Latest news with #Prudential
Fast Company
2 hours ago
- Business
- Fast Company
How to make ‘workcations' work
Summer is here, and 'workcations,' a blend of business and personal travel, are on the rise. According to data from Engine, a group travel startup, nearly two-thirds (65%) of full-time employed Gen Z workers say they're likely to combine business travel with leisure travel. Also known as 'bleisure,' this trend sees Gen Zers consistently adding extra nights to their work trips. Why? For many, it feels like a free trip. Others say it gives them a chance to visit cities they wouldn't normally travel to (35%), helps them maintain work-life balance (33%), and allows them to recharge and reduce stress (33%). If workcations are here to stay, what makes them successful for both employers and employees? In this article, we share expert and employer insights on how to make workcations work. Be transparent I've combined business travel with family adventures across 60-plus countries, working during the mornings and exploring in the afternoons. My best tip? Be open with your company. I chose roles at global companies because I wanted my family to see the world with me. I told each company up front: 'My kids will travel with me, but it won't conflict with my work.' They were always super supportive. In the end, blending work and travel not only sustained my career—it raised my kids to be fearless, adaptable global citizens. Jenny Dearborn, Chief People Strategy Officer and Talent Insights Practice Leader, BTS Companies may need to establish a formal program Prudential's Work From Anywhere program allows employees to work fully remotely for up to four weeks in the U.S. Recently, three employees utilized our Work From Anywhere program to work from San Diego for two weeks. They stayed together in a short-term rental, connected and collaborated in person, took time off to explore the city, and even used our volunteer PTO to volunteer with a local nonprofit. This is an example of our commitment to flexibility and employee well-being, which is supported through comprehensive benefits and programs. I'm glad that this approach continues to help our people drive great outcomes for our business. Robert Gulliver, Chief Talent & Diversity Officer at Prudential Financial Time-box to make progress My wife and I have been living the nomadic lifestyle for about 10 years now. If you're traveling every few days, it's almost impossible to be truly productive. We stay in each place for at least two weeks, but ideally for one to three months. While it's possible to respond to emails and chats and do other busy work while in transit, I've found that it's crucial to build in workdays while traveling. These are days with zero plans other than work. Or at least, mornings with zero plans. If we're going to explore in the afternoon, I'll block about four hours in the morning to get some work done. I'll spend the first hour responding to emails and any unanswered support questions. Then I'll have three hours to focus on one or more larger projects. Time-boxing allows me to make significant progress in a short amount of time. I know I've only got a few hours, so I work quickly and efficiently. I'm far more productive when I know time is limited, and I use that time much more effectively. Address resources, needs, and unhook The secret to recharging your batteries is ensuring that you fill three specific buckets, referred to as the ReNU buckets. The 'Re' in ReNU stands for resources. To refresh yourself in your leisure time, you need to ensure that you replenish the resources that get depleted at work. The 'N' stands for needs. To get a boost in your leisure time, you need to satisfy your physical need for sleep and your psychological needs, such as the need for autonomy. The 'U' stands for unhooking, which involves psychologically detaching from work. It's not enough to physically leave the office; you must mentally leave the office. Workcations won't be recharging because they don't allow you to fill the ReNU buckets. By continuing to work, you fail to replenish depleted work resources, and are likely to feel just as run down after a workcation as you felt before it. Jamie Gruman, PhD, Professor and Senior Research Fellow, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, University of Guelph Consider embracing a workcation lifestyle Back in 2020, I was seeing my coaching and therapy clients in person, rushing between meetings, navigating packed sidewalks. It was a life I had carefully built. But when the world changed, I realized I was ready for something different. So I packed my laptop and headed west to Utah. Between client sessions, I explored hiking trails instead of crowded streets, soaking in the fresh air and wide-open views. After nine weeks, I decided to sell most of my belongings, let go of my office lease, and drive cross-country. I was thinking, 'Why wait until retirement to live in the places I love?' For the past four years, I've embraced a flexible, minimalist lifestyle while working with clients online. Do I still miss in-person sessions sometimes? Absolutely. But being able to show up fully for my clients and live a life aligned with my values has been an incredible gift. Find accommodations with strong Wi-Fi I help travelers experience both remote adventure and refined comfort across Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. As someone who manages international clients year-round, I find that picking accommodations that are more than just 'Wi-Fi friendly' is essential to a successful workcation. You'll need space, quiet, and reliable backup if you're on video calls when blending work and travel. My top tip for balancing work and exploration is to find a strong hotel Wi-Fi connection. Treat workcations like a rhythm My family and I just returned from two months at sea—all while working remotely and world-schooling our then-6-year-old daughter. My top tip? Having set 'office hours' on sea days helped us maintain structure while still leaving room for the spontaneity and joy of travel. Even better, not having to manage the daily demands of our at-home lifestyle—cooking, cleaning, and laundry, all of which were taken care of on board—gave us a surprising amount of extra free time we hadn't anticipated. Treat workcations like a rhythm, and be willing to make adjustments. By clearly separating time for work, time for exploration, and planning ahead with your clients or team, you can be both present and productive.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Employers without paid caregiving leave risk losing talent, Prudential says
