Toronto Pearson Named One of Canada’s Best Employers
Toronto Pearson International Airport has been named to Forbes Canada’s Best Employers 2026 list for the third straight year, climbing five spots to rank 102nd among the nation’s top 300 workplaces. It is the only airport featured in the ranking, which evaluates companies based on an independent survey of more than 37,000 Canadian employees. The accolade reflects the airport’s focus on employee feedback, inclusion, and growth opportunities, according to Chief Human Resources Officer Rachel Graham. The recognition underscores Pearson’s commitment to building a future‑ready airport culture.
How HR Leaders Can Turn Pharmacy Transparency Into Real Leverage
The article explains why pharmacy‑benefit transparency has become a critical governance issue for HR leaders and outlines the hidden levers employers can use to improve cost control and participant outcomes. It highlights the complexity of PBM contracts, geographic fragmentation, and...
FSA Grace Period Closes In: 3 Tips to Help Employees Avoid Forfeitures
The March 15 deadline closes the 2025 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) grace period, the final window for employees to spend remaining tax‑free funds. On average, workers forfeit about $441 each year due to missed deadlines or unclear plan rules. HR...
Trade Union Reforms Under Employment Rights Act 2025 Set To Take Effect
The Employment Rights Act 2025’s first phase takes effect on 18 February 2026, introducing major trade‑union reforms. It switches political fund contributions to an opt‑out system while preserving existing opt‑outs. The Act also removes certain public‑sector reporting duties and streamlines industrial‑action notice requirements,...
Why Now Is the Best Time to Re-Engage Employers
The post‑open enrollment window is a critical period for benefits brokers to re‑engage employer clients and translate enrollment insights into actionable strategy for 2026. Employers are pressuring brokers to control rising healthcare costs while employees face mounting financial stress from...
HCML Appoints Kathryn Goldfinch as Commercial Director
HCML, a leading corporate health and wellbeing provider, has appointed Kathryn Goldfinch as Commercial Director for Corporate and Insured Health. Goldfinch brings nearly three decades of experience from senior roles at Bupa, Nuffield Health and Doctor Care Anywhere, most recently...
UK Organisations Could Unlock £40bn a Year in Productivity Value by Closing the AI “Grey Zone”
Zellis’ new research shows UK organisations could unlock up to £40 billion a year in productivity and an additional £20 billion in operating‑cost savings by better aligning AI use between leaders and employees. While 94 % of executives say AI tools are deployed,...
HR Expert Explains Why Hybrid Working Must Be Led as a Culture, Not a Policy
Max Moen, Haypp’s Head of People and Culture, argues that hybrid work must be driven by culture rather than a static policy. He emphasizes that flexibility should serve employee energy cycles and wellbeing, especially during low‑energy periods. Effective hybrid models...
UK Loses Ground in Global Remote Work Rankings
The latest global ranking of the most connected cities shows no UK location among the top destinations for digital nomads, with Kuala Lumpur, Milan and Lisbon leading the list. The study evaluates mobile data affordability, internet speeds, free Wi‑Fi and...
Wednesday Briefing: Why the Debate over Working From Home Says More About Inequality than Productivity
Hybrid working has become the norm in post‑pandemic Britain, but its benefits are unevenly distributed. While many employers tout flexibility to attract talent, lower‑paid workers and those in deprived regions still lack remote options. Politician Nigel Farage recently called for...
Pay Decisions Under Strain as Managers Admit Fairness Doubts
UK managers report growing pressure over pay and promotion decisions, with 78% facing formal challenges despite 83% believing their choices are data‑driven. The HiBob study of 4,700 managers reveals pervasive data gaps: 30% say missing information led to high performers...
DHL eCommerce Taps Georgia Tech to Build Engineering Talent Pipeline
DHL eCommerce announced a strategic partnership with Georgia Tech’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering to create a direct pipeline of engineering talent. The agreement includes on‑campus recruiting, advisory board participation, and sponsorship of a senior‑level student...
