Shene', Black, nurses, nursing, program — (Photo: Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

April 10, 2026

University Of Alabama Once Again Claims Top Ranking In Healthcare Management

The School of Health Professions serves more than 2,500 students and offers a variety of specialized degrees beyond administration.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has secured the No. 1 ranking in a new national evaluation of healthcare management education; the institution also ranked in the top 20 in 16 other categories.

U.S. News & World Report recognized UAB’s Master of Science in Health Administration program as the best in the United States. The university’s School of Health Professions has consistently placed within the upper tier of medical education programs for several decades.

The ranking process involves a comprehensive assessment of peer reputations and program quality. For the 2026 reporting cycle, academic leaders and administrators from across the country participated in surveys to determine which institutions provide the most rigorous and effective training for future healthcare executives. UAB’s program remains a dominant institution among other prestigious institutions, such as the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

University officials credit the No. 1 ranking to the program’s unique curriculum and its proximity to a major academic medical center. Students within the health administration track often participate in residency programs and administrative fellowships at the UAB Health System. The proximity and access to such residencies provide them with direct experience in managing a large-scale clinical environment.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is strengthening its position as a national leader in healthcare education, with multiple graduate programs earning top rankings in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools list.

A total of 17 UAB graduate and specialty… pic.twitter.com/XAPg2BQqei
— Yellowhammer News (@yhn) April 9, 2026

The School of Health Professions serves more than 2,500 students and offers a variety of specialized degrees beyond administration. Degree paths range from clinical laboratory sciences to nutrition. The health administration program specifically focuses on developing skills in strategic planning, financial management, and policy analysis. Graduates from the program frequently move into senior leadership roles at hospitals. Additionally, their skills secure careers at insurance companies and government health agencies.

“UAB’s continued prominence in these rankings reflects our commitment to offering world-class academic programs and research experiences, some of them the first of their kind regionally and nationally,” said Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D., senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost.

UAB’s success in this category is part of a broader trend of excellence for the university. Several other graduate programs at the Birmingham-based institution, including nursing and public health, also received high marks in the recent national rankings, according to a University press release. The university is the largest employer in the state of Alabama, making the institution a primary driver of the regional economy.

The 2026 rankings also highlighted several other Alabama-based institutions for their performance in various graduate disciplines. However, UAB’s top-ranked health administration degree remains one of the few programs in the state to hold the undisputed No. 1 position in its field nationally.

Afrika Bambaataa, sexual assault — Photo credit: Mikael 'Mika' Väisänen | Wikimedia commons | Creative Commons Attribution

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 10, 2026

Scarred Legacy of Hip-Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa Sparks Mixed Reactions To His Death At 67

Afrika Bambaataa's decades of sexual abuse allegations are resurfacing amid news of his death at age 67 from cancer.

The news of the death of the pioneering rapper and DJ Afrika Bambaataa, who helped shape hip-hop, at age 67, is receiving mixed reactions.

News of Afrika Bambaataa’s death, on April 9 in Pennsylvania, from cancer complications, spread across social media, with many outlets highlighting the Universal Zulu Nation founder’s lasting impact on the 50-plus-year-old art form. But with allegations of sexual abuse toward young boys throughout the 1980s and ’90s, his death has sparked strong reactions on social media over his troubled legacy.

“Afrika Bambaataa, a hip-hop pioneer who was accused of sexual abuse, has died, TMZ reports. He was 67,” a tweet from journalist Philip Lewis read.

Afrika Bambaataa, a hip-hop pioneer who was accused of sexual abuse, has died, TMZ reports. He was 67 https://t.co/DRaegu5HVw
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 9, 2026

Lewis even included a statement from the Hip Hop Alliance, which celebrated his contributions to hip-hop while acknowledging how “complex” Bambaataa’s legacy was, without explaining why.