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter. As more workers of all generations take on caregiving responsibilities, employers could risk losing their top talent if they don't offer paid caregiving benefits, according to a June 23 report from Prudential Financial. In a survey, employees pointed to paid caregiving leave as a top benefit, yet only 52% of employers offer this type of paid time off. 'Caregiving isn't a niche issue — it's a workplace reality,' said Michael Estep, president of Prudential Group Insurance. 'Employees across every demographic are asking for paid leave, and employers who don't respond risk losing talent.' In surveys of nearly 3,000 full-time employees and 750 employers in the U.S., employers most often offered paid leave programs for parental (89%), military (55%), caregiving (52%) and pregnancy loss (51%) reasons. Although 63% of employers said they offer employer-paid leave programs, a third of employees said they needed to take a family or medical leave for at least four days but didn't. They cited barriers such as affordability, stigma, career advancement concerns and worries about passing on the workload to their co-workers. Employers noted hesitations, too. While 69% said they recognize the positive impact of paid leave on business outcomes, they expressed concerns about policy abuse and said unpaid leave or short-term disability should meet employees' needs. In the report, employees said they wanted to better understand their paid leave programs, and employers said they wanted better guidance on how to navigate state leave laws. Companies can address these concerns by listening to employee needs, explaining benefits with consistent and clear communication and consulting with brokers to address employee needs with state laws in mind, Prudential found. 'Embracing paid leave as an essential benefit that supports the well-being of caregivers in the workplace can be a powerful strategy to attract and retain talented workers, while also supporting them in ways that can boost satisfaction, loyalty and performance,' Estep said. Half of moms in the 'sandwich generation,' who support both children and adult dependents, say they've left a job due to their caregiving responsibilities, according to a report from Motherly and the University of Phoenix Career Institute. Two-thirds also said their employer's benefits don't meet the needs of their adult caregiving responsibilities, and 68% said the same about child care. As parental leave becomes more commonplace, more companies may look to improve their overall caregiving leave options, an absence and leave expert told HR Dive. Flexible work arrangements, in particular, could meet the needs of the sandwich generation, he said. Recommended Reading With ambition changing, only 3 in 10 workers aspire to C-suite roles
Business Times
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Business Times
Redefining brotherhood: The new language of male bonding in Singapore
[SINGAPORE] A catch-up with your national service buddies at the kopitiam. A round of drinks in your members' club. A friendly soccer match on the weekend. A round of golf in Sentosa, Bintan or Langkawi. Male bonding in Singapore used to be a simple affair, usually revolving around meals or sports. But then life got more complicated. And as it did, so did the variety of ways in which men could forge friendships, build support networks and find solace in an increasingly complex society – one where the rules of masculinity were being challenged, or, in some cases, upended. From cathartic, controlled chaos activities like axe throwing and rage rooms, to creative pursuits such as all-male choirs, art jamming and virtual reality (VR) experiences, as well as exploits requiring strategy and teamwork such as escape rooms and paintball – more men are turning to alternative outlets. These non-traditional mechanisms allow them to express their emotions, release tension in healthy ways, and reconnect with parts of themselves often muted by societal expectations. Under pressure In Singapore's hustle culture, men often find themselves under immense pressure to succeed professionally and personally. Dr Marcus Martinez, founder of Whole Life Alignment, observes: 'In Singapore, I see many men silently shouldering immense pressure – from career expectations to societal definitions of success.' The chiropractor/transformational coach finds that the 'always on' culture, long work hours and financial demands often push men's emotional well-being to the back burner. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Gabrielle Mendoza, a nervous system rewire and yoga therapist, and Dylan Werner, a yoga teacher and ex-US Marine, echo Martinez's sentiment. 