The Society for Human Resource Management has highlighted benefits of the Workflex in the 21st Century Act, a bill the group helped draft. SHRM officials say the bill would let employers create flexible work arrangements that reflect the modern workplace and would pre-empt state and local benefits that are less generous than what employers provide.

Mercedes-Benz has launched a "paradigm shift" to reduce negative stereotypes about older employees, encouraging teams to develop strategies that facilitate conversation and cooperation between older and younger workers. The company has also started an online platform for employees to create and share video tutorials on workplace processes.

Accurately measuring employee engagement is essential for organizational success, but few companies can turn data into tangible results, write Stephen Young and Michael Smith of the Center for Creative Leadership. They share three steps to break down barriers and to foster collaboration between and among managers and employees.

Many companies discriminate against pregnant employees by refusing them promotions and bonuses, shutting them out of meetings and sometimes firing them, according to court records, studies and interviews. "There are 20 years of lab studies that show the bias exists and that, once triggered, it's very strong," says Joan C. Williams, a professor at the University of California Hastings College of the Law.

Employees respond best to a culture that supports them through rough patches and reminds them why their work is important, writes Julie Zhuo of Facebook. "I can't recall an example of groundbreaking work coming from an environment of stress, anxiety, and fear of failure," she writes.