As the majority of states prepare to elect new governors and lawmakers, developments on a number of policies are expected to hold local officials' attention this year as well. Changes related to income tax, health care, wireless technology, sexual harassment, employee rights, opioid controls and election cybersecurity will have major ramifications for state governments in the coming year.

Although hard skills remain very useful, soft skills have become extremely important in today's work environment, writes Julie Baumgardner. Resourcefulness, adaptability and the ability to work with others as a team are examples of soft skills that can help professionals succeed.

Rules proposed by the Trump administration would let trade groups and small companies band together to purchase health coverage. "I think that this just provides more flexible tools and options for employers to offer their employees," said Suzanne Beall of the International Franchise Association.

The National Labor Relations Board's general counsel indicated in a December memo that more Obama-era decisions could be reversed in favor of employers. Issues the NLRB is likely to address include the question of whether employers may fire employees who use offensive language about supervisors on social media and whether companies can unilaterally suspend or terminate workers in the time between a union certification election and the beginning of a collective bargaining agreement.