Fighting fatigue, hot flashes and mood swings can take a woman in menopause to the edge of her patience, as we see in our Live Well, Work Well story today featuring kindergarten teacher Kirsten Sebold's experience and how menopause symptoms were affecting her work. Do workplaces need to take a closer look at this issue and how they're supporting their female employees? Let us know.  

Also in this issue:

✅ From typewriters to Zoom calls: The tools that changed work ✅ Harvard trade schools may be reality under White House deal

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McCormick & Co. is facing a federal lawsuit from a former employee who alleges that the spice maker did not pay more than 1,000 factory workers for mandatory daily tasks, including donning and removing protective gear, that could take up to 40 minutes. According to the suit, employees had to arrive early to put on respirators, uniforms and safety boots, sanitize, and walk to their stations, and stay after shifts to remove equipment. The lawsuit claims the practice violates federal wage laws and seeks back pay, liquidated damages, interest and legal fees.

Matt's take. Workplaces may want to keep a close eye on this and examine their own policies, because a similar lawsuit was filed last week.

Harvard University is in discussions with the Trump administration regarding a $500 million agreement to operate trade schools, as part of a broader initiative to expand the university's role in vocational education. The proposed partnership would make Harvard the second Ivy League school, after Brown, to make a large-scale commitment to workforce development and technical training. While Harvard is traditionally known for its elite academic programs, it does already offer a range of accessible continuing education options, workforce training in local communities and research-driven initiatives focused on the future of work.

Landmark inventions, such as the Otis elevator in 1853, the Remington typewriter in 1874, and air conditioning in 1902, transformed office environments and revolutionized the way people work. Elisha Otis's safety brake innovation for the elevator eliminated the risk of cable failures, enabling architects to design skyscrapers and leading to the rise of centralized, multi-story office headquarters. The introduction of air conditioning in offices fostered higher productivity -- typists in cooled offices were found to be nearly 20% more efficient -- and expanded opportunities for business development in regions with hot and tropical climates.

Kanoe's take. These folks were just trying to solve problems, but as they did, they changed the course of history. They altered not just how we work, but how we think about work and employees. Air conditioning and elevators weren't about comfort and convenience. They were about safety, productivity and growth. The typewriter opened doors for more women to work outside the home. They took on clerical roles typically held by men and made an important impact on the economy. Innovation and progress!

Matt's take. I just want to say air conditioning is the crown jewel here. I appreciated that the story didn't just focus on word processors and the transition from fax machines to email. Not to diminish those inventions, but safety (and in our modern world, comfort) is critical for productivity. Disclaimer: My portion of this newsletter was written wearing slippers and sitting next to a woodstove on a barely 40-degree day. 

Symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and mood swings can affect women's work performance. Kindergarten teacher Kirsten Sebold says menopause symptoms made her irritable and impatient with her students until she began hormone replacement therapy. Women going through this experience can often feel isolated and unsupported at work. Experts are hopeful that the FDA's decision to remove black box warnings from HRT products may lead to more open discussions and support for menopausal women in the workplace.

Kanoe's take. Hormone replacement therapy provides much-needed relief to many women and helps them reduce the disruption to their workday. Check out the advice from Dr. Marie Nakhoul, of the University of Maryland Medical Center, for managing menopause symptoms and seeking support. 

Medical costs per workers' compensation claim have begun to rise after a period of stability, according to a Workers Compensation Research Institute report. The report, which examines 18 states, notes a 5% increase in California, a 7% increase in Delaware, a 14% increase in Pennsylvania and a 6% increase in Wisconsin.

To succeed in the competitive talent market, organizations should focus on culture, clarity and compensation, writes William Thygeson, HR chief of Ascot Group. Thygeson emphasizes the importance of demonstrating an authentic, engaging and supportive culture during the interview process, providing clear role expectations and offering comprehensive compensation packages, as well as building trust with candidates and investing in employee development.