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If you're a Windows user, this is your monthly reminder to ensure you install all available security updates. Microsoft's November Patch Tuesday release fixes one zero-day vulnerability that has been actively exploited in the wild, with 63 flaws patched in total. As reported by Bleeping Computer, the November Patch Tuesday update addresses 29 elevation of privilege vulnerabilities, 2 security feature bypass vulnerabilities, 16 remote code execution vulnerabilities, 11 information disclosure vulnerabilities, 2 denial of service vulnerabilities, and 3 spoofing vulnerabilities. (Note that these figures do not include patches for Microsoft Edge and Mariner.) In addition to the zero-day, four of the vulnerabilities being addressed—two remote code execution bugs and one each of the elevation of privilege and information disclosure flaws—are labeled "critical." Patch fixes one zero-day threatAll security updates are important to install as soon as possible, but especially those that patch zero-days, which are vulnerabilities that are actively exploited or publicly exposed before the developer makes an official fix available. Without this month's patch, Windows users are vulnerable to CVE-2025-62215, an elevation of privilege flaw in the Windows Kernel. The bug allows threat actors to gain system privileges upon winning a "race condition," or improper synchronization in Windows Kernel. The vulnerability was identified by the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) and the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC), though no additional details about exploitation have been made public. Other updates for Windows usersWindows 11 users will also see the rollout of the upgraded Start menu alongside Patch Tuesday updates—the new interface is scrollable with app categories and adapts to the size of your screen. Other changes include an redesigned battery icon and improved features for File Explorer, Voice Access, and Click to Do. As of last month's Patch Tuesday, Microsoft has ended support for Windows 10, though users who have enrolled in Extended Security Updates (ESU) will continue to get security patches through Oct. 13, 2026. View the full article

Just when you thought you’d seen it all on Capitol Hill, reopening the federal government appears to have hit yet another roadblock: Hemp. A day after Democratic Senators reached a deal with their Republican counterparts in the Senate to end the longest government shutdown in history, a vote on the agreement was held up by a provision in the bill that would ban the unregulated sale of hemp-based or derived products. The provision relates to funding for the Department of Agriculture, and was flagged by Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, home to a burgeoning hemp industry. Paul introduced an amendment to strip the language on Monday, but the amendment failed. Subsequently, the Senate passed the bill with the prohibitive language intact. However, the bill, which would impact everything from smokable hemp products to hemp-derived THC drinks, won’t take effect until 365 days after it is signed into law. Sales of hemp and hemp-derived products were allowed under the 2018 Farm Bill, and that’s led to the sale of certain cannabis-derived products around the country, sometimes in contrast to state laws. The new language would ban sales of any products containing THC, of which hemp may contain trace amounts, effectively outlawing it. On X, Paul defended his amendment, even if it slowed the reopening process, saying that protecting constituents’ jobs is under his purview. “Just to be clear: I am not delaying this bill,” he wrote on Monday. “The timing is already fixed under Senate procedure. But there is extraneous language in this package that has nothing to do with reopening the government and would harm Kentucky’s hemp farmers and small businesses. Standing up for Kentucky jobs is part of my job.” Notably, Kentucky’s other Senator, Mitch McConnell, was at odds with Paul over his proposed amendment. The hemp industry in Kentucky employs roughly 3,500 people, and worries about a potential ban have been floating around since earlier this year. A statement released in June by the Kentucky Hemp Association seemingly preempted this week’s action in the Senate, too. “Kentucky has emerged as a national leader in hemp production and innovation,” it reads. “Now is not the time for the federal government to impose arbitrary changes that disrupt this progress. The hemp industry has consistently called for thoughtful regulation that protects consumers while preserving economic opportunities for farmers,” it continues. “Rather than rolling back years of responsible development, federal policy should reinforce this thriving sector—not seek to recriminalize it.” View the full article

Elevation of Richard Pazdur expected to improve FDA staff morale and smooth relations with the pharmaceutical industryView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. As YouTube TV and Disney continue their feud over rising channel rates, it's customers that are losing out. One of my coworkers found this out last night when her family couldn't (easily) watch their home team, the Philadelphia Eagles, play—and that was with an NFL Sunday Ticket package added on to their YouTube TV plan. The ESPN/ABC blackout is hitting YouTube TV's sports fans hard, and with Google already issuing compensation to customers, it seems like there's no end on the horizon. Luckily, YouTube isn't the only game in town for watching NFL football. There are a number of alternative solutions you can try while you wait for Disney and YouTube to come to an agreement, and they don't all involve swapping to another Live TV provider. Before your next game starts, try signing up for or installing one of these methods for watching football during the YouTube TV Disney blackout. NFL Sunday TicketWhile it didn't work for my coworker on Monday night, depending on how much football you feel compelled to watch, NFL Sunday ticket might be enough for you. Currently, you can either add this to your YouTube TV base plan, or purchase it standalone (although you'll still access it through YouTube). This will give you access to out-of-market games aired on Sunday during the daytime, with unlimited simultaneous streams at your home and two streams for those outside of the home. You also don't have to watch live if you're not able—condensed on-demand replays of the most recent Sunday games are available starting the following Monday and through Wednesday. A standalone NFL Sunday Ticket subscription costs $85/month for new customers, or $145/month for returning customers. Bundled costs for new customers are unchanged, although returning customers can save a little bit by bundling Sunday Ticket with a standard YouTube TV subscription, which will drop the cost to $115/month. Alternatively, opting for a four-month subscription lowers the costs to $37.50/month for new customers, and $66/month for returning customers (or $51/month when bundled with YouTube TV). If you want to go all in, you could also opt for an annual season pass, which is $150 for new customers and $264 for returning customers. YouTube currently advertises the YouTube TV and Sunday Ticket bundle as having "The most live NFL games," and in a normal season, that would be true. However, with YouTube TV's loss of ESPN and ABC, this option currently loses access to Monday Night Football and many local games. Local games and Sunday Night Football on Paramount+ and PeacockBefore moving onto the football-specific streaming services, it's worth touching on other streaming services you might already own. Paramount+ and Peacock allow users to watch games aired on CBS and NBC, respectively, which could be enough for you depending on which teams you follow. According to the NFL's official "Ways to Watch" page, CBS airs six to seven Sunday daytime games a week, and you can check your local listings for specifics. NBC, meanwhile, hosts Sunday Night Football, which is a marquee primetime game with no competition from other games. A month of Paramount+ starts at $8, while a month of Peacock starts at $8, although the platform is currently running a fairly generous bundle deal with Apple TV. Annual plans for Paramount+ start at $60, while annual plans for Peacock start at $80. Fox One and the ESPN bundleFox is currently in a similar boat to CBS, allowing users to watch select local daytime games on Sundays, but it has a twist. In addition to offering the games on its own schedule, the network's streaming service, Fox One, also offers a bundle with ESPN. This gives subscribers access to both local Fox games, as well as games aired on ESPN Unlimited. ESPN Unlimited includes Monday Night Football, which could make it a viable solution for YouTube TV subscribers hurting at the loss of ESPN from their lineup. On its own, a month of Fox One costs $25, and an annual subscription is $240. The ESPN bundle is only available monthly, and costs $40. Thursday Night Football on Amazon PrimeIf you own Amazon Prime, there's at least one weekly primetime game you've got access to. Prime Video is currently the home of Thursday Night Football, which like Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football, is a marquee game without any conflicts from other games. Because Prime Video is included in Amazon Prime, there's a good chance you've got access to it without knowing, assuming you crave two-day shipping as much as the rest of us. If not, you can sign up for Amazon Prime for $15/month or $139/year, or just subscribe to Prime Video on its own for $9/month. ESPN streaming, Disney+, and Hulu Live TVIt's time to address the elephant in the room. If you're a YouTube TV subscriber who's more willing to play ball with Disney than Google is, you can check out its own offerings. The most comprehensive of these is ESPN, which offers both ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited. The difference is that ESPN Select only includes content from ESPN+, which is largely made up of lower level, student, or non-football games from channels like ESPN2 or ESPN3. ESPN Unlimited, meanwhile, includes all ESPN content, including larger games from the main channel as well as ESPN+ content, which makes it a suitable way to watch ESPN's own primetime offering, Monday Night Football. Alternatively, Disney+ subscribers have access to a rotating "sampling of ESPN sports content," although you'll need to bundle ESPN with your Disney+ subscription to view most games. If you'd like access to more than just ESPN content, you can also subscribe to Disney's own live TV service, Hulu + Live TV. This includes all the Disney channels currently unavailable on YouTube TV, as well as other channels, including CBS, NBC, and NFL Network (more on that later). Not that Hulu + Live TV does not offer NFL Sunday Ticket, and if bought standalone, it also does not include on-demand viewing in the ESPN app. Pricing for all of this can get a little tricky, so I'll start with the cheapest options and work my way up. I'll also be excluding annual pricing for expediency, although note that Disney+, Hulu (excluding Live TV), and ESPN all offer annual plans. On its own, a month of Disney+ standalone starts at $12, and a month of Hulu standalone costs the same. Bundling these services together increases the price to just $13, so that's likely where you'll want to start. For more reliable sports content, though, you'll want ESPN. A month of ESPN Select is also $13, but for NFL, you'll want to opt for ESPN Unlimited, which has a monthly price of $30. Then there are the Disney+ and Hulu bundles that include ESPN. Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select starts at $20 monthly, while Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited is $30 monthly for the first 12 months and then $36/month after that. Given that the first twelve months of the second bundle have the same price as ESPN Unlimited on its own, it might be the more savvy choice, assuming you remember to cancel once your subscription is up. As for Hulu + Live TV, this is the most expensive option, as it's essentially a cable package. A bundle with Hulu + Live TV, regular Hulu (with ads), Disney+ (with ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) costs $64.99/month for the first three months, which is cheaper than YouTube TV, but increases to $90/month afterwards. You could also subscribe to Hulu + Live TV on its own for $89/month instead, although that's losing out on a lot of extra streaming content just to save a dollar, and does not include the cheaper first three months. To remove ads from Disney+, you can up your bundle price to $95/month, and to remove ads from both Disney+ and Hulu, you can pay $100/month. ESPN Select and Live TV will still have ads, however. Also, to view ESPN Unlimited content in the app, you'll need to add it on to your Hulu for $30/month (the Hulu + Live TV landing page does advertise ESPN Unlimited app content being included in this bundle, but upon moving to checkout, it'll shift to ESPN Select, and the official chart of plans does not currently have an option with ESPN Unlimited in a bundle with Hulu + Live TV). Finally, Disney offers a bundle in collaboration with NFL+, which I'll discuss in a moment. This bundle costs $40/month for the first year, after which it bumps up to $46/month. It includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited, all with ads, as well as NFL+ Premium. Alternatively, you could pay $9 more (this applies to both the promotional and permanent pricing) to remove ads from Disney+ and Hulu Premium, although ESPN Unlimited will still have ads. What is NFL+?Likely the cheapest option on this list, NFL+ gives you access to a lot of content for not too much of an investment, but with a pretty serious catch. There are two tiers to the service, and both offer live streaming of local and primetime regular games, but only to your phone or tablet. That's right: These won't work with the service's TV app, and DRM prevents AirPlay or similar screen mirroring features. Even those attempting to connect the phone or tablet app to a larger monitor via a cable have reported difficulty. Because football games are a popular big-screen activity, and because NFL+ has such a low cost compared to other options, this is likely due to behind-the-scenes content agreements with other services to ensure the app does not eat in on their own subscriptions. Still, if you have a large enough tablet option and only want to watch prime time or local games (including Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, and even Sunday daytime games), it's a strong solution. NFL+ also comes with live game audio for every game of the season, ad-free highlights, and a selection of original NFL Films content, all available on PC and TV in addition to phone and tablet. Upgrading to NFL+ Premium will add condensed game replays and gives you access to NFL Redzone (live select coverage of all Sunday afternoon games) as well as the NFL Pro stats service. Replays and Redzone are viewable on PC, TV, phone, and tablet, but NFL Pro is only available on desktop and mobile browsers. There is also one caveat that allows you to watch live games in an internet browser, and that is the NFL Network live stream (also available as a channel in certain cable and Live TV packages). This is included with either NFL+ plan, but you're at the mercy of whatever content NFL Network is playing, which is not comprehensive and includes analysis and other non-game programming. NFL+ costs $7/month (or $50/year) while NFL+ Premium costs $15/month (or $100/year). It's a strong option if you're most interested in keeping up with stats and big plays, and don't mind being restricted to watching live games on certain devices. Other Live TV servicesIn addition to Hulu + Live TV, ESPN, local channels, and NFL Network are available on a number of other Live TV streaming services as well as traditional television providers, including DIRECTV, Fubo TV, Spectrum, Verizon FiOS, and Sling. While the YouTube TV and Disney feud is fierce, based on prior YouTube TV contact blackouts, it's not likely to last long. This makes DIRECTV, Fubo TV, and Sling especially strong alternatives in the meantime. Both DIRECTV and Fubo TV offer free trials, with DIRECTV's lasting five days and FUBO TV's lasting seven days. Meanwhile, Sling Orange offers day passes for $5 a pop, if you just need to watch one specific game. Get a digital antennaFinally, if your eyes are glazing over from these various subscriptions as much as mine are, it's important to remember that local networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX are available using a digital antenna in most U.S. markets. While not comprehensive, this will give you access to local games as well as prime time games including Monday Night Football (aired on ABC as well as ESPN) and Sunday Night Football. While I personally have had mixed luck getting reception from digital antennae, Lifehacker sister site PCMag has a tested selection of antennae, with costs as low as $25. Just set it and forget it. View the full article

