President Trump may have recently declared English as the official language of the United States, but the situation is more complicated in workplaces like hospitals, which serve patients with varying levels of English proficiency every day.

Language barriers can affect patients’ experiences with the healthcare system, and in turn their overall health, according to a 2024 KFF survey. Adults with limited English proficiency were less likely to report their healthcare provider involved them in decision-making about their care, with 63% responding that this occurred in the last three years, compared to 82% of English proficient adults. And these adults were more likely to say they were in fair or poor health (34%) than those who were English proficient (19%).

In light of such challenges, HR leaders at healthcare organizations are incorporating language certifications into their learning and development programs. Such programs may not only help current employees better serve their non-English speaking populations, but also contribute to their own career development, sources told HR Brew.

For more on why language upskilling is vital to healthcare employers, keep reading here.—CV

When was the last time you were productive for eight hours straight? (No need to lie, we’re all friends here! We know it’s probably been a long time…)

If it makes you feel any better, just 18% of global workers surveyed by Kickresume in July said they’re productive for seven to eight hours a day. Another 39% reported being productive for five to six hours, while 29% said the same for three to four hours. Makes you wonder why the work day is still eight hours, right?

“The premise of the eight-hour workday itself is already kind of unrealistic, like people aren’t actually working for eight hours straight, non-stop, with no breaks, with no unfocused time,” said Ashley Janssen, a productivity consultant at her consulting firm.

For more on how HR can help employees get the most out of their workday, keep reading here.—MC

Who doesn’t like to laugh?

And, if that laughter is shared among colleagues, it can help boost productivity and engagement, according to Adam Christing, speaker and author of The Laughter Factor: The 5 Humor Tactics to Link, Lift, and Lead.

Christing shared with HR Brew how people pros can encourage more laughter in the workplace.

For more from our conversation with Christing, keep reading here.—MC

The feeling of getting a 5/5 on the Brew’s weekly news quiz has been compared to getting a company-wide shout out from your boss. It’s that satisfying.