Posts

Leaving the Workforce, Even for a Short Time, Usually Means Missing Out on Technological Changes - That Makes It Even More Difficult to Boomerang Back In

Image
" I'm also worried I will quickly lose grip on technological advances. Those advancements easily become part of your regular work environment, but as a retiree, I'm worried I'll fall behind." - The lament of a woman who regrets retiring at age 58, as told on Business Insider , April 19, 2024 As a career coach the "new" client I am encountering is the one who opted to retire, got hit with financial realities/boredom, and then wants back in. We focus on preparing for the re-entry. That could include getting up to speed on what are the new technologies in their sector or one they plan to enter. For that exact reason I warn those planning to leave the workforce, even for a brief time, to re-think that. Not being up on tech apps could knock them out of the box. Already some employers demand on the resume information about the level of knowledge and the acquired skills related to generative AI.  Sure, the career you have been following for decades may prove to
Post a Comment
Read more

Boomers, We're Back in 38,000 Territory

  38,012.08 USD ▲  +236.70 (+0.63%) today April 19, 1:26 PM EDT  ·  Market Open
Post a Comment
Read more

Employment Insecurity Continues in Public Relations: BCW, Hill & Knowlton Merger into Burson Means Redundancies, New Leadership Informs Workforce of Coming Job Cuts

Image
  When mergers are announced, as was the BCW and Hill & Knowlton one last January, employees anticipate job cuts. That's because redundancies are created. For example, you don't need two or three or more heads of the A or B kind of function. So, it should be no surprise to those at BCW and Hill & Knowlton that the new leadership made it official that there would be jobs eliminated. As PR Week reports, Corey du Browa, who will be CEO of the merged entity Burson and AnnaMaria DeSalva the new chair made clear that reality. Okay, that happens all the time with mergers. But in public relations it is happening at a difficult time for the sector.  For instance, O'Dwyer Public Relations documents that in 2023, public relations firms only grew 1.8%. Even in the supposedly robust healthcare niche 2023 growth had been 2.6%. Recall, too, that revered Edelman had laid off more than 200 seasoned representatives.  In addition, professional anonymous network (PAN) Reddit Publ
Post a Comment
Read more

DLA Piper Modifies Parental Leave Policy - Bloomberg's Claire Suddah Joins in the Growing Vilification of This "Business" Decision

 " ... [DLA Piper is]  cutting parental leave benefits for 'non-partner' lawyers, reducing the amount of 'baby bonding' time it offers non-birthing parents from 18 weeks to 12 weeks. Starting May 1, fathers, non-birthing mothers, adoptive and foster parents will see their paid leave duration slashed by a third." - Claire Suddah, Bloomberg , April 18, 2024 Bloomberg joins the rest of media such as Abovethelaw at vilifying this change of parental-benefit policy by DLA Piper. Increasingly parents and those considering becoming parents have become aware of how myriad other nations provide better parental leave benefits than what is common in the US. Ironically, this law firm operates in 40 nations. Some of them such as Sweden have a very progressive approach in providing parental leave.  DLA Piper defends its policy change by claiming a need to have adequate coverage for the work needing to be done. If the new parents aren't there working, it is assumed, the w
Post a Comment
Read more

April 18, 2024 - Boomers Continue to Ride Dow Rollercoaster

  38,012.13 USD ▲  +258.82 (+0.69%) today April 18, 10:36 AM EDT  ·  Market Open
Post a Comment
Read more

Those Large Language Models Can Manage Contract Disputes - Partner Work, Including Eventual Litigation, at Risk

  This isn't sci-fi. Two law professors have published a 60-page paper "Generative Interpretation" in Penn Carey Law describing how large language models can become the new workhorse in deciding contract disputes. The professors are David Hoffman of the University of Pennsylvania law and Yonathan Arbel of the University of Alabama law.  The primary audience for the research are judges who should become aware of this tool. It could take over the process, end-to-end. Out of the loop would be the expensive law partners. Also, litigation about contract interpretation could become atypical. Contract law, as many know, is the core of the US legal system.  Therefore not only low-value tasks could be taken over by large language models. So could high value ones. Since the large language models are capable of learning, this kind of application could be developed for other moving parts in law. Generative AI could disrupt the practice of business law the way the online upstart Lega
Post a Comment
Read more

Along with Tech, Management Consulting, Some Law Practices, Public Relations Is Struggling

"Feel like the agency side is having trouble right now, I’m in house and my company cut ties with our agencies last year to save budget :(  "  That's the response on Reddit Public Relations to the question how the job market is right now. Many of the other comments reinforce that it is not a good time to be hunting for jobs, especially entry-level ones. Freelance assignments are more available but the competition for them is ramped up.  Meanwhile, those who do have jobs, other Reddit Public Relations postings indicate, have the challenge of delivering on media placements. That's at a time when, because of layoffs in media, there are fewer journalists to pitch to. Those survivors, fearful for their own jobs, will only take on stories which get them lots of page views, likes, comments and reshares. Those are what their editors and publishers want to see. Clients, of course, expect to be featured in all mediums. The jobs situation in public relations is unlikely to impro
Post a Comment
Read more