Apple said it has pulled two of China’s biggest gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, under pressure from Chinese authorities, in the latest sign of a tightening grip on the LGBTQ+ community. An Apple spokesperson said in a statement that the company removed the two dating apps from China “based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China”, without further elaborating. “We follow the laws in the countries where we operate,” the spokesperson told The Associated Press. A check by The Associated Press on Tuesday found that the two apps are not available on Apple’s app store in China, although an “express” version of Blued could still be found. It was unclear what the difference is between the full and express versions or if an Android version might be available. Blued was available “only in China,” Apple said. Finka’s developer “elected to remove the app” outside of China earlier this year, the company added. Another popular gay dating app, Grindr, was pulled from Apple’s app store in China in 2022. China’s LGBTQ+ community and advocacy groups are under intensifying pressure from authorities, even though the country decriminalized homosexuality in 1997. Some LGBTQ+ groups have been forced to cease operations in recent years in China and activism has been constrained. Blued and Finka have the same parent company, BlueCity, a China-founded company that focuses on the LGBTQ+ community in China and abroad. BlueCity was delisted from the Nasdaq in 2022, when it was taken private. Last year, Apple also reportedly removed apps including WhatsApp and Threads from its app store in China under an order by the Cyberspace Administration of China. “Among all foreign tech companies that provide services to Chinese users, Apple is probably the one which is most willing to comply with Chinese internet regulations,” said George Chen, partner and co-chair of digital practice at The Asia Group. Apple “rarely pushes back on Chinese government’s takedown requests as Chinese markets,” including sales of iPhones, is “too important” for them, Chen added. —Chan Ho-Him, AP business writer AP writers Kelvin Chan and Kanis Leung contributed to this story. View the full article

A 50-year mortgage on a median-priced US home could reduce borrower's monthly repayment, but also double the amount of interest the owner pays over the life of the loan, according to UBS Group AG analysts. View the full article

