Whoa-vember! How did we get here? If you’re in Daylight Saving Time, take comfort in knowing you’ll have an extra hour this weekend when we “fall back.” Hopefully that makes up for the last ten months that passed by at warp speed.

Celebrate the new month by reading some of the best HR, leadership, and policy management articles we found over the past couple weeks.

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Article of the Week: We’re often told not to sweat the small stuff, but sometimes a bit of perspiration is a good thing. When it comes to employee engagement, the small stuff can add up to big results (look for the ✦ below).

Remember the last time you fished around the bottom of an ice-cold cooler for your beverage of choice? Imagine keeping your hand in that frigid water for more than a couple seconds. Not a pleasant hypothetical, huh? However, let’s say you’ve got two options. Option 1: you immerse your hand for 60 seconds and, after the minute has passed, you’re done. Option 2: you submerge your hand for 90 seconds total, but the temperature will increase by 2° F after the first 60 seconds. So, the difference between Option 1 and Option 2 is that the second offering includes a bonus period of 30 seconds of still-pretty-much-ice-cold water. Which unfavorable option are you leaning toward?

Happy National Chocolate Cupcake Day! We know you’ve been counting down to this special day. But, seriously, National Chocolate Cupcake Day is apparently a thing, and a number of bakeries are offering specials. This day only happens once a year, folks.

Before you go satisfy your sweet tooth, take a look at some of the best HR, leadership, and policy management articles we found over the past couple weeks.

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Article of the Week: Do your eyes gloss over when reading your company’s values? By identifying why your company really matters, you can increase liking and unity in the workplace – and, in turn, engagement. Make sure your message resonates with employees (look for the ✦ below).

You’re browsing your inbox and see an invite for Mark’s Birthday Cookout Extravaganza and Other Shenanigans. You realize it’s the same day as that 5K you registered for, so you’re not sure whether you’ll feel up to it after the early morning run. You’re hesitant to click one of the customized responses – “Heck yes” or “No, I’m a loser” – because you aren’t ready to commit one way or another, and you’ll likely feel tied to whichever option you choose now come Extravaganza day.

Are you ready to become one with the weekend? We are! Which reminds us (*terrible segue*)… We’re back with more original content. Our latest pop-psych article focuses on unity and its benefits in the workplace. And, in case you didn’t click now, you’ll get another chance very soon.

Before you make up a lame excuse to leave work to watch playoff baseball, spend a few minutes reading some of the best HR, leadership, and policy management articles we found over the past couple weeks.

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Article of the Week: No matter how busy we are, most of us make time for self-criticism. Why not spend that energy celebrating small victories instead? The BIG successes are made possible by the mini-wins along the way (look for the ✦ below).

Phone calls from your alma mater. Direct mail appeals featuring swoon-worthy puppies. Requests to buy Girl Scout cookies as you’re leaving the grocery store. We’re exposed to more fundraising pleas than ever before, so what is it that persuades us to feel philanthropic and reach into our wallets?

Take a slice out of life! Apparently it’s National Pepperoni Pizza Day. With that, here’s a Dad Joke for you: What did the boss say to his pizza during their meeting? There’s mushroom for improvement.

After you finish laughing uncontrollably, take a few minutes to enjoy some of the best HR, leadership, and policy management articles we found over the past couple weeks.

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Article of the Week: Who knew being happy could be so hard? Most of us are on a constant quest for happiness, and compassion just might be the guiding force that gets us there (look for the ✦ below).

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “liking”? In the age of social media, your brain might have jumped to clicking on a thumbs-up or a heart. But liking dates back much earlier than Facebook and Twitter.

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Envision you’re cruising down the highway, and a new song comes on the radio; it has a great beat and you enjoy the singer’s voice. A few days later, you hear the song and notice a lyric that really hits home, so you feel a connection – a similarity. By the fourth or fifth listen, you’re singing along with the chorus in your head because it’s familiar. It has now achieved Oooh-I-like-this-song! status.

Friday Fun Fact: Did you know that, 24 years ago today, Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken, Jr. played in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking a 56-year-old record? Yes, that means you’re 24 years older than you were then.

Like Cal’s 431 home runs, we hope we knock it out of the park with some of the best HR, leadership, and policy management articles we found over the past couple weeks.

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Article of the Week: Remember how we included original content in a previous Bugle and said we were too humble to make it the Article of the Week? This time we’re not. The featured article reminds us that sometimes we’ve got to give before we get (look for the ✦ below).

Imagine you go outside to check your mailbox and find a somewhat nondescript envelope with your name on it. Curious, you open the envelope to find a survey that promises $50 upon completion. This deal almost sounds too good to be true. If you complete the survey, will you even get the money after all is said and done? You assume there’s got to be a caveat, like “eligible for first 25 [of one gazillion] respondents.” Not sure whether it’s worth it, you put the envelope and its contents in the ever-growing paper stack on the kitchen counter. Maybe you’ll respond. Maybe you won’t.