Human Resources Blogs and Articles
Human Resources Blogs and Articles
Human Resources Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
Amid economic uncertainty, leaders’ everyday actions create ripple effects that define corporate culture. The article highlights Tony Hsieh’s practice of "WOW" moments, from offering new hires cash to personal thank‑you notes, as a model for intentional leadership. Gallup research backs this, showing managers account for 70% of employee engagement variance. The piece argues that no leadership moment is neutral; each interaction either strengthens or weakens cultural foundations.
In this episode Jacob discusses how the balance of power in the workplace is shifting back toward organizations, driven by AI and broader labor‑market trends such as résumé inflation and automation of white‑collar jobs. He explains that artificial intelligence creates...
The article offers candid advice for professionals targeting health‑tech startup jobs, emphasizing the trade‑off between flashy titles and actual compensation. It stresses the need for candidates to be opinionated, self‑aware of their performance level, and to leverage AI tools for...
The article outlines seven practices that leaders can adopt to build credibility and amplify their influence. It emphasizes quiet, backstage work such as processing emotions, avoiding outbursts, focusing on ideas, analyzing success, growing personal capability, investigating issues before speaking, and...
A federal court ruled that a pregnant employee’s resignation, prompted by a one‑day stay‑or‑leave ultimatum, could be treated as constructive discharge. The judge found that the rushed deadline, supervisor comments suggesting termination was inevitable, and internal discussions about maternity‑leave optics...
Board director compensation across the Russell 3000 and S&P 500 showed modest growth in 2025, with total pay up 2% in the Russell 3000 and flat in the S&P 500, keeping median compensation near $250,000. Shareholder‑approved caps are now in...
The article challenges the status quo of traditional meetings, labeling many as unproductive "zombie" or "black‑hole" sessions. It proposes five new definitions that view meetings as platforms for expanding team intelligence, multiplying results, and fostering diverse perspectives. Concrete rules—such as...
Applicant tracking systems still mandate email addresses, creating a major barrier for hourly and skilled‑trade workers who prefer mobile communication. Mobile ownership is near‑universal, with text messages delivering roughly 98% open rates and 30‑45% response rates, far outpacing email. The...
USCIS opened the FY 2027 H‑1B cap registration window for March 4‑19, 2026, requiring online registration and a $215 fee per entry. The season will be dominated by a new wage‑weighted lottery that assigns multiple entries to higher wage levels (Level II‑IV) versus a...
Restaurant managers view scheduling as a constant, high‑pressure burden rather than a routine task. Traditional scheduling platforms assume desk‑bound, uninterrupted work, forcing managers to juggle complex dashboards while the floor is active. This mismatch creates mental overload, delayed adjustments, and...
The article addresses employees whose managers appear to be "quiet quitting" and offers a four‑step plan to stay productive. It advises workers to step into a leadership role, communicate directly instead of venting, keep managers informed with concise updates, and...
In this episode the host introduces the COIN method—a four‑step framework (Context, Observation, Impact, Next steps) for handling tough managerial conversations. Each step is broken down with concrete phrasing examples, showing how to set the stage, stick to facts, explain...
Since ChatGPT’s public launch, tech leaders have pushed AI adoption while many engineers remain cautious. Data shows AI‑related job postings jumped 84% in a year and AI‑skilled workers command a 56% wage premium, creating pressure to appear AI‑enthusiastic. Employees who...
Short Takes #16 explores the growing sense of societal unease, highlighting stark data on declining belief in the American Dream and a labor market that’s losing momentum. It examines gender gaps in AI adoption, noting women are 13% less likely...
Paul Falcone’s book outlines a three‑stage one‑on‑one cadence for new hires, delivering targeted questions at 30, 60 and 90 days. The early check‑ins explore why the employee joined, initial impressions, resource adequacy, and alignment with company mission. By the third...
A Pennsylvania truck driver voluntarily disclosed a 15‑year‑old armed‑robbery conviction during a job interview, prompting an immediate rejection. The employer argued the ban‑the‑box law didn’t apply because the information wasn’t obtained from a state agency. The Third Circuit reversed, holding...
GE Aerospace’s Q4 2025 report credits its lean management system with double‑digit revenue and profit growth, highlighting an employee‑led innovation called the “Gerald” tape dispenser as proof of measurable value. The article argues that most continuous‑improvement programs fail because they...
The article introduces the “Call Five People” rule, a ten‑minute practice where leaders discuss a problem with five diverse contacts to break isolation. It outlines specific questions to surface blind spots and lists scenarios—stalled decisions, crossroads, high‑stakes moments—where the rule...
The Seventh Circuit ruled that ERISA §4204 does not require excluding contributions tied to assets sold when calculating the maximum annual payment for withdrawal liability. In SuperValu Inc. v. United Food and Commercial Workers, the court affirmed the plan could...
The IRS released Notice 2026-13 on January 15, 2026, updating the safe‑harbor rollover notices that plan administrators must provide under section 402(f) of the Internal Revenue Code. The new notice replaces the 2020-62 version and incorporates SECURE 2.0 provisions affecting in‑service distributions,...
The article argues that most inclusion programs focus on representation metrics, which leaves employees feeling disconnected. Guest expert Priya Nalkur emphasizes that true belonging requires self‑awareness, uncomfortable conversations, and a culture of grace. Leaders must move beyond policies to foster...
ISS and Glass Lewis have unveiled new compensation‑related voting policies for the 2026 proxy season. ISS extends its pay‑for‑performance quantitative analysis to a five‑year look‑back, gives a favorable view to long‑term time‑based equity awards, adds flexibility for companies receiving less...
Effective leadership today hinges on crafting a compelling narrative that links current realities to future possibilities. The article highlights Satya Nadella’s transformation of Microsoft, where a shift from a "know‑it‑all" to a "learn‑it‑all" culture propelled the company from a $300 billion...
On January 13, 2026 the U.S. Department of Labor submitted proposed rules to the White House Office of Management and Budget that would allow 401(k) and other defined‑contribution plans to hold alternative assets such as digital currencies, private equity, private credit and...
The article urges leaders to set goals that strengthen team resilience rather than merely chasing revenue or market expansion. It highlights four people‑centric leadership objectives designed to empower employees during volatile conditions. By shifting focus from outcomes to how leaders...
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) unveiled its FY 2026 national enforcement projects, marking the most extensive overhaul in recent years. Priorities include cybersecurity safeguards, mental‑health and substance‑use benefit access, No Surprises Act compliance, protection of benefit...
California’s Assembly Bill 692, effective Jan 1 2026, broadly prohibits employers from including stay‑or‑pay provisions that require workers to repay bonuses, training, relocation or other retention incentives upon termination. The law permits narrow exceptions for discretionary sign‑on bonuses and tuition repayment, provided...
The Third Circuit ruled that ERISA plan administrators lose judicial deference when they fail to explain how they interpret ambiguous plan terms, as demonstrated in Rombach v. Plumbers Local Union No. 27 Pension Fund. The court held that the plan’s...
The article argues that micromanaging stifles employee confidence and slows decision‑making, while clear decision‑making frameworks unlock strategic autonomy. It highlights Amazon’s Type 1 vs Type 2 decision model, which lets staff act quickly on reversible choices. A 2022 Deloitte study is cited, showing...
Group health plan sponsors must revise their HIPAA Notices of Privacy Practices by February 16, 2026 to incorporate new Part 2 privacy protections for substance‑abuse treatment records. The update requires clear language on prohibited uses, legal‑process limitations, and an opt‑out option...