The tech industry is moving fast and breaking things again—and this time it is humanity’s shared reality and control of our likeness before and after death—thanks to artificial intelligence image-generation platforms like OpenAI’s Sora 2. The typical Sora video, made on OpenAI’s app and spread onto TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook, is designed to be amusing enough for you to click and share. It could be Queen Elizabeth II rapping or something more ordinary and believable. One popular Sora genre is fake doorbell camera footage capturing something slightly uncanny —say, a boa constrictor on the porch or an alligator approaching an unfazed child—and ends with a mild shock, like a grandma shouting as she beats the animal with a broom. But a growing chorus of advocacy groups, academics, and experts is raising alarms about the dangers of letting people create AI videos on just about anything they can type into a prompt, leading to the proliferation of nonconsensual images and realistic deepfakes in a sea of less harmful “AI slop.” OpenAI has cracked down on AI creations of public figures—among them, Michael Jackson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mister Rogers—doing outlandish things, but only after an outcry from family estates and an actors’ union. The nonprofit Public Citizen is now demanding OpenAI withdraw Sora 2 from the public, writing in a Tuesday letter to the company and CEO Sam Altman that the app’s hasty release so that it could launch ahead of competitors shows a “consistent and dangerous pattern of OpenAI rushing to market with a product that is either inherently unsafe or lacking in needed guardrails.” Sora 2, the letter says, shows a “reckless disregard” for product safety, as well as people’s rights to their own likeness and the stability of democracy. The group also sent the letter to the U.S. Congress. OpenAI didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. “Our biggest concern is the potential threat to democracy,” said Public Citizen tech policy advocate J.B. Branch in an interview. “I think we’re entering a world in which people can’t really trust what they see. And we’re starting to see strategies in politics where the first image, the first video that gets released, is what people remember.” Branch, author of Tuesday’s letter, also sees broader concerns to people’s privacy that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations online. OpenAI blocks nudity but Branch said that “women are seeing themselves being harassed online” in other ways, such as with fetishized niche content that makes it through the apps’ restrictions. The news outlet 404 Media on Friday reported on a flood of Sora-made videos of women being strangled. OpenAI introduced its new Sora app on iPhones more than a month ago. It launched on Android phones last week in the U.S., Canada and several Asian countries, including Japan and South Korea. Much of the strongest pushback has come from Hollywood and other entertainment interests, including the Japanese manga industry. OpenAI announced its first big changes just days after the release, saying “overmoderation is super frustrating” for users but that it’s important to be conservative “while the world is still adjusting to this new technology.” That was followed by publicly announced agreements with Martin Luther King Jr.’s family on Oct. 16, preventing “disrespectful depictions” of the civil rights leader while the company worked on better safeguards, and another on Oct. 20 with “Breaking Bad” actor Bryan Cranston, the SAG-AFTRA union and talent agencies. “That’s all well and good if you’re famous,” Branch said. “It’s sort of just a pattern that OpenAI has where they’re willing to respond to the outrage of a very small population. They’re willing to release something and apologize afterwards. But a lot of these issues are design choices that they can make before releasing.” OpenAI has faced similar complaints about its flagship product, ChatGPT. Seven new lawsuits filed last week in California courts claim the chatbot drove people to suicide and harmful delusions even when they had no prior mental health issues. Filed on behalf of six adults and one teenager by the Social Media Victims Law Center and Tech Justice Law Project, the lawsuits claim that OpenAI knowingly released GPT-4o prematurely last year, despite internal warnings that it was dangerously sycophantic and psychologically manipulative. Four of the victims died by suicide. Public Citizen was not involved in the lawsuits, but Branch said he sees parallels in Sora’s hasty release. He said they’re “putting the pedal to the floor without regard for harms. Much of this seems foreseeable. But they’d rather get a product out there, get people downloading it, get people who are addicted to it rather than doing the right thing and stress-testing these things beforehand and worrying about the plight of everyday users.” OpenAI spent last week responding to complaints from a Japanese trade association representing famed animators like Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli and video game makers like Bandai Namco and Square Enix. OpenAI said many anime fans want to interact with their favorite characters, but the company has also set guardrails in place to prevent well-known characters from being generated without the consent of the people who own the copyrights. “We’re engaging directly with studios and rightsholders, listening to feedback, and learning from how people are using Sora 2, including in Japan, where cultural and creative industries are deeply valued,” OpenAI said in a statement about the trade group’s letter last week. —Barbara Ortutay and Matt O’Brien, AP technology writers View the full article

Congressmen introduced the Retroactive Renewal and Reauthorization Act to the House Monday, with hopes to backdate the reauthorization of the insurance program. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I have bittersweet news that is mostly sweet: Soon, I will have a Tonal, one of those ultra-modern tablets that attaches to your wall and uses magnets to create resistance that mimics the use of a cable machine at the gym. I'm getting it so I can review it for you, which is good news for us all, but it's going to render a lot of my other at-home workout equipment useless for a while, so I want to take some time to memorialize the inexpensive tools I have accumulated that make even the most basic yoga on my living room floor a better experience. While I am pumped to have the Tonal, which costs about $4,000 depending on which sales may or may not be running, the truth is I got a lot accomplished with personal workout equipment that all cost less than $25. Here's what I think you should get if you're trying to level up at your exercise from home, like I've been trying to. Pilates tools have been most usefulIt's no secret that I am a diehard Peloton fan and use my Bike and the company's app every single day. It just has so much to do, from walking to running to stretching to yoga. I've thoroughly enjoyed working my way through every class category, but in the end, we are all creatures of habit and inevitably return to what we like best. For me, that's Pilates. I go to fancy reformer studios around Manhattan, take mat Pilates class at my gym, and, naturally, follow guided Pilates classes through my Peloton app and even on platforms like YouTube. It is entirely possible to find and complete classes that don't involve any equipment, but I find those boring. Thus, the best purchases I've made toward my little at-home exercise station have been my Pilates accessories. First up, I got a cushy mat. If you are into yoga or Pilates, you know that there are pros and cons to a squishier, thicker mat. The main pro—that it doesn't hurt my butt or knees to do exercises on the floor—outweighs the cons, like the fact that I have to be slightly more careful and brace myself just a bit more to stay stable on the less sturdy surface. If stability is an issue for you, you might want a thinner mat, but I got this thick one, which is about $16. The real success came when I got a Pilates hoop and ball. RitFit Pilates Ring Circle (Pink) $21.99 at Amazon Learn More Learn More $21.99 at Amazon These were not entirely necessary, of course; you can do a perfectly adequate workout without them. Moreover, I went cheap—like really cheap—so I ended up having to blow up the ball with a straw and attach the grip pads to the hoop myself. Not the end of the world, but not as luxurious as I like my Pilates-related activities to be, either. That said, these did make my non-home Pilates activities better. I have brought them with me to mat Pilates in addition to using them along with Peloton and YouTube workouts, meaning I don't have to use the balls, hoops, or mats anyone else has sweated on. The mat is multi-purpose, too. I use it when I do strength training and when I do at-home yoga. I also picked up some yoga blocks, which have helped me when I'm on my own in addition to when I take classes in a studio or the gym. Here, I hesitate to recommend my cheapies fully, though. Unlike some blocks I've used at the studio, mine aren't very dense or textured. They're a bit flat, light, and almost slippery. I did, in fact, fall off one during a hot yoga session at a new studio a few weeks back. I chalk this up mostly to operator error because I'm simply not a graceful person and that goes double when I'm covered in sweat, but I do think if I had some higher-quality blocks, it might not have happened. Keep that in mind when going cheap, though I'll say I haven't had any other issues with my inexpensive goods. The secret home gym holy grailI have gotten a lot of other weird, single-use, and niche home workout products and I won't lie: I don't really touch them. I got this resistance band/squat bar combo, for instance, and it's sat idle for months because it just could never replicate what I'm able to access in the gym or even by using dumbbells at home. On the other hand, dumbbells seemed inaccessible to me for home use for a while because, as you can see, I am a cheap person and the higher the weight gets, the higher the price goes with it—at least at Target or on Amazon. Unwilling to pay more than $25, I assumed I'd be capped out at five-pound weights forever and only ever use dumbbells at the gym. But then, by pure chance, I found myself in a Five Below last week. Reader, they have dumbbells. Do they ever have dumbbells. There are dumbbells and kettlebells up to 10 pounds and each is $10 or less. They also have resistance bands, lifting gloves, wrist weights, an ill-advised "thigh trainer," and more, all at that same price point or below. If you're looking to add a bit of spice to your home workout setup, get to Five Below because nothing there will break the bank. Why this worksI try to get to the gym or a boutique studio at least four times per week, but that requires a lot of motivation and planning—which working out at home requires even more of, in my opinion, so when I do that, I need to buckle down and force myself. You'd think it would be easier, since I don't have to go anywhere, but it's harder because I can simply choose to stay on my couch. Having access to equipment that can enhance my time working out at home motivates me and makes the process of setting up, finding a video to follow, and actually completing some exercises feel more worth it. It wasn't expensive to build my arsenal, but if it had been, it still would have been worth it. Covered at home or at the gym. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson And, yes, all my exercise equipment is pink. I'll do me; you do you. View the full article

ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula is being recalled in 12 states due to concerns it may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to investigate a multi-state outbreak of infant botulism. As of November 10, 15 infants who were either fed the formula or exposed to it have developed infant botulism in 12 different states. Those states are: Arizona, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. The investigation remains ongoing. All 15 infants were hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Information is available for 14 of those cases, with the illnesses occurring between August 9 and November 10. Those 14 infants range in age from 16 to 157 days old. ByHeart released a public statement on November 11, which said that while the company hasn’t found the “toxins in any unopened can of ByHeart formula,” it “decided to voluntarily recall all ByHeart formula nationwide” including unexpired lots of formula cans and single-serve “anywhere” sticks. ByHeart infant formula products make up less than 1% of all infant formula sold in the U.S. Infant botulism symptoms According to the FDA, most infants with infant botulism will initially develop constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, and difficulty swallowing, which can progress to difficulty breathing and respiratory arrest. Symptoms of infant botulism, which is diagnosed clinically, can take as long as several weeks to develop following formula ingestion. FDA recommendations Botulism can be fatal, and the FDA recommends taking action right away. According to the agency, parents and caregivers should stop using any ByHeart infant formula products immediately. If you suspect a child has consumed ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula and is experiencing signs and symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. If a child consumed ByHeart formula and is not currently showing symptoms, continue monitoring them and seek medical attention if symptoms develop. If you still have the formula in your home, the agency recommends you to take a photo or record the information on the bottom of the package, keep the container in a safe spot, and be sure to label that product as “DO NOT USE.” If a child develops symptoms, your state health department might want to collect your formula container for testing. If a child does not develop symptoms after 30 days, throw your containers out. View the full article

