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Bob Merberg

@heighho.bsky.social
498 followers 347 following 511 posts

Work, labor, organizational psychology, evidence-based health & wellbeing. Open to ukulele and cat content, too.

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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I rarely post political stuff, especially when it’s already going viral. But this warrants widespread circulation. The level of hubris rooted in ignorance and deceit is emblematic of the entire Republican experience. youtu.be/7BwxhZpec4M
youtu.be
WATCH: Schmitt suggested Jack Smith perjured himself about a basketball game, but mixed up 2 teams
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
“For workers, sluggish pay has been compounded by the fact that health insurance and retirement coverage have declined significantly over time. Health insurance fell from 69.0% to 52.2% between 1979 and 2024. At the same time, retiree coverage nearly fell by half from 50.6% down to 29.0%.”
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
That rare occasion when something on social media is enlightening.
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Dr. Rachel Boehm, PhD @rbstrategies.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Hey #iopsych ppl and #leadership #business ppl. We launched a Beyond the Research podcast: lnkd.in/eGSbtUFY And if you are short on time, we do have shorts! #consultingpsychology #leadershipdevelopment #teamdevelopment #organizationaldevelopment
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Gonna hafta dig into this data further. I’m wondering what % of workers are represented by a union *with a contract*. That would seem to be a key data point. Last I heard, unionized workers at Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, and Amazon still done have a contract.
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
I left LinkedIn a couple of years ago. I felt like it mostly seemed like AI slop years before AI slop was a thing.
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Ppl will dismiss Gates for various reasons. But his (long) essay is one of the few insightful analyses I’ve read about AI. “We need both: deep concern about the AI harms we need to minimize, and grounded optimism about the positives if we maximize them for everyone.“
gatesnotes.com
The choices we make about AI now are critical | Bill Gates
AI will either be the greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice. We need to start planning now so it makes the world a fairer place.
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
A compelling, informative, thought-provoking read. “…the core philosophical idea of elevating well-being and societies is almost always forgotten and gets lost in the discussion when those ‘brave new methods’ of process management are applied.“
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics @usbls.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
35% of employed people do some work at home on days they work in 2025 #BLSData www.bls.gov/news.release...
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The Hamilton Project @hamiltonproject.org · 25/06/2026
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was signed into law #OTD in 1938, setting groundbreaking standards for American workers. U.S. workforce standards have changed little since then—but U.S. workforce needs have changed a lot.
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Princeton Audio @princetonaudio.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Allison Daminger's What’s on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life offers an engaging look at the mental labor that keeps families afloat—and why women do most of it.⁠ ⁠ This #audiobook, read by @theerinbennett.bsky.social, is out now! 🎧📘 Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/audio/...
Audiobook cover of What’s on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life by Allison Daminger, read by Erin Bennett
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
“Study finds” no such thing. Headline readers find headline writers unclear about correlation and causation.
Screenshot of headline reading “Study finds voting can help you live longer.” From Texas Public Radio website.
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Antoine Vernet @antoinevernet.com · 24/05/2026
Good to see @philipncohen.com mentioned in this column on why generational labels are useless. Too bad it still uses the labels throughout undermining the point it makes that they are not meaningful categories Please stop talking about Gen Z in the office - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Please stop talking about Gen Z in the office
Mindless generational labels don’t help at a time when the workplace is one of the few places where young and old mix
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Reminds me that we need to differentiate between “jobless” and “job-free.”
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Cornell ILR School @cornellilr.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Virginia Doellgast (@vdoellgast.bsky.social), the Anne Evans Estabrook Professor of Employment Relations and Dispute Resolution at #CornellILR, raises legal concerns about workers' data being used without compensation or consent to train AI systems for job automation. (via @the-independent.com)
the-independent.com
Workers are training AI and robots to replace them. It could end badly
Humans have been working themselves out of a job for millennia, writes Anthony Cuthbertson. But new tactics from tech firms have experts warning that we are ‘sleepwalking' into a labour market overrun...
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Mel Buer @melbuer.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
If you want to hear more about this pivotal event in labor history, I did a pretty deep dive into the fire and what happened next for the Working People podcast last year. You can listen here:
inthesetimes.com
Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and Uprising of the 20,000
Building worker power has always been an uphill battle. Revisiting history can guide us forward. An interview with Erik Loomis.
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Timothy Caulfield @caulfieldtim.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
🚨 With medical testing, MORE ≠ BETTER! "...social media posts on medical tests with potential for overdiagnosis or overuse may be overwhelmingly misleading and fail to mention potential harms..." Social Media Posts About Medical Tests jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com
Social Media Posts About Medical Tests With Potential for Overdiagnosis
This cross-sectional study examines the tone and content of social media posts that discuss popular medical tests with potential for overdiagnosis or overuse.
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AFL-CIO @aflcio.org · 25/03/2026
On the 115th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, America’s unions mourn the 146 lives lost on that tragic day, many of whom were immigrant women. More than a century later, the labor movement is continuing the fight to protect all workers’ safety on the job.
