The C Sheet | July 30th, 2021

1. Ageism in the Workplace

Research found that Gen X workers aged 45-60 are the most overlooked age bracket when it comes to hiring. Despite evidence of higher performance, mid-career professionals are suffering due to wrong preconceived notions about them. Gen X workers may be facing the biggest unemployment crisis, study finds (CNBC Make It) 

2. Reset your Company Culture 

Working from home may have increased your team’s productivity, but the lack of impromptu conversations may have taken a toll on relationships. Psychotherapist Esther Perel shares four questions for re-establishing your company culture—and no, one of them isn’t, “What’s the status of that?” The 4 Questions Great Leaders Will Ask When Returning to the Office (Inc.)

3. The Company is OOO 

It’s 2021—the sky’s the limit when it comes to how we work, and some companies are giving employees extra time off to improve their mental health. Along with more vacation time, four-day work weeks, five-hour work days, and hybrid work are all on the table. Companies Are Giving Workers A Free Week Off To Improve Morale, Mental Health And Burnout (Forbes)

4. Elastic Band Pants Only 

When it’s time to head back to the office, will your company relax their dress code to meet your inclination for relaxed-fit jeans? After almost a year and a half of working comfortably from home, employees are ready to drop stuffy dress requirements. Will dress codes relax when we go back to the office? Ask HR (USA Today) 

5. The Cost of a Two-Bedroom Rental 

Location and salary have a major impact on someone’s lifestyle. On average, a full-time worker in the United States needs to earn $23.96 an hour to afford a two-bedroom rental–$16.71 more than the federal minimum wage. This map breaks down necessary earnings by state. How Much Do You Need to Earn to Afford a Modest Apartment in Your State? (National Low Income Housing Coalition)

6. Where’s My Controller?

Body language and emotions can be hard to read during Zoom calls. With hybrid work here to stay, will video meetings ever be as good as in-person? One possible solution: video games. Can better tech make video meetings less excruciating? (BBC News)