Young people early in their careers are understandably alarmed by reports that their jobs are most at risk from AI automation. Some are even reconsidering their career choices due to what’s been dubbed AI anxiety. But job seekers shouldn’t give up. People whose jobs are threatened by AI must look for ways to play to their strengths and their human qualities. They should focus on the many areas where humans outshine AI—things like relationship building, resourcefulness, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and leadership. For much of the labor force, of course, it won’t be possible to avoid AI completely. Many occupations will involve working with AI not just as an assistive tool but, increasingly, as a “coworker.” Job seekers aren’t alone in their concerns about the future of work. Business leaders are grappling with questions of how AI will impact jobs, skills, and the workforce broadly. The answers will require leaders to focus on what it is that human workers do best and where they can add the greatest value. Evidence of these macro forces is coming from all directions. A report from Stanford University, based on payroll data, found that AI is beginning to have a “significant and disproportionate impact” on entry-level workers. Stanford researchers concluded that 22 to 25 years old occupations most exposed to AI have faced a 13% relative decline in employment. AUTOMATION VERSUS AUGMENTATION That’s the glass half empty. The Stanford report included some encouraging indicators, including that overall employment is still growing and that wages haven’t been negatively affected. “Employment for workers in less exposed fields and more experienced workers in the same occupations has remained stable or continued to grow,” the researchers wrote. And it’s important to draw distinctions between different types of work. Many experts see a line of demarcation between automation and augmentation. Stanford found that entry-level employment declined in roles where AI automates or substitutes for work, but not where it augments work. It’s easy to see why. Basic tasks like transcription, report generation, and scheduling don’t require extensive education or training. That’s not to say those functions are unimportant—we depend on them daily—but AI can do the same, in some cases faster and better. And AI is moving up the skills stack into areas such as design, content creation, code writing, and customer support. For higher-level work, AI augmentation has the potential to make us better at what we do rather than replace us. For example, AI agents integrated with collaboration tools can automatically present insights in near real time to help business professionals make smarter decisions. And AI chatbots interacting with customers or prospects can detect and escalate opportunities to salespeople, who can add the human touch. DEVELOP NEW SKILLS AS A CAREER BUFFER Implementing AI for automation or augmentation isn’t an either/or decision. Many organizations will do both, and there are nuances as we forge ahead. The model provider Anthropic drills deeper into the topic of automation and augmentation in its usage tracking report. Anthropic looks at automation in two ways: “directive conversations,” where there’s minimal interaction between AI and humans; and feedback loops, where humans relay outcomes back to the model. As for augmentation, Anthropic subdivides it into learning, task iteration, and validation. In short: Our AI touchpoints will be many and varied. So, rather than worrying too much about the downsides of automation, our energies may be better spent upskilling for the myriad ways that human workers can benefit from AI augmentation to achieve more. Investing time and effort in AI-readiness can help serve as a career buffer by keeping workers current with new technologies and business demands. Talent managers in hiring roles will put a premium on people with the moxie to not just survive, but thrive alongside AI. THE FLIP SIDE OF AUTOMATION: HUMAN EXCELLENCE Here’s another ray of hope. Luiza Jarovsky, cofounder of the AI, Tech & Privacy Academy and an expert in AI governance, writes on Substack that “demand for excellent professionals is rising.” Why such a positive outlook? AI outputs can be suboptimal and may require a human in the loop, Jarovsky argues. AI-first companies, she writes, “are realizing that ‘full automation’ disconnected from excellent human work fails to meet legal, ethical, and quality standards.” So, the debate over AI’s impact can be framed both as challenge and opportunity. Case in point: Inc.com reports that starting salaries for workers with AI skills have risen 12% compared to a year ago. That’s the flip side of automation. As I think about the young adults in my own household who are contemplating their career paths, I will encourage them to pursue their interests with enthusiasm and commitment, but also resilience. It’s too early to know how AI will impact our livelihoods. But the ability to adapt, redirect and keep growing will be invaluable no matter the ups and downs. Amit Walia is CEO of Informatica. View the full article

If you’re flying later this month, you may need to temper your expectations now: The major U.S. airlines are warning that flight disruptions could persist even after the government shutdown ends. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history seemingly has an end in sight now that the Senate passed legislation Monday night to end the shutdown. But the recent flurry of canceled and delayed flights could continue, warned a trade group made up of the major U.S.-based airlines—American, Southwest, Delta, and United—as well as UPS and FedEx. “Airlines’ reduced flight schedules cannot immediately bounce back to full capacity right after the government reopens,” Airlines for America said in a statement on Monday. “It will take time, and there will be residual effects for days.” STRAIN ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS Federal workers that include air traffic controllers and TSA agents who have continued working during the shutdown have seen two consecutive zero-dollar paycheck cycles. And that’s led to some employees calling out sick, taking on extra work elsewhere—or even quitting their jobs altogether because of the stress the shutdown has inflicted. That’s unlike what’s happened during past government shutdowns, and notably the one in 2019, Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told CNN last week. Further compounding issues, he said, is that there are 400 fewer air traffic controllers employed today than during the shutdown during The President’s first time in office. “Controllers are resigning every day now because of the prolonged nature of the shutdown.” And following the 2019 shutdown, it took up to two and a half months for these employees to get their back pay, Daniels told CNN. President Donald The President threatened on Monday to dock the pay of those air traffic controllers who have called out during the shutdown with a blanket instruction to “report to work immediately.” The president also said he would recommend a bonus of $10,000 for those air traffic controllers who didn’t take any time off during the shutdown in a post on Truth Social. The President also went so far as to encourage some government employees to quit. “If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind!” he wrote. FOCUS ON THANKSGIVING Air travel disruptions have been an increased focus of his administration in recent days. On Sunday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a dire outlook, warning that a “substantial” number of Americans won’t make it home for Thanksgiving on Nov. 27. In 2024, AAA projected that 5.84 million would fly domestically for the holiday, about 7% of the total number of travelers. Another aviation and aerospace trade group, Modern Skies, put this year’s Thanksgiving travel estimate much higher, at 31 million. In an open letter to Congress on Tuesday, the group of 50-plus aviation and aerospace companies, organizations, and unions, urged an immediate end to the shutdown. “The job of keeping aviation safe and secure is tough every day, but forcing federal employees to do it without pay is unacceptable,” Modern Skies said in the letter published in The Washington Post. “Without immediate government action, the federal employees charged with the safety of our aviation system are missing paychecks again this week.” WIDESPREAD DISRUPTIONS During the shutdown that has stretched on for six weeks, more than 5 million travelers have been affected by airline staffing issues, according to Airlines for America. Reductions to flight capacity at 40 major airports began last week, with the amount expected to ramp up to 10% by this Friday. But cancellations have already topped that amount according to reporting by CNBC. On Sunday, 10.2% of scheduled flights were cancelled, followed by 8.7% on Monday, the news outlet reported, citing data from aviation-data firm Cirium. Though the strain of the government shutdown has been widespread—including halting SNAP benefits for 41 million Americans—it’s been especially evident at airports. It took as long as three hours last week for travelers to get through the TSA lines at the Houston airport, according to reporting by CBS News. And a video went viral in recent days of a frustrated pilot who works for Southwest Airlines urging passengers on a flight to call their senators to end the shutdown. The House of Representatives could vote on the legislation approved by the Senate to end the shutdown as soon as Wednesday, following the Veteran’s Day holiday. View the full article

Rate-and-term refinances dropped 14% month over month in October, but were still up 143% from last year. View the full article

The Department of Justice told a court that the bureau cannot legally request funding from the Federal Reserve System, arguing that the Fed has not turned a profit since 2022 and thus cannot fund the CFPB. View the full article

Recent merger activity also includes the purchase of an Alabama title company by technology firm Propy, as experts see ongoing consolidation through 2026. View the full article

Shortfall of up to £30bn is due to Labour policy choices, not just adverse economic forecastsView the full article

