• ‘CONFLICT’ WITH OTHERS IS UNAVOIDABLE AND USUALLY UNENJOYABLE – whether family/ teams/ neighbors/ business-related/ service-providers/ whomever. And, if mishandled, conflict can majorly impact performance & financial results, as well as ruin relationships. But conflict, per se, is not evil and can actually, when handled well, be positive in relationships moving forward. A few simple and reality-based strategies can minimize conflict and problem solve effectively, even when emotions & frustrations are flaring: (1) Taking a few breaths and stepping back to respond rather than just react; (2) Trying to listen in order to see the conflict from the other person’s perspective – especially considering priorities or pressures they may be under; (3) Focusing on resolving the problem, working with rather than against them, which always involves some level of mutual compromise, even sacrifice; then, if unsuccessful,(4) Letting DCG assist with our Informal Mediation process to most rapidly get past the emotional and economic impacts.

 

  • GEN Z WORKERS ARE RE-WRITING THE AMERICAN DREAM, defining ‘success’ by replacing tangible wealth with emotional & physical wealth, to create a life that feels good more so than looks good. Raised in a digitized society marked by widespread economic and health disruptions, their priorities have evolved to truth-telling, prioritizing mental health, and aligning with employers that support acceptable cultural values. Gen Z are choosing smaller and more flexible organizations which allow them to live out ‘career minimalism’ – shifting toward desire for purposeful work over corner office titles, with opportunities that also prioritize flexibility and work-life balance, detaching their identities from work, pursuing environments they want to be in versus feeling attached to a title or brand, and relieving themselves of pressure to race to the top.  [THEVERYGIRL.COM]

 

  • ‘TDS’ IS A TERM THAT “BEGAN AS A JOKE, but now become a reference point in discussions about stress, anxiety, political overexposure, and how relentless fearmongering by the media can have lasting and devastating effects. The phrase is now shorthand suggesting that opposition to Donald Trump’s presidency isn’t just political but reflective of underlying mental illness, where otherwise reasonable people react disproportionately. And, although the term most commonly carries a mocking tone, its effect is increasingly being treated by therapists in blogs and counselling-center posts as a legitimate concern about emotional overreaction and the stress of being overloaded with political news every minute of every day. They further suggest that up to 75% of patients are presenting this problem, based on a persistent fixation on Trump that colors daily interactions and activities, sleep disturbances and restlessness triggered by news coverage, with lifestyle decisions influenced such as avoiding workplaces or even declining assistance base on others political views.”  [PATRIOT POST] 

 

  • AS 2026 APPROACHES, EMPLOYERS NEED TO BE AWARE that beyond the challenge of optimally managing their under-age-40 workforce expectations (like communication, workhours, in-office time, flexibility, etc.), both federal & California rules have further increased legal exposure. Even one misstep in areas like pay transparency, wage & hour compliance, leaves or other employee ‘rights’ can risk huge penalties. Moreover, without in-house HR Managers to update policies & systems to reduce compliance risks and support employee engagement & culture, achievement of any company’s strategic initiatives can be substantially impacted.  DCG and our affiliates can help uncover issues before they become fines, lawsuits, or operational obstacles which impact productivity and profitability. Clients and professional contacts are welcome to call for courtesy consult and support.

 

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK 

  •  Security researchers are warning that fake spam filter alerts are hitting inboxes in the latest phishing campaigns, which attempt to trick users into believing they’ve missed important emails. The bogus alerts look like they are coming from the recipient’s – i.e. your own – email domain, and falsely claim that due to a “Secure Message System” upgrade, important messages have been blocked. Advice: NEVER click unsolicited email links, especially those contained in ‘urgent’ emails, and check the URL of every login page for precise consistency with the purported sender.

 

  • Holiday season online shoppers be aware!  Latest Pew Research study of nearly 10,000 U.S. adults found 85% reporting personally experienced online shopping scams on sites & apps – including items counterfeit, never arrived, and/or never refunded. Last year 387,000 reports of fraud were filed with the Federal Trade Commission, including undisclosed costs, failure to deliver on time, non-delivery, refusal to honor guarantees, and relating to internet auctions.

 

  • Over 70% of Los Angeles County voters have low confidence in its governments and needs sweeping reform. Based on a recent Loyola Marymount survey, nearly 90% support expanding the Board of Supervisors and electing a Chief Executive, with 95% wanting an independent Ethics Committee to “run the government effectively and put the interest of the populace ahead of ‘big money interests’.”  [KTLA]