🏣 Study: RTO Mandates are Making it Harder for Companies to Hire

by Alex Funkhouser

A new study found that RTO mandates across S&P 500 companies significantly increased turnover among tech and finance workers—especially for women.

The debate over return to office (RTO) doesn’t seem to be going away. Many companies have opted for a hybrid model that allows employees to still work from home a couple days a week, while some major employers have introduced strict mandates that require workers to fully return to the office, five days a week. Despite persistent pushback from employees, plenty of companies still seem to be bullish about bringing workers back to the office.

But that doesn’t mean employers haven’t experienced any fallout from imposing return-to-office mandates. In a new study, which tracked three million LinkedIn profiles, researchers found that RTO mandates across S&P 500 companies significantly increased turnover among tech and finance workers. Those effects were even more pronounced for women and employees who were more senior or highly skilled; RTO mandates had three times the impact on turnover among female employees than it did for male employees.

Experts have long warned that RTO mandates could disproportionately impact women and employees with caregiving responsibilities, along with others in the workforce who benefited from the flexibility of remote work, including neurodivergent employees and those with disabilities. Other research has corroborated that top senior talent in the tech industry—across companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and SpaceX—have jumped ship as a result of RTO requirements, finding that, in many cases, they left to work for competitors.

Read the complete Fast Company article BY Pavithra Mohan: https://www.fastcompany.com/91241433/study-rto-mandates-are-making-it-harder-for-companies-to-hire

🪢 How to Fight Holiday Stress (Hint – don’t give into FOMO)

by Alex Funkhouser

If your December to-do list is growing a mile a minute, here’s how to set some boundaries and enjoy the final weeks of 2024.

‘Tis the season for feeling overwhelmed. 

If, amid the holiday magic and year-end traditions, you’re realizing how stressed you feel, you’re certainly not alone. On top of end-of-year work deadlines, many of us are juggling social engagements, holiday traditions, and family obligations. It can feel like a lot of pressure.

“The rush and overwhelm of this season create a sense of urgency, which feels real,”

But there are things you can do now to help ensure that these final weeks of 2024 are filled with joy and whatever matters most to you.

Make a plan

This season comes with a lot of small but important tasks. And they can be easy to forget (or get overwhelmed by) if you don’t take a bit of time to write them out and make a plan. 

Read the complete Fast Company article BY Julia Herbst: https://www.fastcompany.com/91235981/how-to-fight-stress-this-holiday-season

💼 Will you fall foul of Musk’s RTO mandates and be forced to quit?

by Alex Funkhouser

In an op-ed this week, Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy suggested that requiring federal workers to return to the office would ‘result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome.’

Writing in the Wall Street Journal this week, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy—who were recently tapped to lead the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency—touched on a topic that continues to be a source of friction in workplaces across corporate America.

“If there are people who just don’t work well in that environment and don’t want to, that’s okay, there are other companies around,” 

In their op-ed, Musk and Ramaswamy offered insight into how the new initiative, known as DOGE, might cut costs and reduce the size of the federal government. They hinted at their plans to trim head count across the civil service—in part by mandating that federal workers return to the office full-time. “Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome: If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the COVID-era privilege of staying home,” they wrote.

A report released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) earlier this year revealed that federal employees eligible for telework were already spending more than 60% of their time working from the office. Still, the change in policy that Musk and Ramaswamy are advocating for could impact more than a million employees—about half the overall federal workforce, in fact—who are currently able to work from home at least some of the time.

Read the complete Fast Company article BY Pavithra Mohan: https://www.fastcompany.com/91233536/elon-musk-believes-remote-work-is-a-covid-era-privilege-federal-workers-quit

👍 How to get from “No” to “Yes!”

by Alex Funkhouser

Facing rejection? 10 simple ways to turn a no into a yes. Whether you’re negotiating a raise, seeking a partnership, or pitching an idea, there’s a way to turn that rejection into a positive outcome.

Rejection is part of the game in business, but hearing no doesn’t mean it’s the end. In fact, a no often opens up new opportunities to learn, adjust, and come back stronger. Whether you’re negotiating a raise, seeking a partnership, or pitching an idea, there’s a way to turn that rejection into a positive outcome. Here are ten strategies to help you transform a no into a yes and get what you need.

Turning a no into a yes isn’t about manipulation or pressure—it’s about listening, adjusting, and building trust. With the right mix of empathy and strategy, even the toughest rejections can be transformed into opportunities for growth.

Listen actively

When someone says no, resist the urge to immediately defend your position. Instead, listen—really listen. Ask open-ended questions to understand the reasons behind their refusal. Is it about timing? Budget? Misalignment of needs? By showing genuine curiosity, you open the door to deeper conversations that can reveal areas of flexibility. Often, the real objection lies beneath the surface, and only through active listening can you uncover it.

Read the complete Fast Company article BY Rob Solberg: https://www.fastcompany.com/91223790/facing-rejection-10-simple-ways-to-turn-a-no-into-a-yes

Graduating this year? Expert tips for using LinkedIn to land your first job

by Alex Funkhouser

From building your profile to adding keywords to building a network—here’s how to set yourself up for success.

At some point during college, you were probably told to “make a LinkedIn” and “start networking” to land your first job. But did anyone actually teach you how? For recent graduates entering a tough job market, LinkedIn is more essential than ever as companies increase the use of AI in hiring and ghost job listings continue to surface. 

“LinkedIn is your opportunity to tell your story first,” says Laura Gassner Otting, career coach and author of Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn’t Feel Like It Should…and What to Do About It. “What do you want that story to look like?”

Beyond being just a job board, LinkedIn allows you to grow your network, establish a personal brand and strengthen your applications. With 87% of recruiters using LinkedIn to source and vet candidates, having an optimized profile as you enter the workforce is critical. I spoke with former recruiters and career counselors to learn what it takes to make your LinkedIn presence and experience work for you.

Read the complete Fast Company article BY Ellie Stevens: https://www.fastcompany.com/91218748/linkedin-tips-land-first-job-headline-bio-work-experience-keywords-skills