If Silicon Valley were given a report card for its performance in 2017, it would be a mixed one, Martin Giles writes. Tech giants and startups did a great job of coming up with ideas and funding innovation, but they didn't get far in dealing with fake news, hate speech on social platforms and internal sexual misconduct, he writes.

Recruitment and talent management trends for next year will include the use of talent analytics, chatbots and interactive job ads, writes Sohini Bagchi. Companies also will aim to improve their organizational design and offer more flexible work arrangements.

Employee benefits and perks must fit a company's corporate culture and identity, writes benefits consultant Harrison Newman. Most employees would prefer an office with treadmill desks and beanbag chairs over a cubicle farm, Newman points out, and younger workers may put more value on nontraditional benefits.

My Best Friend Services is a South Bend, Ind., cleaning company that provides cleaning services at the University of Notre Dame. It hires women struggling to obtain employment, providing them with a fresh start while aiding the company in finding skilled workers.

Never shy away from having what may be an uncomfortable conversation with an employee about a bad attitude, low motivation or poor performance, says leadership coach Kristen Hansen. "We have to be honest about our expectations of the role and this is often where the coaching conversation has to shift to a performance-management conversation," she says.