Category Archives: Workforce and Diversity

Strength in Generations: The many benefits of age diversity in the workplace

Today’s workforce spans five generations — which can be a recipe for conflict when each generation comes to work with different worldviews, values and communication styles. But it’s also an opportunity to foster collaboration and leverage each generation’s strengths. “Sometimes we’re just tripping over each other or walking on eggshells because we don’t understand each other and we put wrong

Read more

¡Bienvenido a Branson! To close a workforce gap, Branson employers turn to Puerto Rico

As a famous destination for country music and family entertainment, Branson thrives on tourism and hospitality. It’s a huge industry — one that long ago outgrew the capacity of the local workforce. Employers in the area have compensated by looking outside the country for seasonal workers via the federal H-2B visa program. This approach was working well until 2017, when

Read more

Innovative re-entry programs show signs of success

Even with Missouri releasing an average of 19,000 inmates each year, the state’s prison population grew at an alarming rate between 2012 and 2017. A primary cause of the overcrowding was people found guilty of repeat nonviolent offenses or supervision violations, according to the Council of State Governments. But Shelle Jacobs, re-entry coordinator for the Missouri Department of Corrections, said

Read more

Bayer uses a voice-activated approach to promote STEM skills

Alexa has many talents. The digital assistant created by Amazon can answer questions, play music, send text messages and even order pizza. But those suggestions sound mundane compared to what Alexa has in mind for today. “Are you interested in seeing a big chemical reaction?” she asks. Her nonchalant way of posing the question might elicit a double take —

Read more