Top Story

CBO forecasts 8% unemployment for 2013
The Congressional Budget Office said it expects the unemployment rate to be 8% at the end of the year, rather than its previous prediction of 9.1%. The federal deficit will be $845 billion this year, and the economy will expand 1.4%, the CBO said. U.S. News & World Report (2/5), Bloomberg/The Ticker blog (2/5), The Atlantic Wire (2/5)
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Equality for LGBT employees is a good thing to do -- and it’s good for business
Forward-thinking corporations are taking the lead in promoting inclusion and diversity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees. They’re adopting policies that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and are also offering equivalent medical benefits for same-sex partners. Time Inc. Custom Content
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Recruiting & Retention

Why recruiting is like having a satellite dish for your TV
Employers imagine there's a talent shortage because they can't make up their minds when given a large pool of suitable candidates, Ryder Cullison writes. The phenomenon is like flipping through dozens of TV channels and complaining that there is nothing to watch. "Limit my choices and I can decide on something," Cullison writes. ERE.net (2/5)
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Benefits & Compensation

United workers to get $100 each for on-time arrivals in January
United Airlines employees will get $100 each for helping achieve an overall on-time arrival rate of more than 80% for domestic and international flights last month, officials say. Employees received the same rewards for a similar performance in November. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Money & Co. blog (2/5)
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Why specificity is key when praising your staff
As the research of psychologist Carol Dweck shows, it's important to be specific when praising your employees. Rather than offering general compliments, highlight the specific behavior that you want to encourage, writes Margaret Heffernan. This sort of feedback can motivate employees to keep up the good work, she writes. Inc. online (free registration) (2/4)
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Regulatory & Legal Update

Sen. Harkin: Workers deserve paid sick leave
U.S. companies and employees would benefit from a bill that would require businesses to offer paid sick leave, writes Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. The measure would let employees earn up to seven days of time off, at an accumulation rate of one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours they work. "Workers' rights should matter to everyone, but they matter even more when you consider that your next turkey sandwich might be served with a side of the flu," Harkin writes. Politico (Washington, D.C.) (2/4)
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The HR Leader

How to be a more intense boss
Intensity is a powerful tool for any leader, although it's important to ensure that your focus and commitment don't come across as anger or obsession, writes Art Petty. Authenticity is a vital part of that process, Petty writes. "Your commitment to the mission at hand must come through in your every word, action and during every encounter," he writes. ArtPetty.com (2/4)
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Workplace Chatter

Study ranks U.S. cities with the worst traffic
Commuters in Washington, D.C., in 2011 needed about three hours for trips that would have taken about 30 minutes without traffic, making Washington the worst city in the U.S. for traffic congestion, according to a report from Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Los Angeles, San Francisco/Oakland and New York/Newark, N.J., followed Washington as the cities with the worst traffic in 2011. Bloomberg Businessweek (2/5), Google/The Associated Press (2/5)
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SmartQuote

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -- Maya Angelou, American author and poet Share: