Getting a root canal, breaking an arm, and giving up sweets for a month are just a few things employees would rather do than pick a health insurance plan.

Over half of Gen Z and millennial workers (51%) admit to randomly choosing a health insurance plan because they didn’t understand their choices, according to a recent Justworks report. Now, you may be wondering, “Why didn’t they reach out to their HR team?” Well, the report found that 45% didn’t know who to ask about open enrollment.

Factors, like the complexity of the US health insurance system and personal sensitivity around health, could be contributing to this confusion among “zillennials,” Julia D’Amico, VP of benefits at Justworks, told HR Brew.

D’Amico shared what people pros can do to help younger workers navigate open enrollment.

Keep reading here.—MC

The vibe is off…probably because Gen Z workers lack some core career skills.

As AI shakes up the workplace, employers are increasingly looking for employees with “human-centric skills,” according to a recent report from talent experience platform Cornerstone. Some 52% of global job postings from 2019–2024 list “demonstrating responsibility” as a requirement, while 33% list “communication” and 27% “interpersonal collaboration.”

And these three skills aren’t Gen Z’s strongest suit. Only 11% of Gen Z applicants showcase skills related to responsibility on their job profiles, while 12% highlight communication and 7% interpersonal collaboration, the report found. These workers’ older colleagues have higher proficiency in these skills, creating a generational skills gap, Carina Cortez, Cornerstone’s chief people officer, said.

Workers from older generations have had more in-person work experiences, allowing them to develop skills like communication and interpersonal collaboration, Cortez said. But employers and HR teams can unlock Gen Z’s potential by using their strengths and providing learning opportunities in areas in which they may lack skills.

Keep reading here.—MC

A non-profit is helping young mothers enter the IT workforce in under a year with the help of tai chi, high tea, and a slew of other non-rhyming resources.

I.c.stars, a non-profit technology training and placement program, is piloting a new program that will help young mothers jumpstart their careers in the IT field. The program, which kicked off in August with 12 students in its inaugural cohort, offers participants a combination of technology, business training, and leadership training, as well as financial and parent coaching.

The program was launched in partnership with New Moms, a Chicago-based nonprofit that supports young mothers. Sandee Kastrul, co-founder of I.c.stars, told IT Brew that the collaboration has been in the pipeline for a long time.

“We’ve always wanted to recruit from New Moms, but [our] program wasn’t really conducive to moms who had just had babies and things like that,” Kastrul said. “We spent about two years designing a program just for New Moms and this is our inaugural cycle.”

Keep reading on IT Brew.—BM

Attract and retain top talent, reduce turnover and absenteeism, and gain a competitive edge. How? With the right benefits package that takes childcare and eldercare into consideration. Register now.