Good morning! Today’s newsletter was written by Fortune‘s leadership editor, Ruth Umoh, and originally appeared in this week’s Learning to Lead newsletter on LinkedIn. Subscribe here.
Today’s leaders are expected to take a stand on sociopolitical issues, whether domestic or global. The escalating tension in the Middle East is no exception. LinkedIn is chock-full of posts stating some variation of: Check in with your Muslim and Palestinian colleagues. They are not okay. Or the reverse: Check in with your Jewish and Israeli colleagues. They are not okay.
As the Israel-Hamas war rages on—and President Joe Biden readies for a Wednesday trip to the region—leaders are pondering what exactly they can and should say without getting themselves in hot water.
As I wrote in Fortune’s raceAhead newsletter last week, several prominent CEOs have addressed the ongoing geopolitical conflict. In a companywide memo from JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and its executive committee, the bank wrote, “Terrorism and hatred have no place in the civilized world. As Jamie said in his note this past weekend, Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel and its people and the resulting war and bloodshed are a terrible tragedy.”
The bank then acknowledged that the situation is quickly intensifying, which could have ripple effects extending beyond the Middle East, including increased antisemitism and Islamophobia.
From there, it touched on its corporate values, which it said are rooted in equity and inclusion, and denounced discrimination efforts against anyone because of their religion or background. “Hate has no place at this company and will not be tolerated,” the bank wrote.
Next, it emphasized its commitment to employee safety, both physical and emotional, noting that its security team is in constant contact with U.S. and international government agencies and law enforcement and encouraged employees to take advantage of internal resources such as support group sessions led by clinicians.
Lastly, JPMorgan shared its efforts to assist in the humanitarian crisis, including an initial $1 million philanthropic contribution eligible for an employee match.
The bank ended with this closing salvo: “Our hearts go out to all who are suffering. And we remain here for you.”
Ruth Umoh
ruth.umoh@fortune.com
@ruthumohnews
Reporter's Notebook
The most compelling data, quotes, and insights from the field.
Nearly 60% of employees say that a tight labor market has forced them to take on additional responsibilities without additional pay, according to a Gallup survey.
With increased workload comes stress and burnout. Workers who say their organization asked them to take on extra responsibilities are 2.5 times more likely to feel burned out at work very often or always and 55% more likely to seek a new job.
Around the Table
A round-up of the most important HR headlines.
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- About a quarter of Americans worked from home between September 20th and October 2nd, the lowest level since the pandemic began. Insider
- Walmart will hire seasonal workers on a case-by-case basis, evidence that large U.S. retailers predict a slower holiday shopping season this year. Reuters
Watercooler
Everything you need to know from Fortune.
Gig necessities. Millennials and Gen Zers are drawn to gig work to make ends meet—not for extra spending money. —Chloe Berger
Off the lot. Part of Rolls-Royce CEO’s turnaround plan for the car company is laying off between 2,000 and 2,500 workers, he announced in a statement Tuesday. —Prarthana Prakash
Remote reset. Roughly 64% of CEOs recently surveyed by KPMG believe workers will be back in the office five days a week by 2026. Only 7% think remote work is here to stay. —Trey Williams
Double dip. Last month, a British judge ruled in Citigroup’s defense against an unlawful dismissal lawsuit from an employee who was fired for charging his and his partner’s food to a company card. The employee initially claimed that the food was for only himself. —Eleanor Pringle
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