Bank governor responds to investors and politicians after the value of its holdings of UK government bonds fellView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’re tired of your laptop speakers sounding like they’re inside a tin can, this Lenovo M0520 2.0 Wired Desktop Speaker Set might be an easy fix that doesn’t break the bank, and it's on sale for $16.99 on StackSocial right now. It’s about as simple as audio upgrades get: You plug it in through USB, no power adapter or extra cords required, and it’s ready to go. For anyone who just wants clearer sound for work calls, YouTube videos, or background music, this tiny setup does the job. The pair delivers 1+1 watts of output, not booming by any stretch, but enough to make voices sound fuller and music less flat compared to standard built-in speakers. Each speaker is about 3.5 inches tall, so they don’t occupy much space on your desk. They’re lightweight, too, which means you can easily pack them with your laptop if you move between home and the office. The build is plastic but not flimsy, and the matte black finish keeps things looking clean and understated. Volume controls are built into the speaker itself, so you don’t have to fumble with software settings every time you want to turn the sound up or down. The frequency range spans from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, which covers most everyday audio frequencies well enough for general use, although bass lovers may find it lacking in punch. But for quick setup and steady output, it’s about convenience over performance. At this price, it’s hard to expect surround-sound quality or deep lows, but the Lenovo M0520 makes a clear case for itself as a practical companion for basic setups. It’s plug-and-play, compact, and doesn’t demand extra outlets or bulky cables. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $329.00 (List Price $349.00) Shark AV2501AE AI XL Hepa- Safe Self-Emptying Base Robot Vacuum — $297.99 (List Price $649.99) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $24.99 (List Price $49.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $328.00 (List Price $399.99) Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch (Black) — $160.99 (List Price $199.95) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Wireless Security Camera (5-Pack) — $159.99 (List Price $399.99) Google Pixel 9 128GB Unlocked 6.9" OLED Smartphone (Obsidian) — $544.98 (List Price $799.00) Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus 1080p Security Camera (White) — $99.99 (List Price $179.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Cisco recently unveiled its latest innovation, Cisco IQ, at the Cisco Partner Summit held in San Diego, aiming to revolutionize how businesses manage their technology investments. In an age where operational agility is paramount, Cisco IQ promises to deliver real-time insights and streamline operations, addressing the urgent needs of small business owners navigating an increasingly complex digital landscape. With technology challenges on the rise, Cisco IQ emerges as a comprehensive solution, combining real-time insights, on-demand assessments, and personalized learning into a single AI-powered interface. Liz Centoni, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer at Cisco, emphasized, “Cisco IQ is our boldest step yet in reimagining how customers interact with Cisco — from planning and design to optimization and transformation.” This shift not only enhances how businesses operate but also aims to support IT teams with proactive tools that anticipate issues before they escalate. Small businesses often struggle with disjointed technologies and inefficient processes. Cisco IQ directly addresses these pain points by offering a unified experience that simplifies complex operations. Its capabilities include automated troubleshooting, personalized support, and dynamic visibility into assets, allowing IT teams to focus more on innovation rather than merely firefighting problems. Using a purpose-built agentic AI foundation, Cisco IQ adapts to each business’s unique operational needs. This flexibility means small businesses can enjoy hyper-personalized support that evolves alongside their requirements. The software also offers deployment options tailored to diverse environments, be it SaaS, on-premises, or air-gapped, ensuring seamless integration with existing workflows. One practical advantage of Cisco IQ is the ability to anticipate issues through on-demand assessments covering security advisories and compliance checks. This proactive stance helps mitigate risks and supports small businesses in maintaining resilience in their IT operations. Additionally, the built-in capabilities enable faster issue resolution by streamlining case management processes. However, while the features of Cisco IQ appear promising, potential challenges exist. Small business owners may face concerns regarding the initial investment required to implement such advanced solutions. Furthermore, the complexity of integrating new technology into existing systems, particularly for businesses with limited IT resources, could present a learning curve. Zeus Kerravala, founder and principal analyst at ZK Research, noted, “Cisco IQ is more than a technology: it’s a shift in how IT delivers value in an AI-driven era.” This shift indicates a need for small businesses to rethink their technology-management strategies and invest in tools that provide measurable outcomes. Partners play a crucial role in Cisco’s strategy to implement Cisco IQ, enabling small businesses to leverage advanced AI tools efficiently. As John Tan, Chief Customer Officer at Data#3, stated, “Cisco IQ enhances the traditional services and support model into something that’s far more proactive and predictive.” This collaboration with partners means small businesses can access tailored solutions that meet their specific needs, significantly enhancing their operational efficiency. Looking ahead, Cisco IQ is expected to be generally available in the second half of FY2026, marking a significant step toward an AI-led future for small businesses. The potential for reduced operational complexity and improved organizational agility could place small firms in a favorable position to compete in an increasingly challenging marketplace. As businesses contemplate integrating Cisco IQ into their operations, the key takeaways center around the tool’s potential to streamline IT management effectively. The early anticipation of issues, personalized support, and strategic foresight provided by Cisco IQ can transform how small businesses navigate their unique challenges during this rapidly evolving digital era. For further details, you can explore the full press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Cisco Launches AI-Powered Cisco IQ for Smarter IT Operations" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Cisco recently unveiled its latest innovation, Cisco IQ, at the Cisco Partner Summit held in San Diego, aiming to revolutionize how businesses manage their technology investments. In an age where operational agility is paramount, Cisco IQ promises to deliver real-time insights and streamline operations, addressing the urgent needs of small business owners navigating an increasingly complex digital landscape. With technology challenges on the rise, Cisco IQ emerges as a comprehensive solution, combining real-time insights, on-demand assessments, and personalized learning into a single AI-powered interface. Liz Centoni, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer at Cisco, emphasized, “Cisco IQ is our boldest step yet in reimagining how customers interact with Cisco — from planning and design to optimization and transformation.” This shift not only enhances how businesses operate but also aims to support IT teams with proactive tools that anticipate issues before they escalate. Small businesses often struggle with disjointed technologies and inefficient processes. Cisco IQ directly addresses these pain points by offering a unified experience that simplifies complex operations. Its capabilities include automated troubleshooting, personalized support, and dynamic visibility into assets, allowing IT teams to focus more on innovation rather than merely firefighting problems. Using a purpose-built agentic AI foundation, Cisco IQ adapts to each business’s unique operational needs. This flexibility means small businesses can enjoy hyper-personalized support that evolves alongside their requirements. The software also offers deployment options tailored to diverse environments, be it SaaS, on-premises, or air-gapped, ensuring seamless integration with existing workflows. One practical advantage of Cisco IQ is the ability to anticipate issues through on-demand assessments covering security advisories and compliance checks. This proactive stance helps mitigate risks and supports small businesses in maintaining resilience in their IT operations. Additionally, the built-in capabilities enable faster issue resolution by streamlining case management processes. However, while the features of Cisco IQ appear promising, potential challenges exist. Small business owners may face concerns regarding the initial investment required to implement such advanced solutions. Furthermore, the complexity of integrating new technology into existing systems, particularly for businesses with limited IT resources, could present a learning curve. Zeus Kerravala, founder and principal analyst at ZK Research, noted, “Cisco IQ is more than a technology: it’s a shift in how IT delivers value in an AI-driven era.” This shift indicates a need for small businesses to rethink their technology-management strategies and invest in tools that provide measurable outcomes. Partners play a crucial role in Cisco’s strategy to implement Cisco IQ, enabling small businesses to leverage advanced AI tools efficiently. As John Tan, Chief Customer Officer at Data#3, stated, “Cisco IQ enhances the traditional services and support model into something that’s far more proactive and predictive.” This collaboration with partners means small businesses can access tailored solutions that meet their specific needs, significantly enhancing their operational efficiency. Looking ahead, Cisco IQ is expected to be generally available in the second half of FY2026, marking a significant step toward an AI-led future for small businesses. The potential for reduced operational complexity and improved organizational agility could place small firms in a favorable position to compete in an increasingly challenging marketplace. As businesses contemplate integrating Cisco IQ into their operations, the key takeaways center around the tool’s potential to streamline IT management effectively. The early anticipation of issues, personalized support, and strategic foresight provided by Cisco IQ can transform how small businesses navigate their unique challenges during this rapidly evolving digital era. For further details, you can explore the full press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Cisco Launches AI-Powered Cisco IQ for Smarter IT Operations" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

