

 

Psychological safety is necessary for workforce inclusion.