Navigating career breaks, celebrating International Women’s Day and the perks of exercising at work

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This week’s can’t-miss stories and trending topics. Join the conversation by answering the below prompts and include hashtag #TheInsider for a chance to be featured by the LinkedIn Editorial team.

International Women’s Day

Friday, March 8, marks International Women’s Day – a global celebration of women and girls’ achievements, past and present, and a calling of attention to issues that disproportionately impact women around the world. LinkedIn News is highlighting stories around women’s path to leadership and we want to hear from you.

Share your stories using the hashtag #IWD2024: What has been your personal pathway into a leadership role?

Exercise at work can help a career

It’s no secret that regular exercise is good for your health, but doing it at work can also help your career, according to Bloomberg . A circuit workout or a jog on the treadmill can boost both job performance and mental health, cutting the number of days of poor mental health by more than 40%, per a study published? in the Lancet Psychiatry . Read more here . ?? Rob Sacks

Share your POV using #MentalHealth: As more companies go back to hybrid models, how will corporate wellness transform in the coming years?

Car loans hardest to get in years

Banks are setting a high bar for auto lending , even for buyers with "healthy finances," Bloomberg reports . The approval rate for car loans is down to its lowest level since August 2020, per Cox Automotive. Lenders are wary of defaults at a time when car prices and interest rates are high. Indeed, delinquency rates are rising , reflecting "the stress consumers are facing in the post-pandemic economy." Learn more here . ?? Kara Reinhardt

Chime in using #AutoIndustry: What effect will low loan approval rates have on the auto industry? ?

Topics on the Rise

• JetBlue and Spirit Airlines call off merger . JetBlue will pay Spirit a $69 million termination fee.?
• “Dune: Part Two” had the biggest opening weekend of the year, raking in an estimated $81.5 million in the U.S. and Canada.?
• Numbers to watch this week include The Bureau of Labor Statistics' February jobs report, which tracks the unemployment rate.?

We’re all experts in something and we all have knowledge and experiences to share. Lean into exchanging information with like minds on the platform around a different topic each week.?

This week's topic: Career breaks?

Nearly 43% more women have a career break listed on their LinkedIn profiles than men, according to a new analysis from LinkedIn’s Economic Graph team. The most common reason women take a step back? Full-time parenting. Men are more likely to temporarily retire or pivot careers, and these breaks are typically much shorter. A larger gap on a woman’s resume “does not mean you’re at a disadvantage,” says Reshma Saujani , the founder and CEO of Moms First. She recommends moms returning to the workforce lean into transferable skills they’ve honed as a parent, including multitasking and time management. ?? Taylor Borden

Comment below: How can employers best support women coming back from a career break?

Find the LinkedIn Editorial team live in the comments today, and read perspectives from fellow members. We’re excited you’re here and look forward to building this community with you!

You asked, we listened! Many of you said you wanted more content creation tips to help foster your LinkedIn journey. Our new “Content Corner” section will include tips, tricks and advice to help you along the way.

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Three things to learn from a three-decade rise to the top. That's what executive Beth Hammack offered up this week in a LinkedIn-exclusive retrospective of her career at financial services giant Goldman Sachs, which she is departing in order to try something new.

More than 500 commenters have weighed in on Hammack's learnings. Join the conversation with your own take or note for the departing executive.

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