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In this May 2021 issue:

• I Don't Know
• Say No to Meetings
• Learning Styles
• Mental Health at Work
• Employer Webinar

Inspiring Others with Three Words: I Don't Know

Social worker and researcher Brené Brown spent years studying shame and vulnerability. Her academic work on vulnerability skyrocketed into popular culture when she introduced it into the board room. Years ago, vulnerability was seen as a weakness, something to hide from others. You do not have to hunt far for an example. Microsoft Word currently lists weakness as a synonym for vulnerability. Dr. Brown is credited with ushering vulnerability through an image overhaul and making it safe to apply this tool in the office. Aspiring leaders can add one simple statement to their lexicon to practice vulnerability at work: “I don’t know.”

Just Say No ... to Meetings

Imagine the scene. You spend weeks coordinating an important meeting: preparing a presentation with key information, making sure the “right” people are invited, and clearing your calendar so you are not double booked on the big day. And then the morning of the event arrives, and one by one, meeting attendees change their response from “accept” to “decline.” You are left with just you and the Zoom room. You are crushed, the project may be delayed, and your day is thrown off course as you scurry to follow up with attendees to reschedule. This scenario is not unique in the corporate world.

Learning Styles: Are We on the Same Page?

How do you learn best? In general, humans like to know more about their personality, whether the results are pulled from a quiz in the back of a magazine or a research-backed questionnaire. As a result, many people are aware of their preferred learning styles. While it is clear that people have learning style preferences (“preferences” being the key word), research calls into question whether learning style-based teaching methods correlate to how well learners comprehend and apply material.

It's Time to Talk about Mental Health at Work

Not so long ago, discussing your mental health at work may have been considered a faux pas. The thought of sharing personal details like symptoms or a diagnosis felt unsafe in an environment where stereotypes about mental health could influence your career path or perceived potential. News flash – corporate America is coming to understand how important it is for employees to receive support for all facets of their lives, including mental health.

Employer Webinar

Complicated Issues under the COBRA Subsidy Rules

Tuesday, June 8th, 2021
2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT

On May 18, 2021, the IRS issued IRS Notice 2021-31 in the form of FAQs, which provides extensive guidance on the COBRA subsidy under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). Previously, the Department of Labor, in consultation with the Department of Treasury and the IRS, issued FAQs written for the benefit of participants and beneficiaries regarding the temporary 100% COBRA subsidy mandated by the ARP. The much-needed agency guidance has been welcomed, but unresolved issues remain.