Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
In 2025, companies aiming to stay competitive will need to transition from fragmented compensation and benefits programs to a unified total rewards strategy that aligns employee support and expectations with core business objectives. This strategy should cover every aspect of the employee experience—from employee well-being and compensation to career growth. By implementing a comprehensive, […]
In employee benefits and retirement planning, we often focus on 401(k)s and other long-term savings vehicles. However, a critical piece of the financial security puzzle is often overlooked: emergency savings. For HR and benefits professionals, understanding the importance of emergency savings accounts (ESAs) is crucial to developing comprehensive financial wellness programs that truly serve employees. […]
In August 2024, the California Supreme Court decided Stone v. Alameda Health System, which clarified that the meal and rest break requirements of the California Labor Code at sections 226.7 and 512 and other Labor Code provisions do not apply to public employers. The Court also held that the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) penalty […]
Employees have long been exhorted not to share their salaries with others. Of course, those exhortations have notoriously not worked, as a recent survey demonstrates. What the Survey Tells Us A survey of 1182 employed Americans conducted by Self Financial revealed some interesting insights into what they do, and don’t share about their salaries—and how […]
Companies often default to financial strategies to drive desired employee behaviors, whether those behaviors are increased engagement, ownership and initiative, or simply better employee retention. For instance, a manager might promise a promotion and accompanying raise to an employee who succeeds in completing a challenging project. Or an organization might motivate staff through a quarterly […]
In American culture and social settings, it’s long been taboo to discuss one’s salary. Sharing that information around those who earn more can make the lower earner feel inferior. Sharing with those who earn less can feel like gloating. More broadly, most people feel it isn’t anyone else’s business how much they make. But things […]
In an era where “quiet vacationing”—pretending to work while taking unreported time off—has become commonplace, it’s crucial that HR leaders take a vocal approach to encouraging and embracing time off by “loud vacationing.” I am encouraging this movement as a direct response to the trend of employees feeling guilty about taking their well-deserved breaks. It’s […]
The Supreme Court of the United States recently granted certiorari in Stanley v. City of Sanford, Florida—a case about whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) permits former employees to sue for alleged discrimination in providing post-employment fringe benefits. The case has practical significance for employers. If the Court finds that the ADA does apply […]
Disparate treatment of women in the tech industry is, sadly, almost a cliché of that industry, even after years of attention focused on such problems, which include everything from pay disparities and uneven promotion rates to sexual harassment and even violence. But the negative impacts of this treatment don’t fall solely on female employees. Tech […]
In the battle for talent in the U.S. labor market, employers have several arrows in their quivers: salary, annual bonuses, benefits like health and dental insurance, vacation time, flexible scheduling, company culture, etc. All of these can be used to entice candidates to apply to work for a given employer, and these various arrows can […]