OpenAI's work culture is marked by an intense, secretive environment where rapid innovation is prized but comes at a personal cost, writes former employee Calvin French-Owen in a blog. He writes that the company encourages fast-paced decision-making and grants employees autonomy, yet fosters an atmosphere of secrecy and minimal financial transparency. French-Owen also noted the heavy influence of social media on internal morale and priorities, leading to a highly driven and relentlessly demanding workplace that can end with long hours and burnout.

Elon Musk-controlled xAI reportedly has told its Grok AI workers to install a workforce management system called Hubstaff on their work computers, or on their personal computers if they lacked a company-issued device. In an internal message threatening to quit, one worker complained about "surveillance disguised as productivity" and "manipulation masked as culture."

Nearly a third of US employers plan to expand voluntary benefits by 2027, focusing on options such as accident and pet insurance, adult day care and identity theft protection, according to a Gallagher report, which highlights the importance of voluntary benefits in a financial well-being strategy. "Knowing that care encompasses all aspects of an employee's well-being from physical to emotional and financial needs, ensuring leaders have the right data to make informed decisions, is more critical than ever," says John Tournet, CEO for Gallagher's US benefits and HR consulting.

With Gallup reporting employee engagement at a decade-low, companies are using AI not only to automate tasks and provide real-time feedback but also to personalize the employee experience. Companies can act on this by personalizing upskilling, offering HR virtual assistants to answer employee questions and using scheduling tools to honor time-off requests efficiently.

When Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, Heath Redman, manager of a Harris Teeter store in Asheville, worked 12-hour days to ensure the store remained open, stocking shelves with essential supplies for customers and cooking hot meals to serve employees. "Supporting the community during this time wasn't just a business decision -- it was the right decision," said Redman.