Survey: Quarter Of Women May Scale Back Careers
The 2020 Women in the Workplace report highlights how women, especially women of color, have been disproportionately been impacted by COVID-19. They are more likely to have been laid off as well as three times as likely as working fathers to be handling a majority of housework and childcare responsibilities.
Study: Telehealth Usage Varies By Demographics
The surge in telehealth usage during the pandemic has been applauded by many as a solution to increase access to health care, even in the toughest of situations. Despite overall usage increasing substantially, the headline numbers do not tell the full story, as research shows that usage varies significantly by different social determinant health categories.
Stanford Professor Questions The Future Of Remote Work
Dr. Nicholas Bloom, a professor in the Department of Economics at Stanford University, is famous for his work on remote work. One of his most well-known pieces found that working from home made employees 13% more productive and 50% less likely to quit. Despite the positives of remote work uncovered from the study, he is quick to note the current environment is quite different, especially in four areas: children, space, privacy, and choice.
Microsoft Teams Launches “Virtual Commute”
Without a commute, life can seem like a never-ending conference call. Although organizations cannot force employers to create policies that support work-life balance, they can incorporate features into their products that help facilitate it. That is exactly what Microsoft did with their new 'virtual commute' feature on their communications platform, Teams.
Importance Of Employee Benefits Accelerates Due To Pandemic
COVID-19 continues to accelerate existing trends in the workplace. Benefits and perks are becoming increasingly important considerations for employees, and a recent survey from Prudential clearly shows that workers see more value in employee benefits as pandemic-era annual enrollment nears.
Apple Enters Home Fitness Market
Last week, Apple announced Apple Fitness+, a diverse subscription platform of fitness videos designed to be used in conjunction with an Apple Watch and its activity-tracking functions. This official brings Apple into direct competition with rising stars in the home fitness market, such as Peloton and Mirror.
USPSTF: No Support For Vitamin D Screenings
In a draft recommendation statement, the USPSTF found that the current evidence is inadequate to recommend screening for vitamin D deficiency in asymptomatic adults. The findings are based on a systematic review of 46 studies that assessed various doses, frequency, and duration of treatment with vitamin D to examine the benefits and harms of treatment.
The Future Of Remote Work (September 2020 Edition)
Since March 2020, that discussion of remote work has been constantly evolving, which is why the goal of this post is to highlight some recent information that may influence how employers think about remote work for their organization, recognizing that these data points and views may change as society continues to adjust to the pandemic.
Health Officials Worry About Delays In Preventive Care
As most individuals focus on the advice of public health officials on COVID-19, many other concerns lack the attention they deserve. Most notably, many health officials are increasingly concerned about the long-term risks that will result from individuals delaying non-urgent medical procedures, many of which are being postponed due to fears of going into a medical practice.