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From silent firing to bad bosses and the raging RTO battle, these are the workplace issues that occupied our brains the most this year. Often our workplaces are a microcosm of the country’s, even the world’s, anxieties and hopes. It’s no surprise then that in this tumultuous year we’ve seen a lot of worry (over automation, layoffs, RTO mandates, and bad leadership), but also a lot of hope (for building more inclusive teams, better managing our time and energy, and improving our memories and happiness).

Philip Kaplan started chasing his curiosity around headphone design earlier this year. Now, he’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for our ears. The standard shape for big, chunky headphones has long been a rainbow with Moon Pies at either end. No rule exists, however, forcing audio companies to keep making them that way.

Nick Gerli of Reventure App expects national home prices to remain flat in 2025, but projects price declines in Texas, the Southeast, and Mountain states. Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter.

When we know our people and our audience, we can craft our message to meet them where they are and thereby serve their best interests. Flush from his victories on the battlefield and in the arena, Maximus negotiates an endorsement deal with a major olive oil producer. Days later, marketing posters sporting his image appeared plastered on walls throughout Rome.

Certain habits might be easier to maintain when you’re in-office, but others are easier when you’re working from home. The majority of employees prefer hybrid work arrangements over fully remote and onsite, according to a Gallup Poll. Having two distinct experiences—in-office and at-home—delivers flexibility and variety, but it also provides an added benefit you might not expect: insights that could help you stick to common New Year’s resolutions.

By focusing on the intersection of data and culture, leaders can develop new approaches for achieving these goals. Many wonder what Trump’s win means for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). To me, it simply confirmed what I already knew: The fight against discrimination is far from over, and DEI has to evolve for us to meet the challenges to workplace culture ahead.