'In high-pressure sectors like finance or consulting… the 'always on' state pushes the nervous system into chronic fight-or-flight mode, often without people realising it.' Werner adds that under such circumstances, 'the pressure to succeed can be so constant that we don't even notice we've gone numb – it just becomes the baseline'. Mendoza and Werner are both leading sessions at the upcoming Glow Festival by Prudential, an annual wellness festival that will be held at Marina Bay Sands from Jul 5. The changing face of masculinity Traditional notions of masculinity often discourage emotional expression. 'In many Asian cultures, there's a strong emphasis on not showing weakness, preserving pride and avoiding the loss of face,' reflects Kenneth Chan, the former CEO of McDonald's China, who is now retired. 'These expectations can make it difficult to openly express vulnerability or seek help when experiencing burnout,' he adds. Chan is also the author of Asians in Charge: How to Earn Your Place at the Leadership Table (2022). Werner shares his personal journey, particularly during his stint in the military, saying: 'For a long time, I didn't understand vulnerability at all. I was conditioned to shut it down. To suppress emotion, compartmentalise pain and stay hard, no matter what. That kind of emotional detachment was drilled into me during my time in the Marine Corps.' The pandemic served as a turning point. Quek Kwang Yong, a counsellor at A Kind Place, noticed that Covid-19 had a profound impact on how Singaporean men viewed mental health, coping and life purpose. 'Alongside increased mental health challenges, there was also a surge in awareness and acceptance. Cultural norms shifted toward normalising emotional vulnerability and help-seeking,' he says. A Kind Place founder/psychologist Ooi Sze Jin notes that the practice has seen an increase in men seeking therapy. For those in their late 20s and early 30s, she says, typical triggers include work, relationship, financial and home ownership-related matters. Embracing alternative outlets As the stigma around mental health continues to decline, men have been exploring non-traditional approaches to express themselves and connect with others. Activities such as singing in a choir and VR experiences offer creative, non-physical outlets that promote emotional expression and reduce stress. 'For many Singaporean men, singing, especially in public, isn't something that comes naturally. Most juggle multiple roles as fathers, sons, professionals and providers, and often fall under the unspoken expectation to remain composed and 'tough',' says Justin Goh, a conductor who founded all-male choir VOS Men in 2022. 'But something changes when they enter a choral setting. Singing in a group offers a shared sense of vulnerability that feels safe,' Goh adds, noting that there has been an increase in both interest and audition numbers. From 20 members last year, the choir now has 25 members. Ean Cheong, founder of Lele Bakery and a member of VOS Men, shares: 'Singing and being part of a choir have been a powerful anchor for my emotional and mental well-being as a business owner. It gives me space to take a break from the daily grind and reconnect with something deeply personal and uplifting.' Chan joined VOS Men to express his emotions and to enjoy the camaraderie. Singing was his signature trait; he used to hum as he made his rounds in the office. Martinez, also a VOS Men member, explains: 'Singing in a choir activates the vagus nerve, calms the nervous system and fosters a sense of belonging that many men don't even realise they're missing.' The way Ooi sees it, choral singing provides men with 'a channel to articulate their feelings and experiences, while reinforcing and demonstrating their masculine identity within a given social context'. VR experiences, on the other hand, offer a location-based, social form of gaming – unlike other gaming formats such as PC, console or mobile. These encourage players to rely on each other and bond through shared moments. 'That level of personal connectivity and social interaction is something male audiences, specifically younger males, have been hungry for,' explains Sandbox VR's senior vice-president of content and creative director Michael Hampden. VR experiences encourage personal connectivity. PHOTO: SANDBOX VR He adds: 'Some guests have shared that the immersive nature of VR helps them forget about work stress, anxiety, or personal challenges for a while. It's more than just gaming – it's a full-body escape. One person described it as 'a break from reality that doesn't feel isolating', which really speaks to the mental recharge it can offer.' Building brotherhood For those seeking more physical outlets, activities such as axe throwing, rage rooms and paintball provide controlled environments to release pent-up energy. Ivan Lim, a clinical therapist at Alliance Counselling, explains that regular and controlled bursts of physical and emotional energy can be a healthy habit. 'It's a bit like easing open the cap of a Coke bottle periodically to vent some of the pent-up pressure that builds up inside as the bottle gets shaken,' he says. Naturally, these activities also foster camaraderie. Lim observes: 'There is something about having a tribe or a band of brothers that signals and promotes a sense of safety and 'permission' to be simultaneously authentic, vulnerable, and strong in the face of stress and life challenges.' Paintball helps men to release tension in a safe, active environment. PHOTO: RED DYNASTY PAINTBALL PARK Benjamin Seow, founder/director of Red Dynasty Paintball Park, feels that shared physical experiences like paintball help to release tension in a safe, active environment – thanks to teamwork, laughter and post-game reflection. 'Participants who arrive withdrawn or weighed down by work pressures tend to leave visibly more relaxed and energised,' he says. 