Crying at work is more common than many leaders realize and can serve as a visible indicator of deeper workplace stress and burnout. Nearly half of U.S. workers report crying or coming close to crying at work, suggesting that emotional strain is becoming a widespread workforce issue rather than an isolated occurrence.

Paid time off is one of the most valued employee benefits, yet many employees still hesitate to fully disconnect when they take it. They check email from the beach, respond to Teams messages while away, or return feeling as exhausted as when they left. For HR professionals, this raises an important question: Is the issue really PTO policy, or is it workplace culture?

Michigan employers may want to keep a close eye on proposed legislation that could significantly impact how organizations communicate with employees outside of scheduled work hours.

Many organizations are moving quickly to incorporate AI into everyday work. Senior leaders often assume employees share that enthusiasm, but recent research suggests the picture is more complicated.

Many employers have social media, code of conduct, and respectful workplace policies designed to support a productive work environment and protect the organization's reputation. As employees increasingly share their views on political events, social issues, and government actions through social media and other public platforms, HR professionals are often faced with difficult questions about the limits of employee speech.

Leaders are often expected to provide confidence during uncertain times. Employees look to leadership for direction, reassurance, and a sense of stability, especially when organizations face difficult decisions, changing market conditions, or financial pressures.

Applicant tracking systems, AI-powered screening tools, automated workflows, and high-volume recruiting processes help employers manage hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applications. While these technologies provide valuable efficiencies, many organizations may be overlooking an important consequence: qualified candidates are increasingly disappearing into a recruiting "black hole."

As always, the final days of June bring a wave of decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court on major cases. This year was no exception, with four rulings that could have a direct or indirect impact on employers and human resources practices.

As organizations move into the second half of the year, HR leaders have an opportunity to evaluate whether policies, practices, and documentation remain aligned with changing business needs and compliance requirements. A mid-year compliance review helps organizations identify risks early, correct inconsistencies, and avoid last-minute year-end challenges. Mid-year reviews are increasingly becoming a best practice for organizations looking to shift from reactive compliance management to a...

Organizations are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency, streamline processes, and gain an advantage over the competition. As part of that effort, many employers are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to automate tasks, enhance decision-making, and increase productivity. While AI offers tremendous potential, the drive to achieve faster and better results can sometimes overshadow the need to carefully evaluate how these tools are being used. Without thoughtful oversight and...

New Secretary of Labor nominated: President Donald Trump's chosen nominee for secretary of labor has already been overseeing the U.S. Department of Labor as it returns to wage and hour policies from the president's first term, and observers said they expect him to maintain that approach.

Most organizations view retention as a problem to solve when an employee submits a resignation. By that point, however, the decision to leave has often been developing for months. High-performing employees rarely quit without warning. The signs are usually there, but they can be easy to miss.

As the workforce continues to age, employers are facing new challenges that HR professionals must recognize and address. One significant concern is cognitive decline. While often associated with advanced age, cognitive changes can begin affecting individuals in their 50s. At the same time, older employees are remaining in the workforce longer than ever before.

Most employers are conditioned to prepare for January 1 as the major deadline for workplace law changes, but mid-year legislative updates can be just as significant.

For years, recruiting leaders have searched for ways to make hiring faster. Artificial intelligence now offers the capability of scheduling interviews, drafting job descriptions, communicating with candidates, and screening resumes. Yet as technology becomes more deeply embedded in the hiring process, many employers are discovering an unexpected truth: the human touch may be more valuable than ever.

New workplace buzzwords seem to emerge almost as quickly as new technologies or AI tools. If you scroll through LinkedIn, attend a conference, or browse the latest workforce publications, you'll likely see a growing number of terms describing employee behaviors, workplace expectations, and evolving career trends. While some of these phrases may sound like social media jargon, many reflect legitimate shifts in how employees view work, leadership, flexibility, and career growth, and can...

Should you collect applicant demographic data per EEOC? The answer is yes. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has approved the EEOC's collection of applicant data.

As HR professionals and business leaders, we spend a great deal of time developing policies, procedures, contingency plans, and crisis response protocols. These tools are important. They provide structure when uncertainty strikes and help organizations respond consistently.

How leaders communicate difficult news can have a lasting impact on employee trust, engagement, and organizational culture. A recent controversy involving the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team brought this issue into the spotlight. Several players learned they had been left off the final World Cup roster through an email rather than a personal conversation, sparking debate about whether difficult news should ever be delivered electronically. The incident serves as a valuable reminder for...

In most cases, terminating an employee while they are on FMLA leave is risky and should only occur under limited circumstances. For example, termination may be appropriate if the employee is part of a broader layoff affecting multiple employees or if the decision to terminate was fully documented and finalized before the employee began FMLA leave. Otherwise, employers may face claims of FMLA interference or retaliation, which can result in significant legal and financial liability.

Artificial intelligence has dominated HR and compensation discussions for the past several years, but many organizations are still trying to determine exactly how AI will impact jobs, compensation programs, and workforce planning. A recently released study by Korn Ferry, the Global Total Rewards Pulse Survey: AI Impact on Roles and Compensation (March 2026), provides a snapshot of how organizations around the world are approaching these issues. The survey gathered responses from more than...

Data privacy is no longer just a legal issue; it is a business priority. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has played a major role in shaping how organizations collect, manage, and protect personal information. Designed to give California residents more control over their data, the law requires businesses to be clear about what information they collect, how they use it, and whether they share it. Since taking effect in 2020 and later expanding under the California Privacy Rights...

HSA contribution limits to rise in 2027: The Internal Revenue Service says important numbers at the heart of personal health benefit account programs will rise by about 2% to 3% in 2027. The IRS announced the new, inflation-adjusted parameters for health savings accounts and some health reimbursement arrangements in Revenue Procedure 2026-24. 

One of the biggest risks for employers operating in multiple states is keeping pace with a patchwork of rules that can shift quickly and differ by location. This makes it essential to continuously monitor federal and state developments, verify guidance against primary sources, and adjust policies and pay practices promptly. A change that applies in one jurisdiction may not apply or may apply differently in another.

The skills employees need to succeed are changing faster than ever. Advances in technology, shifting business priorities, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence are transforming jobs across nearly every industry. As a result, organizations that fail to invest in employee development risk falling behind, while those that prioritize training are better positioned to remain competitive, productive, and adaptable.