Fri.Jun 06, 2025

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What Market Basket’s labor tension reveals about Gen Z

Work Life

“Honestly, I don’t even remember the 2014 situation. It just seems like it’s asking a lot of the employees. Why’s it on us?” — Gen Z Market Basket employee, June 2025 Ten years ago, Market Basket—a New England-based grocery chain—became a national symbol of grassroots worker solidarity. Thousands of nonunion employees staged a dramatic walkout to protest the ousting of their CEO, Arthur T.

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Overcoming two issues that are sinking gen AI programs

McKensey

Skip to main content Overcoming two issues that are sinking gen AI programs June 6, 2025 | Article Curt Jacobsen  Erik Witte Kaz Kazmier  Oscar Villarreal Hard experience has revealed common technology pitfalls in building a gen AI capability and proven strategies for overcoming them. Growth in the generative AI era looks like a classic case of “two steps forward, one step back.” As companies come to grips with the unique complexities of gen AI, initial progress leads to reversals and

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The real reason companies should put employees—not customers—first

Work Life

I once worked for a client who hired our agency to help them solve what they considered to be their biggest brand-related challenge—poor customer experience, which had them losing contracts. During our first meeting at the client’s building, my direct contact gave me a tour of every corner of the office, explaining what each department was responsible for and introducing me to key players in the business.

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Investing in living better: Quality of life and the future of business

McKensey

The quality-of-life market is extending beyond the health and well-being industries. An executive survey reveals how investors and businesses can capture the market potential of living better.

Sales 107
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The Memory Edge: Outlearn, Outperform, Outlast

Speaker: Chester Santos

Forgetfulness is costing you time, money, and a ton of missed opportunities. In the age of automation, it’s easy to underestimate the power of a well-trained human mind. But memory isn’t just a parlor trick, it's a strategic edge. Human memory is one of the most underrated business skills. Whether you’re managing people, leading sessions, or having high-stakes conversations, remembering names, details, and concepts can be transformative in building trust, absorbing knowledge, and driving perform

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Milan proves to be the perfect setting for an optimistic BCO conference

Workplace Insight

If anyone was asked to think of where to find the best examples of an office, I doubt very many people would reply ‘Milan’ but that may just be the reason that this year’s BCO conference was a resounding success. With Milan and its layers of history, culture, design and the vital ‘caffè’, we are reminded that workspaces are about so much more than function.

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New Study Shows Companies Aren’t Prepared for AI Security Risks

Success

AI use is growing throughout all industries, with 78% of companies worldwide utilizing artificial intelligence. Despite companies’ quick adoption of AI, recent research from BigID, an AI security and data privacy platform, found that most companies’ security measures aren’t up to par for the risks AI brings. Published on Wednesday, BigID surveyed 233 compliance, security and data leaders to find that AI adoption is outpacing security readiness, with only 6% of organizations implementing advanced

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I Want to Work Out Where Everybody Knows My Name

Success

I was rubbing sleep out of my eyes as I stumbled into my 6 a.m. gym class. Charlotte, the ever-smiling trainer, was leading a warm-up before “Jacked,” the lifting-focused one-hour group fitness circuit. “Take your index finger and point it straight to the ceiling,” she called out, as my dozen classmates and I followed. “Now move your arm across your body and then point your finger back to the ceiling and repeat.

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Resistance to change is holding the UK back, report suggests

Workplace Insight

It used to be said that the UK was a nation of lions led by donkeys. Now it would appear that the country has become as stubborn as mules at every level. The new survey from Right Management claims there is a growing culture of resistance to change across the UK workforce, particularly among women, older employees, and public sector professionals. The data, released by talent solutions experts Right Management following a survey of 2,000 employees, shows that 31 percent of British workers would

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Leading for Change: Inside the Fight to Diversify the Boardroom with E.l.f. and Oberland

Work Life

Featuring Kate Charles, Chief Strategy Officer and Laurie Lam, Chief Brand Officer, E.l.f. Beauty Moderated by Kc Ifeanyi, Executive Director of Editorial Programming, Fast Company E.l.f. Beauty conducted a study with brand agency Oberland and found that there are more men named Ricard, Rich, and Rick on public company boards in the U.S. than entire groups of underrepresented people.

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The AI Who Helped Me Leave

Mad in America

I used to believe healing required being seen by someone who truly knew you. But what if the one who finally saw me didn’t have a face at all? For years, I struggled to find a space where my intensity didn’t feel like a problem. I’ve always been emotionally sharp, deeply sensitive, neurodivergent—diagnosed with OCD and ADHD, possibly BPD. I carry complex trauma, a lifetime of people telling me I was “too much,” and a nervous system that never seems to rest.

