Social Security wages will rise to $184,500 in 2026: The social security tax on employers and employees will stay the same at 6.2% and for Medicare at 1.45%.  Unlike Social Security, Medicare has no cap on wages.  Medicare surtax of 0.9% hits wages and self-employment joint filers at $250,000 and $200,000 for others.  Kiplinger 11/6/25

401(K) 2026 contributions: Employees enrolled in 401(k) plans will be able to contribute up to $24,500 to those plans in 2026, an increase of $1,000 from last year’s cap of $23,500, the IRS announced. The new annual contribution limit will also apply to 403(b) plans, governmental 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan.  Unlike last year, the IRS also announced an increase to the contribution cap for individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, to which participants will be eligible to contribute $7,500. The IRA catch-up contribution limit for individuals ages 50 and over will similarly increase to $1,100 pursuant to provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. The catch-up rate for those participating in most other plans, including 401(k) plans, will be set at $8,000 next year, up from $7,500 in 2025. A higher limit applies to employees aged 60 through 63, the IRS noted. Next year’s 401(k) contribution cap adjustment is the largest year-over-year increase by the agency since 2023, when the IRS set a contribution limit $2,000 higher than that of 2022.  Source: HR Dive 11/17/25

How many U.S. workers are covered by retirement plans: Retirement benefits were available to 72% of private industry workers in March 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. 70% of private industry workers had access to defined contribution plans and 14% had access to defined benefit plans. Among private industry workers, 59% of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 86% of workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and 90% of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to retirement benefits. 6% of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 13% of workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and 36% of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to defined benefit plans. 31% of private industry workers in establishments with less than 100 workers had access to short-term disability plans. 53% of private industry workers in establishments with 100-499 workers and 68% of private industry workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to short-term disability plans. 42% of private industry workers in establishments with less than 100 workers had access to life insurance plans. 72% of workers in establishments with 100-499 workers and 87% of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to life insurance plans.  BLS 9/25/25

Are Gen Alphas ready for job market? Gen-Zers who recently completed college face the challenge of overcoming their cohort’s vexing workplace reputation as they struggle to land a job. They’re also finding employers generally aren’t hiring much anymore and are increasingly prioritizing skills and experience over diplomas when they do. Despite these hurdles, it’s worse for the youngest Gen-Zers and the oldest members of Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024. They’re having trouble finding employment for an even worse reason: Bosses say they aren’t capable of doing any available jobs.  In fact, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board, New Hire Readiness Report 2025, 84% of the 500 participating hiring managers said “most high school students are not prepared to enter the workforce.” Perhaps even worse, 80% of those respondents said the most recent crop of high school graduates were even more clueless about applying for, earning, and effectively performing a job than previous generations. Another 75% said “some or all of the recent college graduates they hired this year were unsatisfactory.” Wait until Generation Alpha teens straight out of high school come their way asking for a job.  Source: Inc.10/8/25

Do managers dump work on employees? Unfair or pointless work tasks are driving more employees to mentally check out, turning to the internet to cope with stress, sleepless nights, and next-day burnout, new research shows.  The study, led by Hainan University in collaboration with Charles Darwin University (CDU), explored how so-called "illegitimate tasks" (or "i-tasks") influence workers' thoughts and behavior long after they clock off.  The research was published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology.  "I-tasks are duties that fall outside someone's job role or seem pointless, like asking a nurse to handle maintenance requests or a software engineer to organize office parties," lead author and Hainan University Associate Professor Zhao Lijing, said. "These assignments can leave people feeling undervalued, frustrated, and mentally drained." The research highlights the need for organizations to recognize both sides of i-tasks, suggesting that while employers should avoid assigning staff unreasonable or meaningless work, they can also help employees reframe these tasks as opportunities for growth.  Source: Phys Org 10/10/25

Have you thought of child disability insurance as a benefit? Employer-sponsored disability insurance is a relatively common benefit offering. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that nearly half of private employers provide their workforce access to short-term disability coverage and about 40% offer long-term coverage. Adults aren’t the only individuals to be at risk, but child disability insurance has been nearly unheard of. That’s a gap that Juno is seeking to fill. Juno is a first-of-its-kind benefit offering that allows employers to provide disability insurance to the children of their working parents. Juno pays up to $1 million a family - $500,000 per eligible child – in cash assistance, paid out over 10 years. Families can use the money however they need: to pay medical bills, cover lost wages, or pay for caregiving.  Coverage extends to dependents up to age 26 who suffer a severe illness, injury, or disability – ranging from cancer and rare diseases to birth injuries. The child disability insurance provider launched in 2024 with one client; today, it has about 80, including three Fortune 500s, in total covering more than 50,000 employees. Without access to such a benefit, he says, employees with kids face real risk – highlighting a significant opportunity for employers. Source: HR Executive 10/13/25