The Bureau of Labor Statistics report this morning brought positive news, with US unemployment at 7.7% - a new low since 2008.  Our Retail Labor Index this month showed a continuing increase in retail hiring (not unusual this time of year), but it's good to see that growth in other sectors as well.   Let's hope that trend continues in the new year.

Our cartoon of the week here is only partly tongue-in-cheek.  Our customers are increasingly adopting mobile solutions from Kronos - smartphone and tablet.  Frontline managers do a lot of managing in the moment, and appreciate the freedom to access enterprise software while they're on the move.

And speaking of managers making the right decision in the moment, my  favorite story this week comes from the LEGO company.  If you haven't seen this video of a very delighted 10 year old receiving a special customer service surprise from them, you owe it to yourself to watch.  This boy saved for over a year to buy what turned out to be a discontinued kit.  He wrote a letter to LEGO.  Watch the video to see what real customer delight looks like.

Our friend Jessica Miller-Merrell at blogging4jobs is going to be interviewed on 20/20 tonight about how to avoid killing your career at the office party. I haven't seen the interview yet, but assume that passing out and/or making passes are still considered major faux pas.  Jessica's blog site is great.  Stroll over there to subscribe, and you can check out our guest post about the best career advice our board members have ever received.

Read on for more items of interest this week:

Customer Experience Magic: http://ow.ly/fLW82 via @SmarterCafe

RT @SmarterCafe: Is #cloud driven by suits stupid decisions or IT geeks not delivering? http://ow.ly/fUfeJ

The #Cloud has a silver lining for organizations around the world: http://ow.ly/fQn4t via @simonmacpherson @KronosUK

Ouija Board no way to get answers… http://ow.ly/fUfOJ via @SmarterCafe

Pizza Deliverance http://ow.ly/fUfLY via @SmarterCafe

Two Simple Christmas Holiday Office Party Rules http://ow.ly/fUfGZ via @SmarterCafe

[WHITEPAPER] Five Steps to Advance Quality Resident Care Through Optimal Staffing. http://ow.ly/fLWT0

It's a new world of mobility, task management, and analytics. Are you ready? Scheduling a meeting with us at #NRF: http://ow.ly/fOgBd

Never install another #Kronos service pack - find out how http://ow.ly/fUe88

10 Skills Every Leader Should Develop In 2013 http://ow.ly/fLWoz via @hrbartender

How to Have an Office Holiday Party Without Anyone Going to Jail http://ow.ly/fOfb8 via @TLNT_com

Can Working Remotely Reduce Flu in Your Workplace? http://ow.ly/fOfFQ via @blogging4jobs

#HREOnline: Holiday Parties – Naughty, Nice and Nonexistent http://ow.ly/fOhst via @HRExecMag

How Companies Must Adapt for an Aging Workforce http://ow.ly/fOir1 via @HarvardBiz

Telework is Good for Business http://ow.ly/fQmpl via @HRExecMag

@TimSackett explains “It's hard, but it's fair” http://ow.ly/fQnxO via @FistfulOfTalent

Birth Rate Plunges During Recession http://ow.ly/fQpfb via @TIMEBusiness

What You Can Learn from the Best Companies http://ow.ly/fQpwl via @TIMEBusiness

Workplace Flexibility Is Best When Determined by the Team http://ow.ly/fQsaz via @HuffPostBiz

No U.S. Skills Gap? Really? http://ow.ly/fQqcO via @HuffPostBiz

What Employees Most Want This Holiday http://ow.ly/fQqXc via @HuffPostBiz

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