You may see more smiles next time you walk into a Target. That’s because the big box retailer is hoping to provide an “elevated” customer experience with it’s new “10-4” policy, requiring staffers out on the floor to smile, wave, and welcome customers within 10 feet—and greet those just 4 feet away, USA Today reported. Fast Company has reached out to Target for comment. The policy comes less than three weeks before Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which officially kicks off the busiest and most profitable time of the year. Many stores, including Target, have already begun to roll out their Black Friday sales this year. Target’s early 2025 Black Friday sales first dropped the first week in November and continue this month online, with week-long deals every Sunday through December 24. That’s as two-thirds of Americans plan to start holiday shopping before Black Friday this year, according to August data from consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Looking ahead, Target’s official Black Friday sale drops online on Thanksgiving day, Thursday, November 27 and in-store on Friday, November 28, ending on Tuesday, December 2. Shares of Target (NYSE: TGT) were up nearly 1% in midday trading at $91.40. Target financials Target Corporation’s second quarter earnings results beat expectations with $25.21 billion in revenue, versus an expected $24.93 billion, and earnings per share (EPS) of $2.05 versus an expected $2.03. However, it posted in-store and online traffic declines due both to inflation and consumer economic concerns, as well as boycotts triggered by its rollback on DEI. The Minneapolis-based retailer announced in October it was cutting 8% of its corporate workforce, or 1,800 positions. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Your home is under constant threat from the elements—but especially from water. From roof leaks to burst pipes—water damage is the second-most claimed loss on home insurance policies, just below “wind and hail.” In fact, there are way more losses due to water damage than fire. And the most troubling aspect of water damage is how silent it can be. You can have a leak for a long time before the damage becomes bad enough to notice. And even if you know you have a water leak somewhere, locating it can often be difficult because water can travel a long way from the source before making its presence known. That’s why you need these five kinds of leak detectors on hand, so you’ll know when a damaging water leak erupts, and be able to find it quickly to minimize the damage. Moisture alarmsStep one is to have water detectors with alarms set up around the house in places where leaks are probable. These alarms are typically wifi-connected and simply detect moisture beyond a normal level, ringing out an audible alarm and sending a message to your devices warning you of a leak. Having them placed in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, attics, and anywhere else where the home comes into contact with water means leaks will be noticed right away instead of slowly destroying your property over weeks, months, or even years. These alarms can often be combined with networked shutoff valves that will automatically turn off the water supply when a leak is detected. That way, even if you’re not home, the damage from a leak will be minimized. Moisture meterAs useful as leak alarms are, they can only help if present where a water leak occurs—and they only tell you that there’s water, not where the water is coming from. Sometimes the source will be obvious, of course—if the alarm placed near your toilet goes off, chances are good that it’s your toilet doing the leaking. But if the leak begins with a pipe in your wall, one tiny spot on a large roof system, or underground, you’ll need some help locating it. A moisture meter is a must-have for finding leaks. It’s a simple device that measures the amount of moisture trapped in a material, like drywall or flooring. By taking multiple readings throughout an area, you can pinpoint where the water is concentrated before you start tearing things open to effect a repair, saving you time and money. EndoscopesSometimes you need to see inside the spaces and voids of your home to find a water leak. If you suspect a pipe is leaking in the walls, for example, and you’re getting some confusing moisture meter readings, it might be time to reach for one of the most useful tools you’ll ever own: an endoscopic camera (aka, a borescope). This is a small, flexible camera that can be inserted into a small space and fished around, allowing you to see what’s behind a wall, under a floor, or inside a soffit in your home without ripping everything open. If there’s no obvious way to insert the camera, you can usually drill a small access hole that can be easily repaired later, and the video feed will let you inspect all those pipes to see where the water’s coming from. Pipe locatorA pipe locator is exactly what it sounds like: It locates the hidden pipes feeding water into and taking water out of your house, which are often inside walls, under floors, or buried underground. If you’re trying to figure out where a leaking pipe might be located, this tool can be invaluable, especially if other options haven’t worked. They’re not cheap—this one from Rigid is one of the more affordable options, and it’s about $1,800 at the time of this writing. But you can easily spend $1,000 or more if a plumber comes out to locate and fix your leaking pipe, so if you’re comfortable fixing the leak yourself, a tool like this will pay for itself eventually because you’ll be able to isolate the leak, turn off water to just that area, and effect the repair. View the full article

Investors and regulators should sharpen scrutiny of risky lending practices and interlinkagesView the full article