Report Exposes Hidden Wave of Workplace Misconduct and Weak Accountability
A TalentLMS survey of 1,000 employees reveals a stark gap between perceived safety and actual workplace misconduct. While 71 % feel protected, only 38 % report no incidents in the past year, with incivility, exclusion, physical violence and sexual harassment still common....
Avoiding ‘Stacking’ Consequences: Top Home-Based Care Employment Law Considerations
Home‑based care providers are confronting a fragmented employment‑law landscape, prompting a Polsinelli webinar that outlines urgent compliance steps. Within the next three to six months firms should audit wage, leave and worker classification, verify salary‑range postings, and evaluate AI‑driven recruiting...
New Jersey Expands Rights Under the New Jersey Family Leave Act
On January 17, 2026 Governor Phil Murphy signed Assembly Bill 3451, expanding the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA). The law lowers the employer coverage threshold from 30 to 15 employees and reduces employee eligibility to three months of service...
When Employee Misconduct Becomes Marketplace Deception: Court Clarifies Chapter 93A’s Reach
The U.S. District Court for Massachusetts held that Chapter 93A does not cover routine employment disputes but can apply when an employee secretly competes using the employer’s resources and brand. In CMTA, Inc. v. Dussault, the court allowed the unfair‑practice claim...
California Employment News: California AB 692 Cuts Back “Stay or Pay” Contracts with Workers
California Assembly Bill 692 curtails the use of “stay or pay” provisions that require employees to remain employed or reimburse training costs. The law mandates that any repayment terms be narrowly limited to actual training expenses and be disclosed in...
How Employees Can Use LSAs to Pay for Groceries and Other Basic Needs
Employers are turning to Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) to let staff use benefit funds for everyday needs like groceries, childcare and health services. Data from benefits platform Compt shows 64% of partner firms now use LSAs as their primary benefit,...
Take 5: We Can Work It Out
Kellogg faculty outline five common workplace conflict scenarios and evidence‑based tactics for leaders. They stress cultural awareness, preventing retaliation, exposing bias, transparent compensation, and leveraging knowledge of former teammates for competitive advantage. Real‑world examples—from a French hotel contract dispute to...
How to Improve Company Culture and Attract Better Candidates
Company culture has become a decisive factor in attracting, retaining, and energizing talent. The article outlines four proven strategies—defining mission/vision/values, frequent recognition, robust learning and development, and continuous feedback—to build lasting cultural strength. It emphasizes that talent acquisition teams are...
New Leadership at Target, Walmart and Bridgestone West Focus on Employee Connection
New CEOs at Walmart (John Furner) and Target (Michael Fiddelke) and Bridgestone West’s chief people officer (Michele Herlein) are launching people‑first campaigns that prioritize frontline listening and direct employee engagement. Furner began with a company‑wide memo and store visits, while...
Why Some Founders in Startup Accelerators Do Better Than Others
Startup accelerators boost growth but outcomes vary dramatically, according to a new Strategic Management Journal study of 6,723 firms in 280 programs. The research shows founders' pre‑entry knowledge—education, industry experience, and prior ventures—drives revenue, headcount, and funding gains, with high‑knowledge...
Hand Gestures Can Help You Sell. Here’s Why
Wharton professor Jonah Berger and colleagues examined how hand gestures shape persuasive communication, using an automated video‑analysis system on 200,000 TED Talk segments. They grouped gestures into unrelated, highlighters and illustrators, discovering that illustrators most strongly increase audience understanding and perceived...
London Board Game Bar Draughts Faces Employment Tribunal Over Dismissal of Kitchen Worker
London board‑game bar Draughts will appear before an employment tribunal on 12–13 February after dismissing kitchen worker Awed, a Sudanese national and UVW union member, the day a strike ballot was announced. The company cited reduced staffing needs, while the...
