Research from Harvard Business Review shows that promoting work/life balance can boost diversity.
Well-known brands across the tech and social media space have announced their decisions to reduce staff numbers. Apple lets go of many of its contract-based recruiters while HBO cuts 14 percent of employees and LinkedIn restructures its entire global events marketing team. Meanwhile, data from a Harvard Business Review study shows that corporate programmes that support work/life balance can boost an organisation’s diversity.
Diversity a benefit of work/life balance
Corporate programmes that support work/life balance promote productivity, reduce turnover, and improve employees’ mental and physical health. Now research from the Harvard Business Review (HBR) shows that they can also boost an organisation’s diversity. In fact, when it comes to increasing diversity among managers, they’re better than the most popular racial equity programmes.
The data, from more than 800 US companies, found that when companies had universal policies for family leave time, flexible scheduling, and help with childcare, the percentages of Black, Hispanic, and Asian American male and female managers increased significantly. So did the percentage of white female managers.
Apple lets go of recruiters
Apple recently laid off many of its contract-based recruiters, as part of its efforts to curb hiring and spending, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
About 100 contract workers were let go in a rare move for the world’s most valuable company, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the situation is private. The recruiters were responsible for hiring new employees for Apple, and the cuts underscore that a slowdown is underway at the company, reports Bloomberg.
HBO slashes staff numbers
Fourteen percent of staff under HBO and HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys will be laid off, affecting 70 employees, reports TechCrunch.
This restructuring comes after AT&T’s WarnerMedia officially merged with Discovery in April.
The New York Times reported that unscripted and live-action family programming for HBO Max, the streaming service, were most affected. Other cuts impacted HBO Max’s casting, acquisitions and international departments.
LinkedIn starts lay-offs
Professional networking site LinkedIn has confirmed reports that its entire global events marketing team is being restructured, reports Adweek.
The company would not specify the number of employees affected, but a spokesperson said they are being encouraged to apply for roles on a new team focused on creating hybrid, in-person and virtual experiences.
The spokesperson said, “The events space has changed so much and, broadly speaking, this new team will focus on creating experiences across virtual, hybrid and in-person to bring people together.”