“Through his music, leadership, and influence, he contributed to the foundation of Hip Hop’s core principles, inspiring generations of MCs, DJs, breakers, and cultural leaders. His imprint on Hip Hop history is undeniable and will forever remain part of the culture’s origin story,” read the statement from the Hip Hop Alliance Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Kurtis Blow Walker.

“At the same time, we recognize that his legacy is complex and has been the subject of serious conversations within our community. As an organization committed to truth, accountability, and the preservation of Hip Hop culture, we believe it is important to hold space for all voices while continuing to uplift what empowers and protects the people.”

Lewis’ remarks drew strong reactions from users on X (formerly Twitter), many of whom criticized Bambaataa over decades-old allegations of sexual abuse involving young boys.

“12 people accused this man while he was alive,” one X user wrote over an AI image that placed Jeffrey Epstein’s face over Bambaataa’s body.

“Hopefully some of them can heal now, especially Hassan,” added someone else, referencing Hassan Campbell, a former member of the Universal Zulu Nation and a prominent YouTuber, who has accused Bambaataa of sexually abusing him for years when he was a child.

Others said they were unaware of Bambaataa’s sexual abuse allegations until seeing the backlash to news of his death, with one person writing they learned of the claims “through these comments.”

Born Lance Taylor in 1957, Afrika Bambaataa rose to prominence in New York’s early hip-hop scene, hosting block parties in the South Bronx and co-founding the Universal Zulu Nation in 1973. His 1982 hit “Planet Rock” reached No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became credited as one of the earliest hits in hip-hop. He later joined artists like Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Bono, and Run-D.M.C. on the 1985 anti-apartheid song “Sun City.”

In 2016, Ronald Savage accused Bambaataa of molesting him as a teen, prompting additional allegations from other men who said they were abused in their youth. He was later removed from leadership of the Universal Zulu Nation. In 2025, a judge ruled against him in a lawsuit filed by an anonymous accuser, issuing a default judgment after he failed to respond.

Roger Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather Jr. — (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 10, 2026

Floyd Mayweather Hit With $7.3 Million Tax Lien

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been hit with a $7.3 million tax lien, adding to reports of mounting financial troubles.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been targeted by the Internal Revenue Service, with the undefeated boxing champion recently being hit with a $7.3 million tax lien.

On April 9, reports surfaced that the IRS filed a $7.3 million lien against the famed boxer and entrepreneur for unpaid taxes in 2018 and 2023, according to Business Insider. The lien, filed last month in Las Vegas, shows the balance as unpaid as of March 2026.

While Floyd Mayweather Jr. has not publicly responded to the lien, it adds to reports of mounting financial troubles, including foreclosures on two commercial properties and the risk of losing a Las Vegas building that houses his strip club due to unpaid taxes. He has also faced lawsuits alleging unpaid bills for luxury items like watches and jewelry. He has sold assets, including his private jet “Air Mayweather” and mansions in Beverly Hills and Miami, to real estate partners.

Mayweather Jr. appears to be working to recoup losses and generate new income through high-profile exhibition bouts. In February, he sued Showtime for $340 million over alleged “misappropriated funds” tied to a 2013 pay-per-view deal, claims the network denies. All the while, the retired champ, who left pro boxing in 2017, is slated for an exhibition against Mike Tyson in April and a pro fight with longtime rival Manny Pacquiao in September at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

Last month, Mayweather Jr. confirmed an upcoming fight with kickboxing legend Mike Zambidis in Athens, Greece, one of several events on his packed 2026 schedule.

“2026 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for me,” Mayweather wrote on Instagram. “Europe, I’m on the way to entertain!! Athens, Greece… Get ready for an all-out exhibition. This summer will be a legendary battle. June is the month when history will be made at the Telekom Center. Different energy. Different level.”

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A post shared by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather)

Logan Paul recently accused Mayweather Jr. of owing him a significant sum from their 2021 fight, adding to speculation about Mayweather’s finances. Paul claims the dispute stems from a side deal Mayweather arranged before the bout secured a U.S. promoter, alleging he used their combined star power to land an eight-figure payment from an international partner.