In regards to employee training and development, implementing effective strategies is essential for organizational success. Start by identifying your training needs through skills gap analyses and engaging with staff to understand their performance. Setting realistic goals helps in measuring progress, whereas diverse training methods cater to different learning styles. Regularly evaluating and adjusting your strategies can lead to continuous improvement. These foundational steps pave the way for a robust training program that adapts to evolving market demands. What’s next? Key Takeaways Conduct regular skills gap analyses to align training with current and future organizational needs. Set clear, achievable goals that engage employees and reflect both individual and business objectives. Foster open communication to encourage employee feedback and enhance training effectiveness and morale. Utilize diverse training methods, including e-learning and mentorship, to accommodate various learning styles. Continuously monitor and assess training outcomes to ensure programs remain relevant and effective. Identify Your Training Needs How can you effectively identify your training needs? Start by conducting a skills gap analysis, comparing existing competencies with the skills required for your organization’s goals. This helps pinpoint specific training needs and prioritize initiatives within your employee development plan. Engage stakeholders to gather insights on performance expectations, ensuring your training and development objectives align with organizational strategies. Utilize employee feedback and performance data to evaluate training effectiveness, pinpointing areas for improvement. Leverage data analytics to track industry trends and anticipate future skill demands, keeping your training programs relevant. Finally, regularly review and update your training needs assessments to adapt to evolving technology, market conditions, and organizational priorities, ensuring ongoing effectiveness and employee growth. Analyze Staff Performance Analyzing staff performance is essential for identifying training needs and supporting employee development. By evaluating performance data, you can pinpoint skill gaps, with around 70% of organizations acknowledging that these assessments directly inform employee training requirements. Collecting employee feedback through surveys and performance reviews likewise provides valuable insights into areas needing improvement. Regular assessments help you align training programs with business goals, ensuring that employee development improves overall productivity. Furthermore, tracking metrics like training completion rates and post-training performance improvements allows you to measure the effectiveness of your initiatives. Engaging employees in discussions about their performance encourages motivation, as 80% report feeling more motivated when their development needs are recognized and addressed by management. Set Realistic Goals When you set realistic goals for employee training, you create a foundation for success. Start by defining clear objectives that align with both individual and organizational needs, ensuring everyone knows what they’re working toward. Regularly measuring progress allows you to adjust goals as necessary, keeping training relevant and effective in a fast-paced work environment. Define Clear Objectives Defining clear objectives is vital for any employee training program, as it guarantees alignment with both individual aspirations and organizational goals. By setting realistic and measurable goals, you improve the relevance and effectiveness of your training initiatives. Research shows that organizations with well-defined training objectives see a 21% increase in employee performance and productivity. When employees understand the expected outcomes, their retention rate for newly acquired skills rises to 90%. Engaging team members in the goal-setting process also encourages ownership, leading to a 70% increase in participation rates. In the end, defining clear objectives is a key aspect of training and development meaning and aligns with employee training best practices, ensuring that everyone benefits from the training experience. Measure Progress Regularly Measuring progress regularly in employee training plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the goals set aren’t merely realistic but additionally achievable. By implementing structured monitoring systems within your employee training programs, you can track completion rates and skill acquisition. This allows you to gather important metrics that indicate the effectiveness of your training and development programs for employees. Utilizing feedback mechanisms, like surveys and assessments, helps identify knowledge gaps and adjust training objectives as necessary. Establishing clear, quantifiable goals not only maintains motivation but likewise nurtures a culture of continuous improvement, as 87% of learners report applying their skills immediately after training. This accountability improves recognition for top performers, driving greater engagement and learning within your organization. Adjust Goals as Needed Adjusting goals as needed is essential for effective employee training, especially in a swiftly changing work environment. Setting realistic goals within your employee development program guarantees that expectations align with both organizational objectives and employees’ current skill levels. This alignment boosts motivation and engagement. Regularly evaluating training objectives allows for timely adjustments that reflect emerging skill gaps and market demands. Research indicates that 80% of employees thrive when managers set achievable goals that promote professional growth, resulting in higher retention rates. Moreover, incorporating employee feedback into goal-setting can greatly improve their commitment, as 91% of learners report better comprehension when training aligns with their career aspirations. Maintaining agility through regular goal revisions keeps your training and development definition relevant and effective. Create Metrics to Measure Progress Establishing effective metrics is crucial for evaluating the success of employee training initiatives. By creating clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), you can measure the effectiveness of training and development in HRM. Consider the following key metrics: Training completion rates – Track how many employees finish their assigned training. Employee performance improvements – Assess changes in productivity or quality of work pre- and post-training. Retention rates – Monitor how training impacts employee turnover. Utilizing pre- and post-training assessments can further provide insights, as 87% of learners report immediate skill application. Moreover, ongoing feedback through surveys and meetings helps identify further areas for improvement, ensuring your employee training and development efforts align with organizational goals effectively. Engage With Your Employees To effectively engage with your employees, implementing active listening techniques and encouraging open communication is crucial. By actively listening to their feedback, you not merely show that you value their opinions but likewise create a more inclusive training atmosphere. Open communication nurtures trust, leading to increased participation in training programs and a stronger commitment to their professional development. Active Listening Techniques Active listening techniques are essential for nurturing a productive workplace environment where employees feel valued and engaged. By implementing these methods, you can greatly improve your employee development content and incorporate best practices in training and development. Here are three effective strategies: Paraphrasing: Restate what your employees say to show you understand their concerns, building trust and engagement. Open-ended Questions: Encourage deeper sharing by asking questions that invite elaboration, promoting a culture of dialogue. Regular Feedback Sessions: Create opportunities for employees to voice their thoughts, making them feel heard and encouraging active participation in their learning expedition. Utilizing these techniques can lead to improved team collaboration, increased employee satisfaction, and a more cohesive workplace environment. Encourage Open Communication Encouraging open communication within your organization is a key strategy for nurturing employee engagement and trust. When you engage employees in discussions about their training preferences, you not merely address their needs but additionally promote the benefits of staff training. Here’s how open communication impacts your workplace: Benefit Impact on Employees Result Trust 80% desire manager engagement Improved morale Retention 70% increase in retention Lower turnover rates Confidence 90% report greater assurance Improved performance Satisfaction 30% improvement in ratings Higher employee satisfaction Productivity 17% more productive Positive workplace culture Open dialogue illustrates why training and development is important in the workplace, leading to a more engaged and effective team. Match Training With Organizational Goals Aligning training programs with organizational goals is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of employee development efforts. When you match training with your company’s strategic objectives, you’re not just enhancing skills; you’re driving performance. Here are three key benefits of this alignment: Employee Engagement: About 80% of employees feel more engaged when their growth aligns with company goals, leading to higher retention rates. Relevance: Continuous evaluation of training guarantees that skill development addresses specific organizational challenges, keeping your workforce adaptable. Immediate Application: Customized training allows 87% of learners to acquire skills that can be applied right away, reinforcing the benefits of employee training and development in human resource management. Develop a Structured Training Program To develop an effective structured training program, it is essential to take into account both organizational goals and employee needs simultaneously. Start by conducting a skills gap analysis to identify areas requiring training. Implement various training methods, like e-learning and mentorship, to cater to different learning styles. Regularly monitor and evaluate outcomes using KPIs and participant feedback to guarantee effectiveness. Utilizing technology, such as learning management systems, can streamline content delivery and track progress efficiently. Training Method Best Practice On-the-Job Training Hands-on experience improves learning. E-Learning Flexibility allows self-paced study. Mentorship Programs Personalized guidance promotes growth. Start Small and Scale Gradually Starting small and scaling gradually can greatly improve the effectiveness of your training initiatives. By implementing pilot programs, you can refine your approach before full rollouts. Consider these steps: Target Key Skills: Focus on a few crucial skills in your employee development courses to create a strong foundation. Gather Feedback: Use small groups to get insights and make improvements, boosting the effectiveness of your training and development training courses. Foster Continuous Learning: By starting with specific departments, you encourage a culture of learning that improves employee confidence and engagement. This phased approach not only reduces overwhelm but also allows you to integrate diverse training methods, ensuring a more inclusive and effective development environment. Offer Diverse Training Methods Providing a variety of training methods is essential for addressing the diverse learning styles and preferences of employees. Incorporating options like on-the-job training, workshops, e-learning, and mentorship programs improves employee learning and engagement. For instance, experiential learning and hands-on training enhance retention rates, as employees can apply new skills in real-world situations. Flexible e-learning options allow access to training courses for employees at their convenience, supporting busy schedules as they encourage continuous development. Furthermore, blended learning approaches combine in-person and digital methods, creating a thorough skill development experience. Group training sessions promote collaboration and shared knowledge, leading to improved team cohesion and workplace performance. Regularly Evaluate and Adjust Training Strategies Regular evaluation and adjustment of training strategies is crucial for ensuring that your development initiatives effectively meet organizational goals. To achieve this, consider these steps: Utilize KPIs: Measure the impact of training initiatives, pinpointing areas for improvement and ensuring alignment with desired outcomes. Gather Feedback: Collect insights from participants regarding content and delivery methods, encouraging an environment for continuous refinement and effectiveness. Implement Continuous Improvement: Regularly evaluate and adjust training strategies to stay relevant and responsive to industry changes and skill gaps. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 70 20 10 Rule for Training and Development? The 70-20-10 Rule for training and development suggests that 70% of learning happens through practical, on-the-job experiences, 20% through interactions and feedback from peers, and 10% through formal education. For instance, when you tackle real projects, you gain hands-on skills that improve your performance. Furthermore, collaborating with colleagues helps you absorb knowledge effectively. Finally, structured courses can provide foundational knowledge, but they should only supplement your primary learning experiences. What Are the 7 Steps to Create an Effective Training Program? To create an effective training program, start by identifying your organization’s goals and objectives. Next, conduct a skills gap analysis to pinpoint areas needing improvement. Choose training methods that fit employee preferences, such as workshops or e-learning. Implement the program during monitoring progress and gathering feedback. Finally, evaluate the outcomes by reviewing skill acquisition and using key performance indicators to make necessary adjustments for future training initiatives. This structured approach guarantees effectiveness. What Is the Strategy of Training and Development? The strategy of training and development involves a structured approach to improve employees’ skills and knowledge. You identify specific skill gaps, aligning training initiatives with organizational goals. Using various methods, like e-learning, workshops, and mentorship, caters to different learning styles, boosting engagement. Regularly monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes guarantees the training remains effective and relevant, allowing necessary adjustments. Engaging stakeholders likewise promotes a culture of continuous learning, positioning your organization for future success. What Are the 5 Steps in a Good Employee Training Program? To create a good employee training program, start by identifying organizational goals to align training with strategic priorities. Next, conduct a skills gap analysis to determine the difference between current employee competencies and required skills. Then, choose appropriate training methods customized to those needs. Implement the program and monitor progress for measurable results. Finally, evaluate effectiveness through participant feedback and performance metrics to refine future training initiatives for continuous improvement. Conclusion By implementing these ten crucial strategies, you can create an effective training and development program that meets your organization’s needs. Start by identifying your training requirements and analyzing staff performance to set realistic goals. Engage with employees throughout the process and develop a structured program that incorporates diverse training methods. Regularly evaluate and adjust your strategies to guarantee continuous improvement. This approach not just improves employee skills but additionally aligns training efforts with your organizational objectives for better overall performance. Image via Google Gemini This article, "10 Essential Strategies for Employee Training and Development" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In