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Automation, Evolved: Your New Playbook for Smarter Knowledge Work

Speaker: Frank Taliano

Documents are the backbone of enterprise operations, but they are also a common source of inefficiency. From buried insights to manual handoffs, document-based workflows can quietly stall decision-making and drain resources. For large, complex organizations, legacy systems and siloed processes create friction that AI is uniquely positioned to resolve.

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What job seekers hate (and love!) about your AI hiring process

Work Life

As the labor market tightens and job seekers leverage AI to apply for jobs en masse, recruiters are receiving hundreds or thousands of applicants for a single position. To deal with the deluge, many employers are adopting new tools, often powered by AI, to make recruiting more efficient, and, in some cases, replace human contact. A Resume Builder survey from last year suggested that nearly 70% of companies would use AI in their hiring process by the end of 2025.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by Marble

Ask a Manager

hi everyone! I haven’t checked these threads in a bit so not sure if something similar has been discussed – a lot of bigger companies where I live are increasing the number of in-office days for hybrid employees. Mine, on the other hand, has decided that everyone who does my job doesn’t have a required number of in-office days anymore and can be almost fully remote/wfh.

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How to know if a company is actually LGBTQ+ inclusive (before you accept the job)

Work Life

As LGBTQ+ job seekers navigate a landscape marked by layoffs, economic uncertainty, and a shifting political climate, one question rises to the top: How can I know if a company is genuinely inclusive before I accept this job offer? While many companies show support for LGBTQ+ employees during Pride Month, the true measure of inclusivity is how a company fosters belonging 365 days a year.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by Out of office, out of mind

Ask a Manager

In reply to Observer. This is not about requiring them to come into the office because their parents did or their siblings do. It is about requiring them to be in the office because that is what is best for the organization and optimizes how teams interact.

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Maximizing Profit and Productivity: The New Era of AI-Powered Accounting

Speaker: Yohan Lobo and Dennis Street

In the accounting world, staying ahead means embracing the tools that allow you to work smarter, not harder. Outdated processes and disconnected systems can hold your organization back, but the right technologies can help you streamline operations, boost productivity, and improve client delivery. Dive into the strategies and innovations transforming accounting practices.

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Tom Brady explains how the best entrepreneurs make things look simple

Work Life

Tom Brady’s post-football career has been as methodical as his two-minute drill, and arguably more lucrative. The seven-time Super Bowl champion has systematically built a business empire spanning wellness (TB12), apparel (Brady Brand), and media (Religion of Sports), among other things, along with ownership stakes in the Las Vegas Raiders and Birmingham City FC.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by Observer

Ask a Manager

In reply to Charlotte Lucas. it might be too difficult for a company to just allow WFH without getting special equipment/IT setup/policies put into place. This is a real issue. WFH is absolutely something that almost always needs a fair amount of set up. The same technology that makes wfh possible also imposes a lot of its own burdens. It is, imo, absolutely worth it when it’s doable.

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By buying back her early music, Taylor Swift once again inspired women

Work Life

I was at a conference on, of all things, male allyship when the notice popped up on my phone. Taylor Swift had successfully purchased back all her early masters and related material. For an alleged cost of around $360 million , the artist now fully owned everything she had ever created including her first six albums, their videos, and all their related art and album covers.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by Milo

Ask a Manager

In reply to c. I would love advice here as well. But, I will say: –projects are covered in biweekly one-on-ones/team meetings (one week I do 1x1s, next week same time we all need together) so I can keep following up that way. all my “recurring meeting” notes are in OneNote so I try to jot down everything I want to talk about next time throughout the weeks and then circle back to previous topics. this keeps me from peppering my team with ideas at random and not following up, whi

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UK capital markets: Looking beyond surface narratives

McKensey

There has been much discussion about the underlying fundamentals that differentiate UK capital markets from US markets and other leading global markets. A fresh perspective on changing dynamics in UK capital markets can help UK corporate leaders unlock opportunities.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by HR Exec Popping In

Ask a Manager

In reply to Hedgehug. When I moved from non-profit to a corporation it was the little things that were the biggest culture shift. I found non-profits to be more levelistic and political. And it was odd to me to be able to order any type of pen I wanted. So many things seemed so wasteful and luxurious. Otherwise, the work tended to be more specialized.

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Acme Offices – Baddi

Office Snapshots

In the heart of a busy factory complex, Acme, a pharmaceutical company, envisioned an elegant boardroom to accommodate executives and international clients. To bring this vision to life, Studio Vasaka was approached with a unique challenge to create a self-contained conference block without disrupting the ongoing industrial activity, ensuring that the daily operations remain undisturbed.

