A late February batch of links
Since the last batch of links went out, paying subscribers received a sermon I wrote about the Ten Commandments and then a critical review of “Stutz” focused on what it misunderstood about the nature of therapy. This coming weekend, they’ll get a essay about the importance of managing up in lighter times so they can rely on that safe space amid harsher tides.
Below, you’ll find a batch of links covering the key topics of this newsletter: professional development, community building, and self care.
A Google manager who got laid off liked working with his colleagues so much he's trying to set up a new company with 6 of them. I placed this story with a reporter after meeting the subject behind it. He had a story to tell about (possibly) leaving big tech behind after an unexpected layoff. It’s in the air for sure. Few are speaking about it publicly. More should.
The Great Resignation: Where are they now?
Inside Peloton’s rapid rise and bitter fall — and its attempt at a comeback.
Peloton’s staff became so bloated, the former engineer said, it felt as if the company was hiring as a form of “empire building” that didn’t “feel based in real need.” One former employee said there wasn’t enough work to stay busy and there was nothing to do half the time.
Five New Benefits and Perks Employers Will Tailor to Your Needs. This is obviously the right way for companies to be thinking about the future of work, to address what needs to get done for employees to live more easily. Some firms for a long time took care of dry cleaning. Now, we must anticipate what people require to keep focused and to keep motivated.
AI is starting to pick who gets laid off.
Artificial Intelligence is booming – but how will it impact your career? This is such a non-story that it becomes the story. Nothing to see here. Nothing to worry about here.
A retro hobby for the end times.
This isn’t the ‘end of ambition’ for young Americans. It’s a redefining of it. I found this surprising, but also unsurprising when you consider all of the angles: "Lately, sabbaticals aren’t just for the wealthy. Some young restaurant workers I interviewed managed about two months off between jobs thanks to savings they built up from pandemic relief aid and opportunities to stay with family or friends. In this tight labor market, they were confident they could find new positions.”
Long Covid Is a Disability. Here’s How to Ask for Workplace Accommodations.
What de-influencing tells us about the state of the creator economy. It’s hilarious that as soon as the older generations developed that talking point about how kids these days all want to be creators the next generation has moved on from influencers.
Back to Work: Ensuring a Smooth Comeback after a Leave of Absence.
How to tell if your workplace is actually toxic.
“People are using terms from psychology very lightly,” said Ludmila Praslova, psychology professor who researches workplace bullying. “When people are saying that someone is toxic just because they are actually asking them to do work that is their responsibility, that’s not toxic. Some people say anything they relatively don’t like is toxic and that if anyone disagrees with them it’s gaslighting.”
Yelp’s Remote Work Policy Spurs Employee Exodus from NYC to Florida.
There’s An Ugly Side To Mixing Work And Wellness. “Folks recalled feeling coerced into SoulCycle classes, paragliding experiences, and on long hikes.” This is something that doesn’t get talked about enough, having options for team-building events that appeal to people of all walks of life.