USA TODAY

Employees underusing #PTO benefits is more common than you may imagine. As a #manager, how can you encourage them to use it more? - Start with direct communication - Make PTO expectations clear - Lead by example - Address workload concerns proactively - Simplify the request process - Offer flexibility in PTO use - Consider incentives or policies Read more:

Atlantic hurricane season peak has arrived. Where are the storms? Weather patterns over the mainland United States have helped steer previous storms away from the coast. They might be changing, however. USA TODAY https://lnkd.in/dMCQiUS8

A career highlight talking with Emma Heming Willis, for two stories. One an interview about her caregiving book, and another a personal essay companion piece about the connection between Bruce Willis and my dad. https://lnkd.in/egA8JtuU https://lnkd.in/e4y3YqZ8

I sat down with Ohio State President, Ted Carter, for a wide ranging discussion that included why the university banned chalking on sidewalks and why he doesn't feel targeted by the Trump administration even while facing federal inquires: https://lnkd.in/eTc5PeUC

Yesterday I got to join JetBlue's final Embraer E190 flight and had a chance to write about why the plane means so much to me in Cruising Altitude this week. https://lnkd.in/exCPhChQ

Kamala Harris refused to tell Joe Biden he should not run for reelection − and now admits it was a colossal mistake. In her memoir, “107 Days,” Harris says it was “recklessness” that drove so many people around Biden to defer to the aging president and his wife. Read more: bit.ly/3VKe9Uc

The rise of the manosphere, with its call for a return to traditional gender roles, reflects a backlash to power-shifting cultural changes. Aspects of the manosphere weave through American culture, from Silicon Valley “TechBros” to the largely evangelical “TheoBros” typified by a number of high-profile Christian pastors and podcasters. Read more: bit.ly/4m7jM9W

Americans are drowning in auto loan debt, which is leading to rising loan defaults and repossessions. The record number of defaults is a canary in the coal mine for large-scale economic problems and a potential crisis for consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report and analysis by the Consumer Federation of America. Consumers owe more than $1.66 trillion in auto loan debt. The average vehicle is now selling for $50,000 and almost 20% of new car buyers owe $1,000 or more a month on their auto loans. "Delinquencies, defaults, and repossessions have shot up in recent years and look alarmingly similar to trends that were apparent before the Great Recession," according to the report by the CFA, which gave USA TODAY an exclusive first look. The report is being sent to members of Congress this morning. CFA is calling on members of Congress, the Trump administration, the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau to end "exploitative practices," including interest-rate kickbacks to dealers and lenders. https://lnkd.in/eBtakggM

Actor Djimon Hounsou, who starred in ''Amistad,'' hopes his run/walk event will help promote Black history and Afro descendants' ties to Africa.

A few months after that Google search, Jacintha and Lucy walked into Northwest Ketamine Clinic’s Bellevue, Washington outpost, where Lucy began the first of 12 ketamine infusion sessions, all administered in April and May of 2023. That first session, Jacintha held Lucy’s hand, cautiously optimistic. She had special permission to be in the room given her daughter’s age — most ketamine users are in their 30s or older, but Lucy was just 16. My latest USA TODAY piece looks into ketamine therapy's rising popularity to treat young people. Doctors say it can provide life-saving support in instances where other medications have failed, but there are risks involved, including the potential for dependence when improperly administered. Despite the potential dangers, some young users and their families say trying the controversial therapy is preferable to being stuck in the status quo. https://lnkd.in/dSveUW9m