Category Human Resources

By James Terry HR teams are under more pressure than ever. Budgets are tight. Expectations are high. The pace of change is accelerating. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) and flexible workforce models are reshaping not just how people work, but how talent is accessed and managed. Many HR leaders are trying to make sense of the headlines—AI replacing jobs, rapid automation, economic uncertainty—while still managing day-to-day realities like staffing shortages, retention risk and compliance oversight.  But the real story is more nuanced. According to recent data, only 17% of HR teams have fully embedded AI into their operations. Yet 62% of employers expect…

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By Rob Whalen It has been a difficult few years for employees. There was the shock of COVID-19, which fundamentally reshaped how and where we work. Then employees were hit with surging inflation, which exacerbated the financial vulnerability they already felt in the waning years of the pandemic. More recently, employees had to quickly acclimate to the reversal of policies such as work-from-home and the pause on student loan payments. Now employees face slowing job growth, rising healthcare costs, and the accelerating adoption of AI. HR teams always have their hands full, but 2026 is shaping up to be a…

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By Roberta Fields Political discussions between employees at work become heated, negative political social media posts go viral, off-duty employees are photographed participating in off-duty protests, or workers show up at work wearing pins, buttons, or shirts emblazoned with political slogans. It seems these things are happening more frequently, and third parties are more willing to complain to employers about off-duty events they find offensive. What Can Employers Do? Let’s use the example of an off-duty employee who posts a politically charged message on social media. The post goes viral, and several customers relay their anger to the employer. The…

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By John Guaspari The concept of Employee Engagement has been a big deal since around the turn of the century, when studies done by several reputable sources showed a clear correlation between higher levels of Engagement and such critical business metrics as profitability, productivity, and—one that’s especially important to HR professionals—employee retention rates.  A lot of things have to happen to achieve such results, beginning with an understanding of the definition of Engagement upon which that research was based: “the extent to which employees invest incremental effort and energy while on the job.”  You also won’t reach your Engagement goals…

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By Lisa Wolf Work-life balance is not just a corporate catchphrase – it’s a defining factor in how employees effectively navigate between their careers and personal lives. A new study from ARAG® sheds light on what balance really means across workforce generations, and why it’s proving harder to achieve.  Drawing insights from 1,600 full-time workers – spanning Gen Z to Boomers – alongside perspectives from HR professionals, the 2025 Work-Life Balance Study reveals the pressures that disrupt equilibrium and the benefits that can help restore it. These findings offer HR professionals a clearer lens for designing programs that meet employees where they…

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By Ronda L. Harvey “Why does it feel like somebody’s watching me?” Remember the old song with Michael Jackson singing this lament in the chorus? Employees in our current technological age may share this sentiment. More and more employers are conducting various modes of surveillance in the workplace, including video cameras and cybersecurity that tracks email and website traffic. According to the American Management Association, nearly 80% of major employers in the United States monitor employees’ internet, phone, and email use. As this type of surveillance becomes more widespread in offices, factories, and even in at-home remote work sites, the…

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