regards to employee training and development, implementing effective strategies is essential for organizational success. Start by identifying your training needs through skills gap analyses and engaging with staff to understand their performance. Setting realistic goals helps in measuring progress, whereas diverse training methods cater to different learning styles. Regularly evaluating and adjusting your strategies can lead to continuous improvement. These foundational steps pave the way for a robust training program that adapts to evolving market demands. What’s next? Key Takeaways Conduct regular skills gap analyses to align training with current and future organizational needs. Set clear, achievable goals that engage employees and reflect both individual and business objectives. Foster open communication to encourage employee feedback and enhance training effectiveness and morale. Utilize diverse training methods, including e-learning and mentorship, to accommodate various learning styles. Continuously monitor and assess training outcomes to ensure programs remain relevant and effective. Identify Your Training Needs How can you effectively identify your training needs? Start by conducting a skills gap analysis, comparing existing competencies with the skills required for your organization’s goals. This helps pinpoint specific training needs and prioritize initiatives within your employee development plan. Engage stakeholders to gather insights on performance expectations, ensuring your training and development objectives align with organizational strategies. Utilize employee feedback and performance data to evaluate training effectiveness, pinpointing areas for improvement. Leverage data analytics to track industry trends and anticipate future skill demands, keeping your training programs relevant. Finally, regularly review and update your training needs assessments to adapt to evolving technology, market conditions, and organizational priorities, ensuring ongoing effectiveness and employee growth. Analyze Staff Performance Analyzing staff performance is essential for identifying training needs and supporting employee development. By evaluating performance data, you can pinpoint skill gaps, with around 70% of organizations acknowledging that these assessments directly inform employee training requirements. Collecting employee feedback through surveys and performance reviews likewise provides valuable insights into areas needing improvement. Regular assessments help you align training programs with business goals, ensuring that employee development improves overall productivity. Furthermore, tracking metrics like training completion rates and post-training performance improvements allows you to measure the effectiveness of your initiatives. Engaging employees in discussions about their performance encourages motivation, as 80% report feeling more motivated when their development needs are recognized and addressed by management. Set Realistic Goals When you set realistic goals for employee training, you create a foundation for success. Start by defining clear objectives that align with both individual and organizational needs, ensuring everyone knows what they’re working toward. Regularly measuring progress allows you to adjust goals as necessary, keeping training relevant and effective in a fast-paced work environment. Define Clear Objectives Defining clear objectives is vital for any employee training program, as it guarantees alignment with both individual aspirations and organizational goals. By setting realistic and measurable goals, you improve the relevance and effectiveness of your training initiatives. Research shows that organizations with well-defined training objectives see a 21% increase in employee performance and productivity. When employees understand the expected outcomes, their retention rate for newly acquired skills rises to 90%. Engaging team members in the goal-setting process also encourages ownership, leading to a 70% increase in participation rates. In the end, defining clear objectives is a key aspect of training and development meaning and aligns with employee training best practices, ensuring that everyone benefits from the training experience. Measure Progress Regularly Measuring progress regularly in employee training plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the goals set aren’t merely realistic but additionally achievable. By implementing structured monitoring systems within your employee training programs, you can track completion rates and skill acquisition. This allows you to gather important metrics that indicate the effectiveness of your training and development programs for employees. Utilizing feedback mechanisms, like surveys and assessments, helps identify knowledge gaps and adjust training objectives as necessary. Establishing clear, quantifiable goals not only maintains motivation but likewise nurtures a culture of continuous improvement, as 87% of learners report applying their skills immediately after training. This accountability improves recognition for top performers, driving greater engagement and learning within your organization. Adjust Goals as Needed Adjusting goals as needed is essential for effective employee training, especially in a swiftly changing work environment. Setting realistic goals within your employee development program guarantees that expectations align with both organizational objectives and employees’ current skill levels. This alignment boosts motivation and engagement. Regularly evaluating training objectives allows for timely adjustments that reflect emerging skill gaps and market demands. Research indicates that 80% of employees thrive when managers set achievable goals that promote professional growth, resulting in higher retention rates. Moreover, incorporating employee feedback into goal-setting can greatly improve their commitment, as 91% of learners report better comprehension when training aligns with their career aspirations. Maintaining agility through regular goal revisions keeps your training and development definition relevant and effective. Create Metrics to Measure Progress Establishing effective metrics is crucial for evaluating the success of employee training initiatives. By creating clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), you can measure the effectiveness of training and development in HRM. Consider the following key metrics: Training completion rates – Track how many employees finish their assigned training. Employee performance improvements – Assess changes in productivity or quality of work pre- and post-training. Retention rates – Monitor how training impacts employee turnover. Utilizing pre- and post-training assessments can further provide insights, as 87% of learners report immediate skill application. Moreover, ongoing feedback through surveys and meetings helps identify further areas for improvement, ensuring your employee training and development efforts align with organizational goals effectively. Engage With Your Employees To effectively engage with your employees, implementing active listening techniques and encouraging open communication is crucial. By actively listening to their feedback, you not merely show that you value their opinions but likewise create a more inclusive training atmosphere. Open communication nurtures trust, leading to increased participation in training programs and a stronger commitment to their professional development. Active Listening Techniques Active listening techniques are essential for nurturing a productive workplace environment where employees feel valued and engaged. By implementing these methods, you can greatly improve your employee development content and incorporate best practices in training and development. Here are three effective strategies: Paraphrasing: Restate what your employees say to show you understand their concerns, building trust and engagement. Open-ended Questions: Encourage deeper sharing by asking questions that invite elaboration, promoting a culture of dialogue. Regular Feedback Sessions: Create opportunities for employees to voice their thoughts, making them feel heard and encouraging active participation in their learning expedition. Utilizing these techniques can lead to improved team collaboration, increased employee satisfaction, and a more cohesive workplace environment. Encourage Open Communication Encouraging open communication within your organization is a key strategy for nurturing employee engagement and trust. When you engage employees in discussions about their training preferences, you not merely address their needs but additionally promote the benefits of staff training. Here’s how open communication impacts your workplace: Benefit Impact on Employees Result Trust 80% desire manager engagement Improved morale Retention 70% increase in retention Lower turnover rates Confidence 90% report greater assurance Improved performance Satisfaction 30% improvement in ratings Higher employee satisfaction Productivity 17% more productive Positive workplace culture Open dialogue illustrates why training and development is important in the workplace, leading to a more engaged and effective team. Match Training With Organizational Goals Aligning training programs with organizational goals is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of employee development efforts. When you match training with your company’s strategic objectives, you’re not just enhancing skills; you’re driving performance. Here are three key benefits of this alignment: Employee Engagement: About 80% of employees feel more engaged when their growth aligns with company goals, leading to higher retention rates. Relevance: Continuous evaluation of training guarantees that skill development addresses specific organizational challenges, keeping your workforce adaptable. Immediate Application: Customized training allows 87% of learners to acquire skills that can be applied right away, reinforcing the benefits of employee training and development in human resource management. Develop a Structured Training Program To develop an effective structured training program, it is essential to take into account both organizational goals and employee needs simultaneously. Start by conducting a skills gap analysis to identify areas requiring training. Implement various training methods, like e-learning and mentorship, to cater to different learning styles. Regularly monitor and evaluate outcomes using KPIs and participant feedback to guarantee effectiveness. Utilizing technology, such as learning management systems, can streamline content delivery and track progress efficiently. Training Method Best Practice On-the-Job Training Hands-on experience improves learning. E-Learning Flexibility allows self-paced study. Mentorship Programs Personalized guidance promotes growth. Start Small and Scale Gradually Starting small and scaling gradually can greatly improve the effectiveness of your training initiatives. By implementing pilot programs, you can refine your approach before full rollouts. Consider these steps: Target Key Skills: Focus on a few crucial skills in your employee development courses to create a strong foundation. Gather Feedback: Use small groups to get insights and make improvements, boosting the effectiveness of your training and development training courses. Foster Continuous Learning: By starting with specific departments, you encourage a culture of learning that improves employee confidence and engagement. This phased approach not only reduces overwhelm but also allows you to integrate diverse training methods, ensuring a more inclusive and effective development environment. Offer Diverse Training Methods Providing a variety of training methods is essential for addressing the diverse learning styles and preferences of employees. Incorporating options like on-the-job training, workshops, e-learning, and mentorship programs improves employee learning and engagement. For instance, experiential learning and hands-on training enhance retention rates, as employees can apply new skills in real-world situations. Flexible e-learning options allow access to training courses for employees at their convenience, supporting busy schedules as they encourage continuous development. Furthermore, blended learning approaches combine in-person and digital methods, creating a thorough skill development experience. Group training sessions promote collaboration and shared knowledge, leading to improved team cohesion and workplace performance. Regularly Evaluate and Adjust Training Strategies Regular evaluation and adjustment of training strategies is crucial for ensuring that your development initiatives effectively meet organizational goals. To achieve this, consider these steps: Utilize KPIs: Measure the impact of training initiatives, pinpointing areas for improvement and ensuring alignment with desired outcomes. Gather Feedback: Collect insights from participants regarding content and delivery methods, encouraging an environment for continuous refinement and effectiveness. Implement Continuous Improvement: Regularly evaluate and adjust training strategies to stay relevant and responsive to industry changes and skill gaps. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 70 20 10 Rule for Training and Development? The 70-20-10 Rule for training and development suggests that 70% of learning happens through practical, on-the-job experiences, 20% through interactions and feedback from peers, and 10% through formal education. For instance, when you tackle real projects, you gain hands-on skills that improve your performance. Furthermore, collaborating with colleagues helps you absorb knowledge effectively. Finally, structured courses can provide foundational knowledge, but they should only supplement your primary learning experiences. What Are the 7 Steps to Create an Effective Training Program? To create an effective training program, start by identifying your organization’s goals and objectives. Next, conduct a skills gap analysis to pinpoint areas needing improvement. Choose training methods that fit employee preferences, such as workshops or e-learning. Implement the program during monitoring progress and gathering feedback. Finally, evaluate the outcomes by reviewing skill acquisition and using key performance indicators to make necessary adjustments for future training initiatives. This structured approach guarantees effectiveness. What Is the Strategy of Training and Development? The strategy of training and development involves a structured approach to improve employees’ skills and knowledge. You identify specific skill gaps, aligning training initiatives with organizational goals. Using various methods, like e-learning, workshops, and mentorship, caters to different learning styles, boosting engagement. Regularly monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes guarantees the training remains effective and relevant, allowing necessary adjustments. Engaging stakeholders likewise promotes a culture of continuous learning, positioning your organization for future success. What Are the 5 Steps in a Good Employee Training Program? To create a good employee training program, start by identifying organizational goals to align training with strategic priorities. Next, conduct a skills gap analysis to determine the difference between current employee competencies and required skills. Then, choose appropriate training methods customized to those needs. Implement the program and monitor progress for measurable results. Finally, evaluate effectiveness through participant feedback and performance metrics to refine future training initiatives for continuous improvement. Conclusion By implementing these ten crucial strategies, you can create an effective training and development program that meets your organization’s needs. Start by identifying your training requirements and analyzing staff performance to set realistic goals. Engage with employees throughout the process and develop a structured program that incorporates diverse training methods. Regularly evaluate and adjust your strategies to guarantee continuous improvement. This approach not just improves employee skills but additionally aligns training efforts with your organizational objectives for better overall performance. Image via Google Gemini This article, "10 Essential Strategies for Employee Training and Development" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article