Promotions could be on the horizon for office goers — and other happenings in the world of work

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Catch up on the headlines from the last 7 days.

• The war between Israel and Hamas reaches its tenth day. Find the latest updates here .
• Executives still want employees back in the office. Read more about this below.
• Inflation was hotter than expected last month, the latest Consumer Price Index showed. This adds to expectations the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer.?
• Social security recipients will receive a 3.2% cost-of-living increase in 2024. That means monthly checks for 71 million Americans will have about $50 more starting in January.?
• Hollywood writers’ five-month strike is officially over. Writers have returned to work on productions like talk shows that don’t require SAG-AFTRA actors, who are still striking. A flurry of union activity continues elsewhere, including the healthcare and automotive industries.
• Women’s representation in the C-suite is now the highest it’s ever been, according to a new McKinsey report . But parity is still a long way off — women currently account for just one in four executives.
• ACT scores hit a 30-year low. Scores on the college admissions test had already been sliding for six years, but the pandemic seems to have exacerbated their decline.

Take a closer look at recent trending topics — and engage with meaningful conversations happening on LinkedIn.

Executives still want workers back in the office

• Big wigs are still counting on a full-time return to the office, even as office occupancy rates stay at 50% of February 2020 levels . Most executives anticipate jobs that used to happen in-person before the pandemic will be back in the office within the next three years, according to KPMG’s latest survey of CEOs at companies with at least $500 million in annual revenue.
• Recruiter Garred Kelly commented that executives’ continued push for face time is important for job seekers to consider. “Being open to both hybrid and full-time in office positions not only aligns with emerging industry norms but can also significantly broaden one’s career opportunities.” He’s likely right — about 90% of the executives surveyed also reported being likely to “reward employees who make an effort to come into the office with favorable assignments, raises or promotions.”?
• The strategy of tying success to an employee’s physical location during working hours could backfire on some companies. “Such policies could trigger a talent drain,” Gleb Tsipursky, CEO of a leadership consultancy, explained . “High-quality employees will see that performance and productivity aren’t rewarded as much and they’ll leave for companies that value performance and productivity over presentism and brown-nosing.”

Professional networks grow faster in certain cities

• How quickly can you make connections after moving somewhere new? It might depend on where you go. According to a new analysis from LinkedIn’s Economic Graph team, newcomers in New York City add LinkedIn connections at a rate 11.1 times beyond the national average — outpacing every other metro. The San Francisco Bay Area boasts the second highest rate, followed by Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C., Houston, Miami and Dallas-Ft. Worth.?
• While big cities seem like the perfect places to mingle, smaller, unexpected pockets also make the list. Salt Lake City, for example, ranks at No. 46 in the U.S. for population size. The state’s unique culture, however, means there’s ample opportunity to make new connections, thanks in part to neighborhood involvement and the nation-leading rate for weekly church attendance.
• Career coach Twanna Carter advises those looking to widen their network after moving to a new city to be intentional about attending community building events, from attending networking happy hours to getting involved in the neighborhood by volunteering. She also recommends reaching out to family, friends and former colleagues to see if they know anyone in your new area. “It’s important to be patient,” she said. “It takes time to build meaningful connections.”?

Younger workers are looking for mentors

• Separate research shows younger workers are struggling with building their networks and forming deeper connections. Just under half of Gen Zers (48%) report they don’t have a mentor on the job — but the overwhelming majority (83%) want one, according to a recent Adobe survey .
• What’s with the gap? Experts say the rise of remote work has made it more difficult for younger workers to identify the right people to be forging relationships with and has also impacted how comfortable they feel reaching out at all. Brandon Smith, a healthcare manager and longtime mentor, commented that those looking for a mentor should use the increasingly digital world to their advantage. “It’s easier than ever to connect to authors, speakers and others whose work you admire,” he said.?
• That extra work — and initial discomfort — it takes to cultivate a relationship with a potential mentor is worth it. Research shows that workers with mentors get promoted faster and are happier on the job because they have extra help and support navigating unfamiliar territory. Jillian Goldfarb, a professor at Cornell University, explained : “Many of my mentors have given me perspective on job changes, helped me hone my ideas, guided me through professional societies and became a part of my chosen family.” To achieve that kind of relationship, she sought out “people whose attitudes and values I identified with” and invited them out for coffee (“my treat”). When they had that first conversation, she focused on building a friendship “based on mutual interest or shared experience,” letting the idea of mentorship grow naturally.

Get ready for the week by seeing what's coming up.

Tuesday, October 17:

• The U.S. Commerce Department will release its retail sales report for September, which tracks demand for finished goods, such as food, clothing and furniture, in stores and online.

Wednesday, October 18:

• The U.S. Census Bureau will release the number of new building permits issued by the government in August, which is a key housing market indicator.

Thursday, October 19:

• The U.S. Department of Labor will release initial jobless claims for the previous week. The report, a proxy for layoffs, tracks the number of people filing for unemployment benefits.
• The National Association of REALTORS? will release its monthly report measuring the number of existing homes sold in September