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
On the 114th anniversary of the Triangle Factory Fire, I'm sharing this article I wrote years ago. It's my most-read post ever. "We once gave our word that we would remember the sacrifice represented by the charred remains of 146 Triangle factory workers." #labor #unions #labour #history #work
heighho.substack.com
"A Nation that Catches Workers Before They Fall"
The Triangle factory fire, in which 146 workers (mostly young immigrant women) perished, marked a turning point for organized labor and worker wellbeing.
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Power At Work @poweratwork.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
⚡Inject 30 minutes of power into your week Join LIVE on Mar 17 at 12 PM ET for #PowerHalf-Hour Ep. 22. Featuring Steven Greenhouse,@centuryintl.bsky.social , Benjamin Sachs @hls.harvard.edu, and @melbuer.bsky.social Hosted by @mrsethharris.bsky.social 🔗 www.linkedin.com/events/74350...
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Generation labels are b.s., of course. But hearing myself described as Generation Jones (instead of the less apt “boomer”) helps me understand their appeal.
youtu.be
Psychology of Generation Jones
YouTube video by When Jekyll Meets Hyde
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Psychedelics are compelling, but I agree caution should be exercised regarding the extent to which they’re hyped as a mental health remedy.
greatergood.berkeley.edu
Can Psychedelic Experiences Really Improve Your Mental Health?
While drug-induced mystical experiences can have benefits, research suggests they may not be enough to create lasting change.
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Cornell ILR School @cornellilr.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Research co-authored by @alicejlee.bsky.social, assistant professor of organizational behavior at #CornellILR, found that pay range transparency laws, intended to promote pay equity, can inadvertently deter women from applying for those positions, thus perpetuating gender gaps in the workforce.
news.cornell.edu
Job listings with wide pay ranges may deter female applicants | Cornell Chronicle
Research finds women have a stronger preference for jobs with narrower salary ranges compared to men, and that this preference is associated with less assertive negotiation behaviors.
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
“Words like ’skills‘ train our focus on what workers can or cannot do on their own, but being able to talk about the connections forged between and among people allows us to see what else is at risk when we start replacing people with machines.” Adding this to my reading list.
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Insightful application of self-determination theory.
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
@profjohndrury.bsky.social Curious if you (or other crowd-behavior researchers) have insights into this snowball fight run amok. Blueskiers will rush to trivialize this. But when I watch the videos, I get the impression something serious Is taking place.
nytimes.com
Snowball Fight in New York Turns Chaotic After Police Arrive
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Do we conflate “happiness coming” with “finding happiness”? It’s nitpicky, but to me a compelling question as I’ve always been taken by Viktor Frankl‘s insistence that “happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue...” I’ll have to get this Cicero book. 🧑🏻‍🏫
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The Hamilton Project @hamiltonproject.org · 23/02/2026
What is pro-worker AI, and how do we build it? Read a new essay from @davidautor.bsky.social, @dacemoglumit.bsky.social, and @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social, and join us for a virtual event this Wednesday to learn more: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/... www.hamiltonproject.org/event/buildi...
hamiltonproject.org
Building pro-worker AI - The Hamilton Project
Daron Acemoglu, David Autor, and Simon Johnson ask: What is pro-worker AI, and how can we build it?
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Thùy Vy T Nguyễn @thuyvytnguyen.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Happy New Year! It is the Year of the Fire Horse. I want to use this turn of the year to share that as of today, I have stepped down from my position as Associate Professor at @durhampsych.bsky.social and will now serve full time as director of my non-profit, @thesolitudelab.bsky.social,...
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Dave Jamieson @jamieson.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
In 1987, Jesse Jackson visited striking workers at Maine's Androscoggin paper mill. He gave a rousing speech on solidarity and "scabbism" that changed the way many white workers there viewed their politics and their struggle. From Julius Getman's excellent labor book 'The Betrayal of Local 14':
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Cornell ILR School @cornellilr.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Earlier this week, #CornellILR's Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) released its Michigan report, identifying 17 recommendations across five sectors to build a worker- and climate-friendly economy. Check out the full report dashboard on our website for insights and recommendations!
ilr.cornell.edu
Michigan Climate Jobs Blueprint for an Equitable Clean Energy Future
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Cornell ILR School @cornellilr.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
#CornellILR's @ericagroshen.bsky.social says New York's effort to track AI-related layoffs is a start, but argues employers should be required to share more detailed data on changing skills and occupations so workers can navigate transitions, rather than simply labeling job losses as caused by AI.
wired.com
No Company Has Admitted to Replacing Workers With AI in New York
New York state has required companies to disclose if “technological innovation or automation” was the cause of job loss for nearly a year. So far, none has.
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McFarland @mcfarland.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
New on our bookshelf: Work at Sea: The Evolution of Shipboard Technology By Iver P. Cooper mcfarlandbooks.com/product/Work...
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Belinda Zakrzewska @bzakrzewska.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
My latest article on #BadBunny 🐰 and his #anticolonial #activism and why this is precisely what makes him a compelling choice for the #SuperBowl (with Flavia Cardoso and Jannsen Santana). theconversation.com/bad-bunny-is...
theconversation.com
Bad Bunny is a controversial pick for the Super Bowl – and that’s the point
Bad Bunny’s rise is inseparable from his activism, which is woven into his artistic choices, television appearances and live performances.