Title IX Preempts Public University Labor Contract Grievance Procedure, According to New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court held that Title IX preempts the grievance and arbitration provisions in Rutgers University’s labor contract with AFSCME Local 888, overturning a lower‑court order to arbitrate a termination dispute. The court found the contract’s arbitration process denied the Title IX...
The HR–IT Debate in the Age of AI: Cooperation or Consolidation?
AI is reshaping the relationship between HR and IT, prompting record collaboration and even the creation of a new C‑suite title, chief productivity officer, that combines people and technology oversight. Leaders argue that merging the functions can speed decisions and...
AI in Recruitment: A Practical Guide for Hiring Teams
AI is rapidly reshaping recruitment by automating screening, scheduling, and candidate communication. SHRM research shows 85% of employers using AI report time savings and efficiency gains, while the State of Hiring 2025 report highlights that 41.2% of candidates abandon applications,...
EBSA Enforcement Efforts Yield $1.4 Billion in Recoveries
The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) recovered $1.4 billion for retirement, health and welfare plans in fiscal year 2025, a modest increase over the prior year but below the 2023 peak. EBSA closed 878 civil and 253 criminal...
The Bionic Storyteller: How AI Can Amplify HR’s Human Voice
HR leaders in 2026 face mounting pressure from layoffs, cost cuts and rapid AI deployment, yet the core challenge remains preserving trust and connection. The article proposes the “Bionic Storyteller” framework, positioning AI as a memory scaffold that captures, aligns,...
Popeyes UK Crowns Carnival Jackpot Winner at Mardi Gras–Themed Annual Workforce Awards
Popeyes UK staged a Mardi Gras‑themed awards night in London, unveiling the winner of its Carnival Jackpot incentive. The program, launched in 2025, awarded tokens to over 230 managers based on sales and mystery‑shop scores, culminating in a two‑year Tusker electric‑vehicle...
Health Savings Accounts Gain Popularity as Investment Vehicles
Health savings accounts (HSAs) are increasingly being used as investment vehicles, with 4 million accounts – about 10% of all HSAs – holding invested assets, a 23% year‑over‑year rise. Total HSA assets grew 16% to $159 billion, and investment‑linked assets now represent...
Why Your Organization's Greatest Asset Is Its Own Collective Wisdom
The article argues that organizations waste resources on external consultants while the real source of transformation lies in their own collective wisdom. It critiques the reliance on imported best‑practice frameworks in a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible) world. By treating...
Should I Offer Ownership to My Key Employees?
Business owners often consider letting key employees purchase equity to improve retention and align incentives. The article outlines critical steps: choosing a purchase structure, obtaining accurate valuations, and drafting agreements that address decision‑making authority, buy‑back rights, and employment contingencies. It...
Tech Change ‘Boosts Engagement’ as Staff Adapt to AI
Research by Qualtrics shows that introducing new technology, especially AI, lifts employee engagement across EMEA by an average nine points. Nearly three‑quarters of UK workers reported organisational change in the past year, yet most felt more motivated rather than fatigued....
Not Posh Enough? ‘Accent Anxiety’ Holding Workers Back
A Zurich UK survey of 2,000 UK adults reveals that 36% of workers with regional accents feel judged, and 14% have even taken elocution lessons to avoid bias. Nearly one‑third deliberately soften their accent at work, while 16% say accent...
Closing the Skills Gap: What Upskilling Strategies Are Delivering Results
Upskilling has become HR’s top challenge, with 45% of leaders naming it their biggest priority, surpassing recruitment and well‑being concerns. A Capterra survey shows 68% of firms expect upskilling costs to rise, signaling a shift toward customized, technology‑enabled learning. Effective...
The Compliance Trap: How Silence in Your Organisation May Be Masking Disengagement
Vice‑President Gayatheri Silvakumer warned that most change initiatives fail not because of flawed strategy but because leaders ignore the emotional side of change. She argues that silence in meetings often disguises disengagement, mistaking compliance for genuine ownership. By inviting employees...