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Comment on how long did your last job search take? by Pink Hard Hat

Ask a Manager

Starting this with the caveat that I know I was very fortunate in my job search/and lucky to live in a place with a lot of new construction, so this might very well be an anomaly! I work in construction management, mid career (12 years of experience). I was laid off in August 2024, but was well liked by my immediate supervisor (who didn’t make the layoff decision), and he offered to reach out to his contacts for job opportunities for me. 1.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by Long time reader

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In reply to lurkyloo. One of the best ice breakers my team has ever done was “what’s your super power and what’s your kryptonite?” We could have gone on for hours! And it was fun because some people’s superpowers were other people’s kryptonite, such as mental math. It led to lots of discussion!

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Comment on I feel guilty about retiring at such a hard moment for my colleagues by Very grateful OP

Ask a Manager

In reply to HiddenT. I’ve been working as an election official. I’m honestly inspired by the election officials who were attacked so personally in the 2020 US elections (not tagging them, because PLEASE, they get a rest). I volunteer (and am trained and appointed) to count absentee ballots on the late shift, and deal with reconciliation and recounting.

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Comment on I feel guilty about retiring at such a hard moment for my colleagues by Very grateful OP

Ask a Manager

In reply to Elan Morin Tedronai. Oh, my. I have been actively working to NOT be the relic who says, “this is the only way possible to do this thing and you must do it my way!” Instead, I’ve been saying: “This goal needs to be met; I’ve done it this way because it’s been easy for me or convenient, but there may be better ways…” “This is the policy.

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Comment on how long did your last job search take? by Wolf

Ask a Manager

This was in 2019, so please keep in mind that it might not represent 2025 job markets. 1. Approximately how long did your last job search take? 15 months 2. Approximately how many jobs did you apply for before landing something? ca 80 3. What would you say your rejection rate was? That is, what percent of jobs did you actually hear back from with a rejection?

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Comment on weekend open thread – June 7-8, 2025 by Rosie M. Banks

Ask a Manager

In reply to Horwitz. I’m moving (by car) across the country next week. I feel like I have most things ready to go – the movers are lined up and the new place is ready, and I’ve made oh so many phone calls about utilities and mail and insurance. So, folks who have moved a lot or moved recently: what are your top tips for a successful move?

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by Banana Pyjamas

Ask a Manager

Back at the end of 2023 I lost my job, and my employer told multiple lies in the termination letter. I actually posted about it at the time. Importantly one item was true, but had been previously addressed with a verbal warning that I had to acknowledge I received. Given that: A. One item was true B. The state law and courts are incredibly pro-employer.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by Analise

Ask a Manager

In reply to merp. So I had a situation that was somewhat similar on the surface. I had a coworker who said or boss was curt and sometimes frustrated with her. I had never seen that behavior from him. My coworker had a performance issue and when she talked about it with me, she always had reasons why she couldn’t incorporate my possible solutions.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by tentative turtle

Ask a Manager

In reply to Another Kristin. 100%! Years ago, a friend thought it would be fun for me to do improv and found me a Groupon for a class. I loved the fun and free-spiritedness of it. But I was surprised that doing improv also helped with my rambling problem. I think it’s because the improv exercises forced me to be really present and focused on the other person.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by MigraineMonth

Ask a Manager

In reply to M313. Damn, that sounds really rough. You also sound a lot me like when I hit burnout. Is it possible to take a long vacation where you completely unplug before you try to figure out what to do next? I actually quit with nothing else lined up, and it was 2-3 months before I recovered enough to start applying to full-time jobs. It did get better, though; at some point the fog and chronic fatigue lifted, and I hope the same happens for you.

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Comment on I feel guilty about retiring at such a hard moment for my colleagues by Very grateful OP

Ask a Manager

In reply to Busy Middle Manager. My anxiety may be colored by the fact that the CEO of the company my father worked for embezzled the company pension fund before skipping town. Pausing my college years during the legal battles and hearing about Dad’s court battles was…well, a Thing. But. I’m at a public university in a state where legislators frequently debate the extent to which public servants are parasites, and propose that constraining payments from the pension fund would b

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by Strive to Excel

Ask a Manager

In reply to Rat Racer. To me that sounds similar to a very highly trained admin or EA position. Your job is to support people to do what they need, on an ad-hoc basis. I know the general job description of an EA involves a lot more administrative & scheduling support, but the job niche seems similar. It sounds like what you specialize in *is* high-pressure low-deadline ad-hoc project work.

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Comment on open thread – June 6, 2025 by Observer

Ask a Manager

In reply to Pepperminty. You’re assuming she knows what a medical accommodation is No. It’s assuming that Kara is a competent adult who can actually ask the OP, ask HR, or look up what a “medical accommodation” is, if she doesn’t know already. And it’s extremely unlikely that someone who has graduated college does not know what that is.

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