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Hear me out. Maybe elevating physicians to celebrity status isn’t a great idea? www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/dr-...
cbsnews.com
Dr. Peter Attia, longevity expert, apologizes for "indefensible" emails to Jeffrey Epstein
Peter Attia, a doctor and author well known for his research on longevity, is apologizing for what he calls "embarrassing, tasteless, and indefensible" emails he exchanged with Jeffrey Epstein.
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Tho trying to be critical, this article oversells engagement surveys. They are marketing tools promoted by engagement consulting companies. Their results predictably show bell-shaped curves, sneakily framing the moderately engaged center as “not engaged.” Because 66% unengaged sells better than 33%.
fastcompany.com
Stop tracking employee engagement. Try this instead
Companies have never had more tools to measure engagement, yet employees are feeling more disconnected than ever.
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Dede Montgomery @d2montgomery.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Local friends - join this informal workshop drawing on my experience supporting workplace wellbeing, and my own journaling and writing journey. All in a supportive community space. No cost. My books will be available. @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social #journaling #wellbeing
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen: Miles Davis Simon and Garfunkel Waxahatchee Ralph Towner (RIP!) and John Abercrombie Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings
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Dede Montgomery @d2montgomery.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Okay, this is cool. After all, it’s hard for readers to learn about quality newer (or lesser known) authors. I’m thrilled to be on this list and I’m committed to read books from other authors also listed. Thank you @rodmannix.bsky.social www.literaryretweet.com/highly-rated...
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Psych Safety @psychsafety.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
“Just adopt a growth mindset” can sound positive… …but when it’s used to push people harder or ignore unsafe systems, it becomes coercive. A sharp, ethical take from Jade Garratt: 👉 psychsafety.com/growth-mindset
psychsafety.com
Growth Mindset
Growth Mindset When American psychologist Carol Dweck published her book “Mindset” in 2006 it made waves in the education world and beyond. Drawing on her work developing mindset theory, it offered a ...
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David Michaels @drdavidmichaels.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
"We should not allow this carnage to continue" Congress shouldn’t give the artificial stone industry immunity from litigation. Instead, congress should ban the product to so its stops killing workers. That would protect the manufacturers and the distributors from lawsuits, as well.
kqed.org
As California Silicosis Cases Rise, Engineered Stone Industry Seeks Immunity in DC | KQED
Artificial stone manufacturers, facing hundreds of silicosis lawsuits in California, urged lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to pass a bill shielding the industry from liability as cases rise nationwide ...
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Just finished A Map of Her Own by @d2montgomery.bsky.social. While I recommend it as an absorbing, beautifully told story, I personally appreciated gaining insight into the intertwined labor and suffrage movements. And the crabbing life, too! 🦀 Glad I could start my 2026 with this lovely novel!
dedemontgomery.com
A Map of Her Own
A Map of Her Own was released by Bedazzled Ink Publishing on October 14, 2025.ISBN: 978-1-960373-77-9. Retail price: US $16.95 Order from Bookshop.org and your favorite bookstores, e-Books to Read,…
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Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
@jacobrosenberg.bsky.social writes that Hanna Pickard’s forthcoming What Would You Do Alone in a Cage with Nothing but Cocaine “has changed [his] understanding of [his] habits—and maybe it will change yours, too.” www.motherjones.com/media/2025/1...
motherjones.com
Monster of 2025: Cigarettes
Is dying early really pro-social?
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Cf: The Office plot line in which the Stamford and Scranton branches merge?
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
I’m thankful @mzickar.bsky.social (and, I’ve learned, others) is doing the #BlueSkyArtChallenge. I learn. I’m inspired. For me, rare reminders that exposure to social media can be rewarding.
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McFarland @mcfarland.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Black Friday came early!  We're launching our biggest sale of the year with a special early access period.  Through Cyber Monday, December 1, get 35% off our entire catalog with code HOLIDAY25!  Take advantage now because after December 1, the discount drops to 20%.  Happy holidays!
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Steven Zhou, Ph.D. @szzhou4.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
I’m working on a grant studying how ppl develop a sense of vocational calling early on in their lives. How do parenting, school, cultural values, etc. impact calling prior to age 18? As we're ideating, we'd love to hear from YOU. What books growing up most influenced your career journey?
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Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Unpopular opinion: these articles and discussions should cite head-to-head studies comparing ai- vs human-based therapy, not just assume human therapy is the paragon of excellence and virtue.
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Thùy Vy T Nguyễn @thuyvytnguyen.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
I find the focus on social media as a scapegoat simplistic and short-sighted. There are pushes and pulls in behavior. Young people are pulled toward social media, but what pushes them away?
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Thùy Vy T Nguyễn @thuyvytnguyen.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Excited to share my new preprint. My work focuses on solitude, but I am not one to advocate for a "solitude theory"; psych has too many theories so one less would be good. So, what I did the past 2 yrs is talking to people, reading work outside of my literature, essentially to shop for a framework 🧵
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