US workers can expect to see their pay increase an average of 3.4% this year, a larger increase than wage hikes doled out during the past two years, according to a Willis Towers Watson survey. Companies are becoming more competitive on compensation because of the tight labor market and inflation. Full Story: CNBC (1/18)
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The pandemic has led employees to find new jobs with better pay, less stress and the chance to work remotely, according to data from DISQO. That means employers must reassess their values, how they onboard employees and reorient the office to be a place of "personal connections and collaboration," writes Tiffany Chelsvig, DISQO's vice president of people operations. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (1/18)
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Benefits & Compensation
Why the employer match in your 401(k) might increase Midsize and large companies are looking to compete for talent by offering more generous retirement benefits, creating a potential boon for workers, according to a survey by the consultancy Callan. The survey found that about 16% of these businesses plan to either reinstate company matches for 401(k) funds or boost the amount they are contributing to these accounts. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (1/18)
Path to Workforce
Investments in education, quality of life boost tech sector Alabama capitalized on existing strengths to grow its technology sector, and Mississippi and Louisiana are well-positioned to do the same, say University of Alabama associate professor Ragib Hasan, technology historian Margaret O'Mara and others. Strategic investments in education such as the University of Mississippi's Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation fill the technology workforce pipeline, and investments in quality of life like New Orleans' entertainment district make workers want to stay. Full Story: WBHM-FM (Birmingham, Ala.) (1/13)
The HR Leader
Workplace trends to watch for this year The pandemic continues to influence the workplace with seven key trends for HR leaders this year that include a focus on flexibility, the responsibility to choose vaccine policies at an individual company level and an increased interest in virtual care to improve employee well-being. There will also be a shift to a more informal and continuous approach to performance reviews, and employee morale will be important to monitor as unionizing efforts increase. Full Story: HR Dive (1/18)
About the Editor
Kanoe Namahoe
Can artificial intelligence help us combat employee burnout? The thought has crossed my mind before but always with the idea that AI would reduce the load of minutiae tasks from workers’ desks. Today’s Leadership & Development story about Clockwise’s AI platform puts a different spin on it, one that makes sense but has never before occurred to me. I was intrigued. I admit, though, that as I read the story, I couldn’t help but think, “I can do this myself. Why would I need a robot to carve out Focus Time for me? Or tighten up my meeting schedule?” The answer shot through my head immediately. Because I don’t do those things. The platform does what I could do, but don’t do, which is make my time and day more efficient. I can get behind that. I might be digging into this more. What about you? Are you using AI to shore up calendar efficiency in your organization? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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