👋 3 pandemic habits to drop in 2022

The solar revolution is here. Forget about dull, rectangular solar panels. An increasing number of designers and startups across the globe are reinventing the way we harness the sun, from solar cells that can be integrated into windows, to solar-powered skylights that look like contemporary stained glass. Clothes can charge our phones, desks can charge our lamps. Even solar panels themselves are being overhauled: some are overlaid with customizable skins, others are imprinted with geometric patterns reminiscent of an abstract painting. As solar energy becomes more affordable, the options are increasing, and 2022 may well become a banner year for solar energy. Read my story here to meet the designers leading the “solar movement.” —Elissaveta M. Brandon   co.design From windows to jackets to furniture, solar power is being totally revolutionized It’s not just about panels anymore. READ MORE   work life 3 pandemic habits to drop in 2022 It’s not too late to make a few more New Year’s resolutions. READ MORE   tech The telehealth bubble has burst. Time to figure out what’s next Telehealth took off during the pandemic, but 2021 was a brutal awakening. The healthcare industry is still figuring out how it fits into the big picture. READ MORE

6 ways to better compete for talent in 2022 For companies looking to hire (and retain) workers amid the Great Resignation, here’s what you need to prioritize this year. READ MORE

co.design When you think of hospitals, you think of hallways. Here’s why we designed a hospital without them The approach—which has been replicated throughout Rwanda and beyond—simply serves patients better. READ MORE   co.design Shopping will be way less annoying this year. These are the 3 big changes you’ll see Farewell, abandoned online shopping carts. READ MORE   work life I passed on a big promotion and still grew my career. This is what it took IBM’s CHRO details her career trajectory and says for some, it’s absolutely the right decision to resign if declining a promotion, but in many cases, you can still find satisfaction and success by staying put. READ MORE   artificial intelligence 2022 promises to bring massive change to AI regulation A cofounder of AI monitoring company Arthur says with all that happened in 2021, it’s no wonder smart enterprises are taking steps to future-proof their own practices around fair and equitable AI. READ MORE   impact COVID forced cities to redesign their streets. Now, some of those changes are permanent In 2020, cities adapted to COVID-19 with open streets, outdoor dining, and added bike lanes. In 2021, some of those changes became permanent—and advocates for walkable, bikeable cities can take lessons from what worked to redesign even more streets. READ MORE   remote work Here are the best productivity tools and tips for hybrid teams in 2022 Rather than try to optimize your virtual office with dozens of software widgets that are overkill, my recommendation is to focus instead on knowing the basics like the back of your hand. READ MORE   NEWS Surprise medical bills are now banned: Here’s what to know Starting this year, an emergency hospital trip can no longer be cause for a separate kind of emergency: an unexpectedly high medical bill because the doctor on duty didn’t happen to accept your insurance. The new rule passed by Congress is called the No Surprises Act. It went into effect January 1, and establishes new federal protections against surprise medical bills for nearly all ER visits, and most routine care too. “Surprise bills” refers to when insured patients show up for care, but they’re treated by an out-of-network doctor or other provider they didn’t purposefully choose.  There is one big carve-out, however: ground ambulances. Congress says it excluded bills for ground ambulances because they “would need a different regulatory approach.” Check out the latest news stories here. FREE SPONSORED E-BOOK OF THE DAY Communicating Strategically to Get What You Want Click here to download your free e-book.     Thanks for reading! Have questions or comments? Email us at newsletters@fastcompany.com. Happy Monday! SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER   Support Our Journalism for as Little as $1.99/Month Join Fast Company Premium   If you don’t want to receive Compass anymore, unsubscribe here If you were forwarded Compass and like it, subscribe here View this newsletter online 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007-2195