As the workplace evolves, so does the language we use to describe it. Some HR terms capture trends, some reflect challenges, and some are just plain fun to talk about. Here’s a look at ten buzzwords that are making waves right now.

The Great Flattening – the trend of eliminating middle managers to cut costs, reduce bureaucracy, and streamline organizational charts – is rapidly spreading across industries. What began in the tech sector is now reshaping corporate structures in retail, finance, and even government.

In a time of labor market uncertainty, economic headwinds, and rapid advancements in AI, many employees are choosing to hold onto their current roles not because they are satisfied, but because switching seems too risky. This phenomenon, called job hugging, captures a shift in workplace behavior that carries significant implications for individuals, organizations, and the broader economy.

With an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the trades than in previous generations, the need to attract and inspire new talent for these industries is greater than ever. Thankfully, trade workers have taken to the social media platform, TikTok, to share their careers, and it has proven to be an effective recruitment strategy.

Even if you already have an HR department, there are times when your team simply can’t do it all. Hiring freezes, unexpected turnover, rapid growth, or special projects can stretch your HR resources thin. That’s when your HR team needs fractional HR support – experienced professionals who can step in on-demand to increase capacity, bring specialized expertise, and keep your HR operations running smoothly.

A new phenomenon is slowly gaining attention in the workplace called quiet cracking, and it’s quietly chipping away at employee morale, motivation, and productivity.

You’ve probably heard of “quiet quitting,” but a new trend is quietly reshaping workplaces: quiet cutting. Instead of laying off employees, organizations are increasingly reassigning workers into different roles—often without a promotion, raise, or even much choice in the matter. While this strategy may help companies avoid severance costs or negative PR tied to layoffs, it raises real concerns for morale, engagement, and retention.

IBM recently made headlines after revealing that artificial intelligence now handles 94% of its routine HR tasks. Hundreds of roles have been replaced by AI, but the company isn’t shrinking. Instead, IBM reports more than $3.5 billion in productivity gains across 70 business units over two years, and leaders say this transformation is fueling growth and reinvestment – not just cost-cutting.

Career growth can no longer follow a one-size-fits-all path. Employees are seeking more than just promotions – they want meaningful development, purpose-driven opportunities, and support that reflects their individuality. To truly reimagine career growth, organizations must embrace a fresh, human-centered strategy that engages people at every level.

Many working parents today face a tough choice between staying home or paying high childcare costs. In some areas, options are limited, with long waitlists and high prices creating child-care deserts. The challenge is even greater for employees who’ve relocated and no longer have nearby family support. While maternity and pregnancy benefits have improved, the biggest barrier to staying in the workforce is access to affordable, reliable childcare. This is when the biggest drop-off...

As Michigan celebrates Professional Trades Month this May, the spotlight is on the skilled professionals who build and sustain our communities and on the next generation ready to join them. Among them are recent graduates like those with degrees in kinesiology and pre-med studies who are eager to bring their passion and skills into meaningful roles across Michigan’s diverse professional trades sectors.

Employee volunteer programs are no longer just a “nice to have”—they’re a strategic investment with measurable returns. From boosting employee engagement and skill development to enhancing brand reputation and attracting top talent, these programs offer tangible benefits for both organizations and their people. This article will dive into those benefits and offer some best practices to get you started.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the nature of work and challenging traditional roles across every industry. For HR professionals and employees alike, understanding how AI is reshaping talent is critical to staying ahead. Fortunately, there's a clear and practical way to evaluate where your work stands in this new landscape: the 3-Bucket Analysis.

Employee engagement surveys are essential tools for organizations to gauge the level of investment and motivation among their employees. Engaged employees are not only more productive but are also more likely to remain with the company long-term. By conducting these surveys regularly, organizations can gain valuable insights into employee satisfaction, enabling them to identify issues and improve the workplace environment. The benefits of employee engagement surveys are numerous, making them...

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2023 women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median usual weekly earnings that were 84% of male full-time wage and salary workers. This situation is up 22% from 1979, the first year for which comparable earnings data are available, when women’s earnings were 62% of men’s earnings.  Per the BLS, the majority of this closing of the pay gap was between 1980 and 2003. From 2004 to 2023, the...