Paul claims his contract guaranteed him 15%—about $1.5 million—of a $10 million deal he still hasn’t received, and he’s not confident he’ll be paid amid Mayweather’s ongoing legal battles.

Obama-Appointed Judge, Trump Administration , Medicaid Data, Undocumented Immigrants, ICE — (Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 10, 2026

Lawmakers Say Black And Brown Citizens Are At Risk As ICE Acknowledges Use Of Spyware

ICE's acting director, Todd Lyons, sent a letter shortly before the Easter holiday confirming the group uses a number of tools to disrupt and dismantle foreign terrorist organizations, but Lee says it's being used for other purposes.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has admitted to using spyware tools that have the power to intercept encrypted messages to target fentanyl traffickers, but Rep. Summer Lee is highlighting how Black and Brown citizens will be the ones at risk.

In a statement from the Democratic lawmaker from Pennsylvania, she called the ICE agency out for avoiding the privacy concerns handed down by members of Congress before greenlighting what she labeled as “the invasive spyware technology inside the United States.” Lee pinpointed who she feels are the real victims of such spyware as Graphite, owned by the Israeli company Paragon Solutions — Black and brown people. “The people most at risk, including immigrants, Black and brown communities, journalists, organizers, and anyone speaking out against government abuse, deserve more than secrecy and deflection from an agency with a long record of overreach and abuse,” she wrote in a press release posted to her website.

According to NPR, the agency’s acting director, Todd Lyons, sent a letter shortly before the Easter holiday confirming the group uses a number of tools to disrupt and dismantle foreign terrorist organizations, “particularly those involved in the trafficking of fentanyl.”

Lyons approved the Graphite contract for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to use what is known as “zero click” technology to access encrypted messages on a targeted device, even if the user never clicks a link.

It was Graphite that was called out in early 2025 for targeting 90 journalists and members of civil society in a number of countries. Researchers at The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy later revealed specific journalists and humanitarian aid providers in Italy had devices infected with the spyware in WhatsApp messages.

Such instances prompted Lee to call for moments of transparency. “Constitutional rights do not disappear because this administration wants more surveillance power, and fear tactics cannot be used as a way to sidestep accountability, privacy, and due process,” she continued.

“I will keep demanding transparency and fighting to protect the civil liberties of everyone in this country because no government gets to cast aside our rights when they become inconvenient, and I will not stand by while this administration treats the Constitution as a mere suggestion.”

Subject matter experts like Maria Villegas Bravo, a lawyer with the nonprofit Electronic Privacy Information Center, said the U.S. has failed to put regulations in place that can “stop the U.S. government from abusing Constitutional and human rights in the process of using this technology.”

An unidentified DHS official defended the usage, saying that as a law enforcement agency, such tools have to be in place. “DHS is a law enforcement agency. ICE is no different,” the official said.

“Employing various forms of technology in support of investigations and law enforcement activities aids in the arrest of criminal gang members, child sex offenders, murderers, drug dealers, identity thieves, and more, all while respecting civil liberties and privacy interests.”

Villegas Bravo touched on Graphite placing the nation in a position to heighten the market for technologies exploited by foreign governments to undermine messaging applications’ privacy and conduct invasive phone surveillance. “This is a grave national security risk because it weakens American critical infrastructure, including our telecommunications networks,” Villegas Bravo said.

Louisiana, courthouse, New Orleans, Clifton Davis

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 10, 2026

Louisiana’s GOP-Led Legislature Racing to Eliminate Job Of Exonerated Man Voted Into Government Seat

Louisiana’s Republican-led Senate voted to eliminate a position set for an exonerated man elected to office last November.

Louisiana’s GOP-led legislature is trying to eliminate a position that was set to be filled by a recently elected exonerated man.

Calvin Duncan, who spent nearly 30 years in prison before being exonerated, won 68% of the vote in New Orleans last November to become Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court. He pledged reforms shaped by his experience seeking court records while incarcerated, AP News reports.

While New Orleans is a Democratic-leaning city with a predominantly Black electorate, it sits within a state legislature that is largely Republican and white. Duncan, 62, rebuilt his life, in part by running for and winning the clerk’s office. But Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana’s GOP-controlled legislature are moving to eliminate the position before he gets sworn in on May 4.

Louisiana’s full Senate voted 25–11 to approve Senate Bill 256, a measure to merge the Orleans Parish civil and criminal clerk offices into one, effectively eliminating the position set for Duncan. Republicans say the move is about government efficiency and isn’t personal. But Duncan argues it’s retaliation by Louisiana officials who long denied his innocence, despite his inclusion in the National Registry of Exonerations.

“The citizens of New Orleans overwhelmingly said: ‘I want to give this person a chance, he can make a difference,’” Duncan told lawmakers during a March committee hearing. “What this bill does is say: ‘Thank you, but you wasted your time.’ It disenfranchises everybody.”

Senate Bill 256 is part of a broader push by Sen. Jay Morris to overhaul New Orleans courts, including cutting judgeships and eliminating the clerk role set for Duncan. Morris said the bill would align Orleans Parish with the rest of the state by merging the civil and criminal clerk offices for efficiency and acknowledged that the timing coincides with Duncan’s upcoming term.

Duncan argues the merger is misguided since the two offices handle distinct records and responsibilities.

“The civil district court clerk doesn’t have a clue, doesn’t have a clue on how the records are supposed to be preserved, and how to preserve evidence,” Duncan said. “She has no clue how that works. Victims of crime will be affected by this.”

Duncan helped drive a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision ending nonunanimous jury convictions and founded a nonprofit to expand incarcerated people’s access to the courts. He has called his election clerk the culmination of his life’s work.

Senate Bill 256 is expected to pass the GOP-controlled House and be signed by Landry, taking effect immediately.

“I have never seen something so barbaric,” Sen. Royce Duplessis, a Democrat representing New Orleans, said on the Senate floor. “I understand politics, and I know you all are going to vote how you are going to vote. But just know, when we are all done here, history has a record.”

model, stabbing, nyc, ice cream truck, Detroit, — (Photo: 400tmax/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 10, 2026

Caught on Video: Brooklyn Grandmother Attacked After Dispute Over Dog Waste

Linda Scott, 75, is now at home.

An elderly grandmother was attacked outside her home after she asked a woman to pick up her dogs’ waste in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.

According to the New York Daily News, Linda Scott, 75, was attacked after making the request to her neighbor on April 7, at around 9 a.m. The assault was captured on surveillance video. Her son, Michael Scott, said that his mother was taken to Interfaith Medical Center, where doctors informed him that she narrowly avoided suffering a heart attack because of the beating.

The video, obtained by the media outlet, showed Linda Scott walking out of her home and speaking on the phone when a woman was seen yelling at her. The grandmother complained about dog poop near her house, and the woman denied that her dog had left it there. After a few words, another woman struck the victim, knocking her to the ground.

Michael Scott and other family members rushed out of the house to help.

PIX 11 spoke to Linda Scott from her hospital bed about the attack. She said she hoped that the woman who assaulted her would be arrested.

The victim said she has called 311 several times to complain about dog waste left on the vacant lot beside her house. She said the owner was given a citation, but the city never told him to put up a fence. She said she poured ammonia into the lot to keep the dogs out, but she did not expect to get attacked when she spoke to the woman with the dogs that day.

“I was trying to cover my head as much as possible because she was kicking,” Scott said. “I was trying to call 911, but I couldn’t. Then my son came out of the house.”

The family said Linda Scott returned home on April 8 and is expected to make a full recovery.

Shelomi Sanders Transfers To Colorado State University Pueblo — Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 10, 2026

Shelomi Sanders Transfers To Colorado State University Pueblo

This will be her fourth college.

After playing basketball for two years at Alabama A&M University, Shelomi Sanders revealed that she is transferring to Colorado State University Pueblo for the upcoming school year.

She posted the news on her Instagram account, showing several pictures of her in uniform, posing with several people, including her father, NFL Hall of Famer and Colorado Buffaloes’ football head coach, Deion Sanders.

“right place, right time 🤞🏽

@steelcitywbb leggoooooo😝”

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A post shared by $helomi Sanders (@shelomisanders)

According to HBCU Gameday, this is the third time she has jumped schools. Shelomi Sanders started her collegiate career at Jackson State University when her father was the school’s head football coach. When Coach Prime left the school to join the University of Colorado Boulder, she followed her father. When she did not play much for the Buffaloes’ basketball team, she transferred to Alabama A&M.

Colorado State University Pueblo is a Division II school in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Shelomi Sanders played only 92 minutes over 15 games this past season. She shot 6-for-27 from the field and 4-for-20 from three-point range, for a total of 14 points for the season. On Dec. 7 against Miles, she scored eight points in 17 minutes while hitting two three-point shots.

In the previous season, she played in 26 games for Alabama A&M, averaging 1.2 points per game.

The Gazette reported that CSU Pueblo’s women’s basketball team had a 13-15 record last season.

Deion Sanders posted a message to his daughter on Instagram, “I’m so Proud of you, Babygirl! Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, Lord, thank you, Coach T. Johnson, Staff and all the wonderful ladies on the team I had the honor to meet today. We smiled all the way back to Boulder. God is Incredible! Coach I appreciate u man.”

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pro-choice, pro-life, Melania Trump,Donald — White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 10, 2026

Melania Trump Rejects ‘Lies’ Linking Her To Jeffrey Epstein In Unexpected Public Address

This is the first time the first lady has spoken about the Epstein controversy on camera, with staff members allegedly being aggressive about her knocking down the "defamatory" Epstein rumors.

In a rare public appearance, first lady Melania Trump spoke out against the “lies” tying her to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

During her short April 9 speech at the White House, Trump demanded that the alleged lies linking her to “the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein” need to end. She claimed she was never friends with the disgraced financier but admitted she and her husband, President Donald Trump, were invited to parties from time to time. “To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice Maxwell. My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence,” she said.

“My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trial note.”

First Lady Melania Trump’s Statement pic.twitter.com/fSEz24NEyg
— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 9, 2026

Trump then continued to shy away from being labeled as one of Epstein’s victims, and he wasn’t responsible for introducing her to her now-husband. She also claimed to have had “no knowledge of his criminal undertakings” and continued to push that images of her and Epstein were fake. “Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you believe,” Trump said.

“These images and stories are completely false. I’m not a witness or a main witness in connection with any of Epstein’s crimes. I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity.”

According to NBC News, this is the first time the first lady has spoken about the Epstein controversy on camera, with staff members allegedly being aggressive about her knocking down the “defamatory” Epstein rumors and lies. Senior adviser Marc Beckman said, “Enough is enough. It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as First Lady, the lives she has positively impacted, and her commitment to our nation,” Beckman said in a statement.

Before stepping away from the podium, the first lady urged Congress to act and give the Epstein survivors a public hearing. “Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony. Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record,” she said.

“Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”

The statement comes as polls show members of the Republican Party, who hold the majority in Congress, have shied away from having any concern over Epstein matters. Data from a Marquette University Law School poll conducted before the January 30 document release showed that 50% of GOP members or Republican-leaning independents claim they heard of or read “a lot” about the Epstein files, compared with 72% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters.

While the president has yet to make a statement on his wife’s speech — outside of saying he has no clue about his wife’s statement prior to her delivering it — several members of Congress spoke out, thanking her for her leadership and urging colleagues to follow up on her requests. “Now is the time for Congress to act,” South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace wrote on X.

“Epstein was not alone. Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicized. Of course, this doesn’t amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.”

However, some of Epstein’s alleged victims, Danielle Bensky, Annie Farmer, and relatives of the late Virginia Giuffre, dismissed her calls about the hearings and alleged lies. “First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump Administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” the statement said.

“Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs.”

Harlem Globetrotter, leo xiv, Pope — Doha Stadium Plus Qatar from Doha, Qatar, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 10, 2026

Harlem Globetrotters Help Pope Leo XIV Spin Basketball on Finger

The team visited the Pope in Vatican City.

During a visit to Vatican City, the Harlem Globetrotters headed over to St. Peter’s Square and guided Pope Leo XIV in spinning a basketball on the tip of his finger.

A video from the Associated Press shows Leo XIV standing with members of the famed hoops squad at the Roman Catholic Church. As a player begins to spin the ball, he hands it off to the Pope and holds the pope’s finger as the ball continues to revolve.

The crowd, naturally, went wild.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the traveling basketball team, who were enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Many players over the years have come from HBCUs, the NCAA (Divisions I, II, III), the NAIA, the NBA, and the WNBA. Among the famed alumni include Wilt Chamberlain and Curly Neal.

During the current season, which started in January, the team will visit over 200 markets in the United States and take their talents to over 125 countries, including France, the United Kingdom, and Mexico.

The Globetrotters recently announced a partnership with Keepsake Trading Cards for a limited-edition trading card set to be released this summer. It will be the team’s first trading card set in over 25 years.

“The collectible world continues to expand its reach, and this partnership with Keepsake gives us the ability to again find ways to connect with fans around the world in a very special way,” said Keith Dawkins, president, Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios, in a written statement. “The limited edition set will provide a surprise and delight for everyone and will be a really special way for fans of all ages to connect our past, present, and future.”

Remote Workers. Work from home, Laptop, remote work — (Photo: nappy/Pexels)

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 10, 2026

Remote Work Wins! Office for National Statistics Won’t Force Staff To Come To Office

Unions like the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) claim it's the first time an in-office mandate had been broken.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) lost a dispute after trying to mandate employees to come into the office a few days a week, the Daily Mail reports.

The two-year-long battle ended on April 8 after ONS finally gave in, but not before employees threatened to go on strike. Unions like the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) praised the “breakthrough,” claiming it’s the first time an in-office mandate has been broken.

“For the first time, a rigid office attendance mandate has been broken and replaced with a more sensible, flexible approach based on what actually works,” General Secretary Fran Heathcote said. “This has been a long campaign and reaching a deal members could accept reflects the determination of PCS members at ONS, the hard work of their reps and the value of trade unionism.”

The agreement eliminates the individual office-attendance policy, which required employees to come into the office 40% of the time. Instead, the new agreement only asks ONS employees to come to the office when there is a “clear, purposeful need.” Employees who don’t abide by the rules will only be disciplined in cases of “persistent and unreasonable non-compliance.”

“We want to see more staff coming into our offices, while also recognizing the unique challenges that the ONS has faced,” an ONS spokesperson said in a statment.

According to The Telegraph, ONS faced several data issues, including problems with the accuracy of the jobs market and inflation figures. In addition, the institution decided to cut back on some activities to focus on core national statistics. Such problems prompted PCS to launch a campaign with four ballots of members to oppose the in-office requirement.

With the new agreement in place, the union feels “it provides clarity and a more mature framework that supports effective collaboration and productivity, reflecting the wide variety of work that our staff undertakes.”

Companies have pushed forth efforts to force employees to return to the office, but with mixed results. Data show that remote work increases productivity and makes employees overall happier. A four-year study from the University of South Australia revealed that remote work not only improves productivity but also fosters better sleep, healthier eating habits, and a stronger work-life balance.