Facebook offers more WFH flexibility, consumers want brands to show social impact, and JBS defends paying $11M ransom

Hello, communicators:

According to the Labor Department, 4 million people quit their jobs in April, a sign that more workers are optimistic about their job prospects.

The news also comes amid reports that businesses are struggling to fill open roles with millions of job openings unfilled despite an unemployment rate that hasn’t bounced back to pre-COVID levels. Many employers are offering higher wages, new benefits and other enticements to get more applicants for their openings.

CNBC reported:

”Job seekers have a strong hand in the labor market,” says Nick Bunker, an economist with the jobs site Indeed. Across the country, employers are staffing up to prepare for renewed summer activity as vaccination rates increase and Covid-19 case rates go down.

It’s a reminder to redouble your efforts to build your employer brand by spotlighting employees, showcasing company culture and establishing industry leadership across all your communications channels. For internal communicators in particular, the labor crunch offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate value to top leaders and get a bigger budget for important storytelling efforts.

Here are today’s top stories: