More people are taking leaves from work for mental health reasons, despite concerns about stigma and career impact. The Family and Medical Leave Act allows employees at larger organizations to take up to 12 weeks of leave for serious health conditions, and some employers offer short-term disability plans.

More than 80% of 1,000 women surveyed in the US said they soften their communication style at work, a practice known as code switching. Women often alter their communication style to avoid being perceived as overly direct or intense, but the practice can affect productivity and career progression, researchers say. "I think it's a fear we've put onto ourselves," said Nicole Baudry, director of business development at Think Shift.

A survey revealed gaps in enrollees' understanding about health insurance, especially regarding prescription copays and out-of-pocket limits. The survey also found low usage of employee benefit guides during open enrollment season. Additionally, although around 40% of respondents use technology that can sense or track health metrics, few share that data with their health insurers or health care professionals.

Creating a culture-first company where your teams look forward to working each day involves setting clear expectations up front, introducing changes in increments, offering shared learning experiences and creating accountability methods, writes Thiru Thangarathinam, the founder and CEO of KeenStack. "A culture-first company is a business that is built around people and, therefore, built to succeed," Thangarathinam notes.

In 1903, Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke received a letter from Franz Kappus, a young aspiring poet. Rilke's response to Kappus' inquiries about life and love has resonated with many over the years. Instead of providing concrete answers, Rilke encouraged Kappus to 'live the questions,' fostering a mindset of embracing uncertainty and continuous exploration.