FEI Weekly

January 29, 2018

The ultimate answer to manterruptions and how CFOs are turning data into decisions.

The Topics Americans Want to Hear in the State of the Union Address

Newsweek

Americans are most interested in hearing President Trump discuss health care and the economy when he delivers his first State of the Union address tomorrow night, a new poll says. The White House has said Trump’s Tuesday speech will center on the theme of “building a safe, strong and proud America,” and that he is expected to focus on economic progress, securing America’s borders and his long-delayed infrastructure plan.

How Healthcare CFOs Turn Data into Decisions

Becker's Hospital CFO Report

As finance leaders in the healthcare industry aim to leverage increasingly vast amounts of data, strategic leaders are focusing on identifying systems that streamline, rather than complicate, processes involving financial reporting and business analytics. Real-time information is vital for advanced analytics to produce results CFOs trust and feel comfortable using to inform key decisions.

The Time is Now to Ask for That Raise or Make a Change

Fortune

The U.S. economy has shifted into a higher gear and is creating jobs at a record pace. “Right now the job market for professional, leadership, and new technology jobs is white hot,” says Josh Bersin, a principal at Deloitte Consulting and a longtime HR thought leader. For businesspeople looking to jump, now is a long-awaited chance to find a better employer and maybe notch a substantial raise.

Workplace Wellness Programs Are Basically Useless

Bloomberg

A recent study found that wellness programs—even those with incentives—don’t change employees’ behavior much. The researchers found participation in the wellness program didn’t result in better health outcomes or lower health-care costs. Surveys the researchers offered enrollees also found that wellness had no impact on job satisfaction or productivity. Despite questions as to whether wellness programs actually work, companies are still pouring money into them.

Does Your Company Need a Talking Stick?

Quartz

Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine, recently hosted negotiations in her office during the government shutdown. Part of the reason they were finally successful, it might be argued, is because Collins tamped down on interruptions by asking everyone in the meetings to only speak while holding the talking stick. It just may be a low-tech solution to an issue that high-tech sensors are now quantifying: Men speak more often than women in company meetings and around the office, and women are routinely interrupted.