• Employers switch gears, work to keep key talent
  Now that the economy is improving, employers are shifting from trying to cut their workforce to working to retain valuable employees. More employers are offering incentives such as company shares, flexible schedules and management training in an effort to retain key talent as the economy improves. Executives also are meeting in small groups or one-on-one with workers to share company news or help chart career paths. The Wall Street Journal (11/16)

• How you follow determines how you will lead
  Your leadership style is determined by the kind of follower you were, and "don't kid yourself," you can change it, writes Bret L. Simmons, a University of Nevada management professor. The behavior and assumptions you learn as a follower become ingrained and determine how others relate to you and how you project what you consider acceptable, Simmons says. BretLSimmons.com (11/13)

• Psst! Workplace gossip may be OK
  Workplace gossip isn't always a bad thing, according to a study in the Journal of Contemporary Ethnography. Gossip can help pass information and aid employees in understanding who are the "key movers and why." Still, organizations should emphasize mutual respect in passing information and zero tolerance for hurtful comments. Human Resource Executive (11/13)

• Upcoming HR tech trends
  Leaders who want to be competitive should understand that human-resources technology is evolving to include less dependence on IT operations and more direct connections with employees and customers via consumer-oriented networks or platforms, Steve Boese writes. Recruitment, training and information also will become more mobile, such as using smartphones. Steve Boese's HR Technology blog (11/16)

• Employer's wellness program cuts health-care tab
  Paychex has cut 2% off its medical-growth spending rate by encouraging employees to become healthier through medical screenings and financial incentives. Workers can earn up to $300 a year for wellness-program participation. The company also raised prices on less-healthy cafeteria options at the urging of workers. CNNMoney.com/Fortune (11/12)

• 7 holiday business gifts that send the right message
  When selecting holiday business gifts, look for those that "warm the relationship" but aren't too lavish in tough times, Shira Levine writes. Some good options include a golf simulator, a talking coffee pot, an easy travel kit and a protective smartphone case. OPEN Forum blogs/The Business Insider (11/13)

• 5 ways to motivate workers
  If you want to help your workers recharge, go on a team outing, or give an extra day off or longer lunch breaks to top performers, Bethany Marzewski writes. By telling workers what they're doing right and giving them tasks geared toward their strengths, you help keep them focused and doing better quality work. KnowHR (11/13)

• Do you plan to make changes to your health benefits in response to possible government influence in 2010?
  

	Yes, we plan to increase coverage to our employees due to the influence.
	Yes, we plan to decrease coverage to our employees due to the influence.
	No, we are not anticipating any government influence on our health plan in 2010.
	We are waiting until something has been changed, and we'll react at that time.
	We don't know.

• World domino record topples
  A world record for toppling dominoes was set in the Netherlands as 4,491,863 dominoes fell one after the other over 1 1/2 hours. As part of the 11th annual Domino Day, 90 builders from 14 European countries worked for two months using rulers and tweezers to set the dominoes in precisely the right formation. CCTV International (China) (11/15)

Top five news stories selected by SmartBrief on Workforce readers in the past week.

• 3 ways to look smart while asking for help (HarvardBusiness.org)

• FBI agent reveals the secrets of nonverbal cues (Forbes)

• 5 ways to survive a flood of work (Web Worker Daily)

• If you can't say anything nice, say it anyway (Gallup Management Journal (free content))

• 21 tips for generating more great ideas (Bob Sutton's Work Matters blog)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

• Take the next leap in your career
  Could you or anyone you know use a little jump-start in your career?

  Join SmartBrief and JobAngels for a happy hour event on Nov. 19 at La Tasca in Washington to celebrate the launch of "Super Staying Power," a book by Jason Seiden, a member of the SmartBrief on Workforce Advisory Board. Have Jason sign your copy while you network with other young professionals and career veterans over tapas and sangria. Preregister to receive a ticket for one free drink.

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