Grainger has secured the top position on the American Opportunity Index, which evaluates large US employers on their ability to create career paths, particularly for those without four-year degrees. The company has excelled in areas such as recruitment, wages, training, leadership development and internal growth.

US consumer sentiment rose to its highest level in six months in October, with the University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index reaching 70.5. However, there was a marked divergence based on party lines, as sentiment among Republicans increased 7.8% but fell 1.3% among Democrats. Year-ahead inflation expectations among American households held steady at 2.7%, while longer-term expectations eased to 3.0%.

The International Longshoremen's Association and the US Maritime Alliance will resume negotiations in November to address outstanding issues, including automation, and renew the contract that expired Sept. 30. The sides are set to meet in New Jersey to discuss a new contract proposal.

With many Baby Boomers retiring, janitorial and sanitation distributors are focusing on attracting new talent from younger generations. Companies like Imperial Dade and Waxie Sanitary Supply are emphasizing meaningful work and leveraging technology to appeal to Millennials and Gen Z, who are looking for impactful careers.

Transitioning from a statistical forecasting approach to the use of demand planning that integrates machine learning is essential to the proactive supply chain, writes Michael Gylling of RELEX Solutions. Developing a scalable system, using a comprehensive machine learning tool and incorporating external data such as weather information are the other factors that will contribute to success, Gylling writes.

Improving reporting through sensor technologies and mitigating excess carbon emissions through predictive maintenance are two ways technology can help the supply chain become more sustainable, writes Marc van den Berg of Climate Investment. "[I]t's only through collaboration that we'll achieve the full-scale commercialization of supply chain technologies that are needed to make tangible progress on decarbonizing supply chains," writes van den Berg, noting the need to move toward circular value chains.

Sales teams are facing difficulties in adapting to the new market normal, a phenomenon termed "sales amnesia," writes Mark Allen Roberts. Sales staff have in many cases forgotten essential skills due to the pandemic's high-demand environment. Inconsistent follow-up and high dependency on discounts are potential signs of sales amnesia, with remedies including regular role-playing sessions and reinforcing product knowledge to improve sales effectiveness.

Storytelling is a vital tool for leaders to drive meaning and engage employees by making visions tangible, giving them emotional appeal and making them easy to remember and retell, says Joel Podolny, the former head of Apple University and Yale's business school, who is now CEO of Honor Education. "It's not just that the leader tells stories, but the people are good at retelling the story that the leaders told," Podolny notes.

Seventy percent of employees want companies to rethink the 40-hour work week, with 89% favoring flexible schedules and shorter work weeks, according to FlexJobs' 2024 Workforce Wellness Report. The analysis highlights the prevalence of overwork, with 58% of respondents feeling pressured to stay on the job past their regular hours and 80% enduring toxic employment environments.

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