'We can feel the mood lift, especially after they have had a chance to engage physically, succeed as a team and let out pent-up emotions.' NSMen recreational clubhouse HomeTeamNS offers paintball facilities alongside experiences like Action Motion, TactSim and Adventure HQ. Ang Han Wee, assistant director (business development), notes that there has been an uptick in interest and bookings for corporate team building since the pandemic. He says: 'Men tell us that what they value most isn't just the thrill; it's the camaraderie. These immersive, mission-based games naturally build trust as teams work towards shared goals and solve problems on the fly.' A new era of strength As men in Singapore explore these alternative avenues, they are redefining what it means to be strong. Cheong reflects: 'Younger men in Singapore are beginning to challenge and reshape traditional ideas of masculinity. There's a growing recognition that being vulnerable doesn't make you weak; it makes you real.' Martinez sums it up neatly. saying: 'When men see that they can be powerful and poetic, structured and soulful, they realise they don't have to choose. They can be whole.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
PGIM merges public fixed-income and private-credit teams, creating $1tn unit
Prudential Global Investment Management (PGIM) is merging its public fixed-income and private-credit teams to form a unit with nearly $1tn in assets, reported Bloomberg, citing sources. This move is part of new CEO Jacques Chappuis's strategy to enhance cross-selling efforts, as investors look to consolidate their money management relationships. PGIM currently manages $862bn in public fixed-income assets and $110bn in private credit. The newly merged entity will be led by John Vibert, who previously oversaw fixed income. Matt Douglass will head the private-credit arm and report to Vibert. PGIM has not publicly announced these changes, and spokespeople declined to comment. Chappuis, who consulted with managers to develop this strategy, aims to strengthen PGIM's private-credit practice and compete with major Wall Street alternative asset managers. This is vital as PGIM's parent, Prudential Financial, faces competition in life insurance from firms such as Apollo Global Management and its Athene insurance arm. The restructuring also seeks to eliminate redundancies between previously independent teams, which were seen as barriers to growth. PGIM plans to merge support functions and consolidate its institutional sales teams under Brad Blalock and Mark Chamieh. Additionally, PGIM is integrating its multi-asset and quantitative solutions capabilities, with Phil Waldeck leading the team. Linda Gibson, head of the quantitative solutions team, is expected to leave by year-end. Job cuts are anticipated throughout the year, the sources said. COO Taimur Hyat is also expected to depart soon, coinciding with former CEO David Hunt stepping down as PGIM chairman. PGIM operates in over 40 offices across 19 countries, managing $1.39tn in assets for retail and institutional clients globally. Recently, PGIM opened a new office in Jeonju, South Korea, bolstering its partnership with South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS), a pension fund with over $800bn in assets. PGIM's relationship with NPS spans private and public asset classes, managing global investment mandates for nearly 15 years. The new office aims to enhance collaboration with Jeonju-headquartered NPS, support its global investment strategies, and contribute to Jeonju's development as a financial centre in South Korea. "PGIM merges public fixed-income and private-credit teams, creating $1tn unit " was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNA
5 days ago
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Using AI in sports training – how athleticism is a numbers game
CNA938 Rewind - What is a pre-authorisation certificate and why is Great Eastern suspending it? Insurer Great Eastern has suspended the issuance of pre-authorisation certificates for Mount Elizabeth hospitals, while others like Prudential and AIA are continuing to do so. Andrea Heng and Susan Ng chat with Eddy Cheong, CEO at Havend to get an explainer on the procedures involved and how it might further threaten the cost of insurance for private medical facilities. 15 mins CNA938 Rewind - Using AI in sports training – how athleticism is a numbers game The NBA has introduced the use of artificial intelligence to make its players better – a move shared by many other sports to improve their sportsmen and women. Andrea Heng and Susan Ng chat with Loron Orris, Founding Partner of Asia Sports Tech to determine the upper limit for athleticism and if AI is enough to achieve the perfect score. 16 mins CNA938 Rewind - Million-dollar HDBs: a sign of supply crunch for larger flats Analysts expect this year to be a record for resale HDB units sold for at least $1 million – pointing to signs of tight supply and steady demand for larger units. Andrea Heng and Susan Ng chat with Vairavan Shanmugam, Data Insights Specialist from Ohmyhome to assess the resale market and track price trends. 10 mins CNA938 Rewind - Trump claims Iran and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire – will it hold? US President Donald Trump announced a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, hours after Iran launched a retaliatory strike on a US air base in Qatar. The potential deal could end a 12-day war between the countries, with Iran winding down its missions first, followed by Israel 12 hours later. There's been no official confirmation of the agreement from Israel or Iran. Andrea Heng and Susan Ng chat with Mouin Rabbani, non-resident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs. 10 mins
