Compensation & Benefits

Protect your company by getting wage-and-hour rules right

10/14/2025

At the 2025 HR Specialist Summit, Carrie Hoffman reminded attendees that the Fair Labor Standards Act doesn’t grant employers much leeway. Exemptions are narrowly construed, the burden of proof is on the company and even small oversights can snowball into class claims.

New Mexico to offer universal free day care

09/29/2025

For parents of preschool-age children, finding day care is difficult and expensive. Now one state has taken a big step towards solving the problem by starting up universal free day care. New Mexico’s plan may serve as a model for other states.

Employers brace for steepest health insurance cost surge in 15 years

09/22/2025

Employers are staring down a projected 9–10% jump in health insurance costs for 2026—the sharpest annual increase in at least 15 years. After several consecutive years of already heavy hikes, the average annual cost for family coverage now hovers around $25,500.

Pay transparency takes root as employers prepare for stricter standards

09/15/2025

A majority of U.S. employers are taking deliberate steps toward greater pay transparency—even when not legally required—according to WTW, a global advisory and consulting firm, in its 2025 Pay Transparency Survey.

DOL hints new overtime rules may be coming

09/15/2025

The Department of Labor’s delayed spring 2025 regulatory agenda includes a separate item on long-term regulatory plans, which includes working on overtime rules.

New benefit trend trades PTO for cash or other benefits

09/08/2025

There’s a new benefit trend some employers are trying—but like anything, it comes with tradeoffs.

Cutting HR’s leave workload with self-service tools

09/08/2025

Managing employee leave has become one of HR’s biggest administrative burdens—complex laws, rising requests and endless manual tracking eat away at already limited bandwidth. At SHRM 2025, Susan Stowell, Marci Cyr and Angel Bennett of the insurance company Unum argued that digital self-service portals can change that equation, reducing compliance headaches, cutting down on employee inquiries and giving HR more time to focus on strategy.

Pay-transparency expansion leaves compliance gaps

08/25/2025

States across the U.S. continue to pass pay-transparency laws. But the U.S. Pay Transparency Index 2025 from beqom, a compensation management platform, reveals that even where laws are strict, compliance lags.

How to turn leave into a smooth, compliant process by utilizing tech

08/18/2025

HR teams are stuck juggling outdated systems, limited staffing and rising employee expectations, while employees are often left unclear on their options, timelines or pay. The fastest path to relief? Use technology to streamline leave from start to finish without losing the human touch.

More investment choices may be coming to 401(k)s under Trump order