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🎉 Election and the workplace
PARTY PLAN 🎉
👨💼 Election and the workplace
🍱 No free lunch?
😡 Making games while on strike?
And, of course, MEMES!
MEME OF THE DAY
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ELECTION RESULTS
Election day results: Workplace issues edition
The nation’s attention this week is mostly on the results of the presidential and congressional elections. But workforce issues were featured on the ballots of at least a dozen states, and some of the results could have serious implications for job seekers and HR professionals. Here’s a table (courtesy of HR Dive) with election results of issues that could have an impact on the workplace:
State | Title | Vote (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|
Alaska | Ballot Measure 1: Increase the state minimum wage to $15 per hour by July 1, 2027, allow employees to accrue paid sick leave and prohibit employers from taking adverse action against employees who refuse to attend employer-sponsored meetings on political or religious matters | Yes |
Arizona | Proposition 138: Allow tipped workers to be paid 25% less than the state minimum wage if any received tips are at least the minimum wage plus $2 for all hours worked | No |
California | Proposition 32: Increase the state minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2026 and adjust it annually thereafter to account for cost of living | Too close to call |
Florida | Amendment 3: Legalize recreational or personal use of marijuana for adults ages 21 years or above | No |
Massachusetts | Question 3: Allow ride-share drivers to unionize and collectively bargain, and require pursuant collective bargaining agreements to be approved by at least a majority of drivers who have completed at least 100 trips during the previous quarter. | Yes |
Massachusetts | Question 5: Gradually increase the state minimum wage for tipped employees until it is equal to that for all workers in the state by 2029 | No |
Missouri | Proposition A: Increase the state minimum wage to $13.75 per hour by 2025 then to $15 per hour by 2026, and require employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked | Yes |
Nebraska | Initiative 436: Require employers to offer earned paid sick leave | Yes |
Nebraska | Initiative 437: Legalize medical use of marijuana for patients ages 18 years and above | Yes |
New York | Proposal 1: Add language to the state bill of rights to clarify that people cannot be denied rights on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, age, disability or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy | Yes |
North Dakota | Measure 5: Legalize recreational use of marijuana for adults ages 21 and above | No |
Oregon | Measure 119: Require cannabis businesses to submit labor peace agreements when they apply for or seek to renew their licenses | Yes |
South Dakota | Measure 29: Legalize recreational use of marijuana for adults ages 21 and above | No |
Washinton | Initiative 2124: Allow employees and self-employed individuals to opt out of paying state payroll tax and receiving benefits under the state’s WA Cares Fund long-term care insurance program. | No |
WORKPLACE
No Free Lunch?!
ezCater, the #1 food tech platform for workplaces, just released its 3rd annual Lunch Report, revealing some new insights into workers’ lunch habits.
Although 98% of employees recognize the benefits of lunch breaks on job performance and productivity, nearly half (49%) skip lunch at least once a week.
Employees cite fear they won’t have enough time to get their work done (23%) and having too many meetings to take a break (19%) as key reasons they skip the lunch break.
“Lunch breaks are often sacrificed due to tight schedules, but they can play a major role in bringing people together and improving employee well-being. Organizations can be intentional in encouraging employees to take a break, and bringing in lunch is a great way to do that.”
ezCater surveyed 5,000 full-time U.S. employees with the goal of uncovering how lunch breaks influence job performance.
Here are some additional findings from the 2024 Lunch Report:
Lunch breaks are losing ground: While employees recognize that lunch breaks can enhance job performance (98%), happiness (51%), and mental clarity (49%), only 38% take a break away from their desk every day during lunch.
Gen Z workers are least likely to break for lunch: Despite half (50%) considering it the best part of the workday, 47% of Gen Zers miss out on lunch twice or more per week. Gen Zers are also four times more likely than Boomers to feel guilty for taking a break from work.
Inflation bites into lunchtime: 78% of employees say inflation has impacted their lunch habits, with 36% opting for cheaper alternatives, 31% purchasing fewer meals, and 22% leveraging value menus, discounts, coupons, or loyalty programs.
'Little Treat Culture' sweetens the workday: A trend that gained popularity on TikTok has become an office norm, especially among younger workers. Employees seek out small food treats for energy (53%), as a reward (42%), or stress relief (38%), with 87% of Gen Z enjoying treats weekly—the most of any generation.
Free lunch boosts work attendance: Nearly 6 in 10 hybrid workers (58%) would work on-site 3 days a week if their employer provided free lunch.
WORKFOCE
NYT Workers Are Making Games While on Strike
Striking New York Times tech workers have created a “Guild Builds” page dedicated to strike-themed games you can play, including a spin on the popular word-search game Wordle.
Creative!
Last week, tech workers at the New York Times announced a strike and asked readers (and gamers) to support their strike efforts by not playing the NYT’s daily puzzle games. Instead, they created alternative games.
There are currently 5 games on the Guild Builds page:
Strikle, the twist on Wordle
Connections: Strike Edition, which is a puzzle made in a Connections creator
Match Strike, a memory game
The workers, even though not associated with NYT cooking, have asked people to not use the Times’ cooking page either, so the Guild Builds page also includes some strike-themed recipes. Some of the best ones include “’We’ve got beef with management’ Stuffed Mushrooms” and ”Solidarity Soup.”
When on Strike, let your imagination run wild!
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