Global Talent #35
Saying “No” to Reduce Workspace Stress and How to Use the Team of Teams Model for Your Business
Is Remote Work The Only Way Forward For An FDA Struggling With Staffing Crises?
Matthew Perrone | Fast Company | April 10, 2025
Facing internal chaos and staff exodus, the FDA has reversed its return-to-office mandate, allowing key drug reviewers and supervisors to telework at least twice weekly. The move comes after over 3,400 layoffs - more than 15% of the agency’s workforce sparked concerns about core functions like new drug approvals grinding to a halt. Internal emails and staff reports confirm that teams handling vaccines, biotech drugs, and medical devices are also affected. The abrupt reversal signals new Commissioner Marty Makary’s effort to retain talent and restore stability. Many FDA employees, often lured by flexible work perks over higher private-sector pay, had faced broken infrastructure and overcrowded offices when recalled. Nearly 70% of the FDA’s drug program is funded by industry fees, but these fees hinge on Congress maintaining minimum federal funding. If funding dips further, the user-fee system could collapse, jeopardizing upcoming reauthorization talks and the agency’s long-term operations.
Can Leaders Really Reduce Workplace Stress by Helping Teams Say “No” More Often?
The Insightful Leader Podcast | Kellogg Insight | April 10, 2025
Chronic workplace stress isn't just a personal issue - it’s a business problem with a $300 billion annual price tag in the U.S. alone. In a recent episode of The Insightful Leader, Carter Cast, former Walmart.com executive and Kellogg professor, argues that stress often stems not from what happens, but from how we respond. Cast advocates for “calendar discipline” to escape reactive work modes. Leaders can reduce constant interruptions that erode productivity by batching tasks and creating intentional time blocks. He suggests a mindset shift rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy to help individuals reframe negative experiences. Managers, too, play a pivotal role. Cast emphasizes cutting nonessential tasks from team workflows and encouraging work that aligns with each member’s strengths and values. His advice is practical: say “no” more often, pause before overcommitting, and prioritize what truly matters. Leaders who model these habits can foster less stressed, more focused, and ultimately more creative teams.
What If Burnout Elimination Could Boost Profits by 25%?
Amrita Ahuja | Care.com | April 10, 2025
A new Care.com survey highlights a stark disconnect between employer perceptions and employee realities around burnout. While 84% of employers acknowledge burnout's role in retention issues, they underestimate its scope, estimating only 45% of employees are affected. In contrast, 69% of employees report moderate to high burnout risk. The data suggests companies are underestimating both the problem and its business impact. A striking 80% of employees believe eliminating burnout could boost profitability by at least 25%. Caregiving pressures are a critical factor, with 83% of those managing family care citing it as a burnout driver. Consequences of unsupported caregiving include higher stress (64%), lower job satisfaction (40%), and increased absenteeism (34%). Nearly one in five employees have already quit due to insufficient family care support. The report reveals that 20% would change jobs for better senior care benefits, emphasizing the growing demand for supportive workplace policies.
Can Strategic Office Use Help Rebuild Trust and Belonging in Hybrid Work Cultures?
Gretchen Gavett | Harvard Business Review | April 10, 2025
The post-pandemic office is no longer just a place—it’s a tool for connection, innovation, and culture-building. In an in-depth conversation with workspace researcher Jennifer Magnolfi Astill, five years after Covid-19 reshaped the world of work, two insights stand out: widespread digital adoption permanently redefined the “workspace,” and social isolation has become a serious organizational challenge. Platforms like Zoom surged 326% in 2021, but long-term screen dependence contributed to rising loneliness, prompting the U.S. Surgeon General to call it a public health crisis by 2023. Astill argues that physical workspaces are still vital—not for presence, but for enabling collaboration, shared goals, and team cohesion. The challenge isn’t mandating office days but using the office strategically—during project peaks, like planning or launch phases, to build trust and cohesion. The future of work hinges on reframing the office as a relational environment, not just a location.
What Makes the ‘Team of Teams’ Model Critical for Thriving in Complexity?
Vera Woodhead | The HR Director | April 8, 2025
Traditional hierarchies are crumbling under the pressure of rapid change, and HR leaders are increasingly adopting the ‘Team of Teams’ model to drive agility. Inspired by military strategy, this model restructures organizations into decentralized, networked teams united by shared goals and real-time transparency. Companies using team-based structures report up to 30% efficiency gains, while 42% of HR leaders cite outdated job designs as a barrier to agility. Core principles - shared consciousness, decentralized decision-making, empowered execution, trust, and continuous learning, enable faster responses and innovation. Tools like cross-functional dashboards and decision-rights frameworks operationalize these shifts. Spotify’s Squad Model serves as a real-world example of decentralized success. Key metrics such as decision velocity (with typical improvements of 40–60%) and leadership effectiveness help track transformation impact. While challenges like cultural resistance and leadership shifts exist, pilot programs, storytelling, and coaching ease adoption. Ultimately, embracing this model is less about process and more about rethinking how organizations lead, learn, and adapt.
