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Time-saving tools and products we’re really into rn.

Have a chaotic workspace, but make it Marie Kondo. This desk mat from the queen of organization has a handy secret spot to put all your stray sticky notes, and it keeps your cords in place, has a divot for pens, and brings us joy.

Build a website in minutes with the Universe app. The interface is so easy that you can create your virtual storefront from your phone. No more excuses for not acting on those business ideas you come up with during your commute.

Changing jobs isn’t as simple as going to orientation and doing your work. It can take months to really grasp the ins and outs of office politics, especially if you’re working remotely. Follow these five strategies to learn the lay of the land and carve out your own place in the office hierarchy.

A head start on your hustle.

The first thing most people double-check in an offer letter is their compensation package, followed by their PTO benefits and health insurance. But you should also ask about lesser-known—and often underused—work perks that include things like discounts on products and special memberships for employees. To learn how to find and maximize your company’s work perks, Sidekick spoke with Brian Roland, founder of Abenity, a company that partners with businesses to provide those little extras, and Amy Polunsky, director of global benefits at Indeed.

Polunsky told Sidekick that there’s a wide array of semi-secret benefits you might be able to claim including pet insurance, store discounts, and travel assistance. For instance, Roland explained that companies partnering with Abenity offer employees discounts and rewards on hotels and resorts, concerts, restaurants, car rentals, theme parks, fitness centers, movie theaters, and more.

Taking advantage of those perks could save you money and keep your spirits up. Follow these tips to boost your savings and fully unlock your benefits:

• Talk to HR. You can’t use what you don’t know you have. “Review the full benefits package and address any questions about what’s available during the interview process,” Polunsky said via email. “Once you’ve accepted a job, it’s also a good idea for employees to meet with HR to review the package’s options and deadlines.”
• Plan ahead (when you can). “When somebody is planning to go out of town, they’re thinking about travel—so airline tickets, a car rental, a hotel, fun things to do,” Roland told Sidekick. As you’re planning, check to see if your employee benefits offer travel discounts. Also, plan ahead for things like going out for lunch or grocery shopping, and look out for perks at local restaurants and markets. If your remote-friendly company is encouraging your team to go into the office, find out if there are any benefits for that, too. “Take the time to walk through offerings like a company car, reimbursement for miles, or commuter expense programs,” Polunsky advised.
• Download your benefits app. Be mindful of what’s available and where to find the information, Roland advised. Abenity, for instance, sends push notifications when you’re at a location where employee discounts are available. It also has a Chrome browser extension that pops up when you’re shopping online. Make it a habit to check your benefits app when you have unexpected expenses, too, like car repairs and or prescriptions—you may be surprised at how much you can get out of work.

And if there’s something you need that isn’t offered by your employer, bring it up. Let HR know the kinds of perks you think would add to the company culture and help create additional savings for employees.

Tech tips and tricks.

New iOS update = a brand new iPhone. Or at least that’s how it feels every fall when Apple releases all those new features. We think the coolest add-on for iOS 16 is the background removal tool because it can churn out everything from meme stickers to outfit mood boards.

To get started, make sure you’ve updated your iPhone. Then go in to your Photos app and open a picture you’d like to edit (make sure the subject is clearly visible against the background). Next, press and hold the subject you want to cut out until your phone vibrates, and then hit Copy. Last, go in to your Notes, Messages, or social media app and tap Paste to see your image sans background. It’s kind of like paper dolls for grown-ups.—MW

Burning questions of our time.

Recently, one hopeful marketing manager set the internet on fire when she shared a LinkedIn post about sending a cake to the Nike HQ—decorated with an edible screen print of her résumé. The sender was Karly Blackburn, who had found out that the mega company was set to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a “Just Do It Day” and decided to get her work creds in front of Nike execs. So, with the help of one extraordinary Instacart driver, Blackburn had the résumé cake delivered to the Oregon headquarters all the way from her home in North Carolina.

While some commenters applauded the grand gesture, others felt like it was an uninvited and tasteless stunt. What are you willing to do to secure your dream job? Were Blackburn’s cake shenanigans too much? Or is it sometimes necessary to shoot your shot in a big way to get the role you want? Share your thoughts by Replying to this email!—MW

And now, your thoughts on banned books:

“No one is banning Catcher in the Rye or To Kill a Mockingbird right now. The latest wave in book bans across the country focuses on LGBTQ+ books and books by and about people of color. It impacts more than 4 million students…and it’s a coordinated effort linked to groups like Moms for Liberty. Of course, it’s not about the books: It’s about erasing entire identities and experiences. [There are easy things] people can do to support banned books and the people impacted by these First Amendment violations. First, you can borrow/buy books that are actively under attack. Your library doesn’t have a title you want? Ask them to purchase it. Vote in midterm elections for school and library board candidates that support First Amendment rights for all. Show up to school and library board meetings in support of banned books. Write a letter or attend a meeting to speak up (you can use this template).”—Kelly Jensen, editor at Book Riot

“Reading a banned book is bANTASTIC! You not only get to read a great book, but you also get to understand why it is that other people don’t want it to be great.”—Sebastian

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: The minute Netflix’s scripted series Dahmer came out, true crime lovers around the globe were hooked. But family members of the serial killer’s victims condemned what they say is continued exploitation of their loved ones. This article from Vox asks what—if anything—true crime entertainment owes victims.

Listen: After quietly going into hibernation after their 2017 album After Laughter, Paramore is finally back with another soon-to-be hit single, “This is Why.”

Follow: Make sure to look up @moniqueyvonne for your weekly dose of creative inspo. The 21-year-old filmmaker regularly shares her behind-the-scenes writing process and filming of stunning shorts like this one titled The Game Pt. 1.

Learn: Got a case of meeting overload? We know the feeling. That’s why Morning Brew HQ created a time management master class that can help you prioritize, perform, and get sh*t done without the extra meetings. Sign up now.