Riot Games Is Laying Off Around 80 2XKO Employees Three Weeks After The Game's Launch
Riot Games announced it is laying off roughly 80 employees from its 2XKO fighting‑game team, representing about half of the development staff. The cuts come just weeks after the game’s 1.0 launch on PC and consoles, with the company citing...
Joseph Lazzarotti Discusses Use of AI Notetakers in the Workplace
Joseph Lazzarotti warns that AI‑driven notetakers, while promising efficiency gains, are spawning a wave of HR challenges. In his Fortune commentary, he highlights privacy concerns, consent gaps, and potential discrimination liabilities when recordings are mishandled. He argues that without clear...
As NICU Cases Rise, Laws and Employers Look to Assist Working Parents
Rising neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions are prompting a wave of state legislation and corporate policy changes aimed at supporting working parents. Over the past year, NICU cases have climbed roughly 15%, leading 12 states to enact NICU-specific leave...
Wage and Hour Spotlight: Dennis M. Brown, Littler Mendelson
Dennis M. Brown, a senior partner at Littler Mendelson, shared his perspective on the evolving wage‑and‑hour litigation landscape. He highlighted increasing federal enforcement actions and the growing complexity of multi‑state compliance. Brown noted that employers are facing heightened scrutiny over...
Lawmakers Weigh Government’s Role in Lowering AI Risk to Workers
Lawmakers are evaluating whether the federal government should intervene to mitigate AI‑related risks to workers. During a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, Bradford Kelley of Littler argued that the low number of lawsuits over...
More State Lawmakers Threaten Transgender Job Bias Ban Repeals
State lawmakers, primarily Republicans, are introducing a wave of bills to repeal existing bans on transgender and nonbinary workplace bias and harassment protections. The legislative push spans more than 20 states this session, targeting statutes enacted after the 2020 Bostock...
Maine Joins Pushback Against Worker Surveillance
Governor Janet Mills signed legislation restricting employers’ electronic surveillance of workers, effective 2026. The law prohibits continuous monitoring without explicit employee consent and mandates transparent data handling practices. It applies to both on‑site and remote work environments, covering video, audio,...
The Networking Blueprint: 5 Tips to Build Connections for Long-Term Success
Professional networking is essential for career growth across industries. The article outlines why connections matter, from uncovering job opportunities to gaining strategic advice, and lists typical network constituents such as former classmates, colleagues, and mentors. It then provides five actionable...
E.ON Backs Call for Fairer Fertility Rights at Work and Signs the Fertility Support Pledge
E.ON has signed the national Fertility Support Pledge, aligning its policy with the proposed Fertility Treatment (Right to Time Off) Bill that seeks statutory paid leave for fertility appointments. The energy group already offers unlimited paid fertility leave, flexible working,...
7 Strategies to Smartly Set and Achieve Career Goals in Today’s Workplace
In today’s dynamic workplace, deliberate career planning is essential. A new guide outlines seven actionable strategies—from defining a personal vision to celebrating milestones—to help professionals set realistic, attainable goals. It emphasizes the SMART framework, breaking objectives into bite‑size tasks, and...
DOL Poised to Move Faster than Congress on Retirement Reform
The U.S. Department of Labor is poised to issue regulations expanding 401(k) access to alternative investments, meeting a February 3 deadline set by a Trump‑era executive order. A final rule could be adopted by year‑end with implementation slated for 2027,...
Payroll Errors Keep Repeating: How HR Can Catch Issues Earlier
Payroll errors keep surfacing after payday because manual spot checks can’t keep up with frequent rule changes. The article proposes automated workforce management testing, which runs real‑world pay scenarios against current overtime, differential and accrual rules before payroll closes. By...
21 Gemini Prompts HR Can Copy and Paste (with Step-by-Step Prompts)
The article introduces 21 ready‑to‑use Gemini prompts designed to streamline repetitive HR tasks such as job postings, interview guides, onboarding docs, and policy updates. It outlines a seven‑step prompt framework—persona, task, context, format, constraints, clarifying questions, and quality check—to produce...