7 stories on how employers are responding to rising benefits costs

More than half of large employers plan to shift costs to employees, a recent report found.

By Ginger Christ • July 31, 2025

Workers want personalized benefits, but companies are struggling to keep up

Only 14% of multinational companies have frameworks in place to support personalization, an Aon study found.

By Caroline Colvin • July 30, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Top trends in total rewards

Trends in total rewards strategies continue to shift in response to the market, employee demands and even advances in technology.

By HR Dive staff

Honda worker’s Kronos outage-related timekeeping lawsuit survives

The plaintiff disputed the promptness of the company’s reconciliation payments following resolution of the 2021 incident.

By Ryan Golden • July 28, 2025

US wage growth outpaces inflation, especially in certain sectors, report finds

HR teams may need to consider this gap to remain competitive in talent acquisition and retention.

By Carolyn Crist • July 25, 2025

This week in 5 numbers: The last time the federal minimum wage was raised

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including the percentage of workers who hide when they take mental health days.

By Ginger Christ • July 24, 2025

How Olipop is sweetening the PTO deal for employees

In encouraging all staff to take a week off this summer, Olipop is sending the message “that our unlimited PTO is not just for show,” CEO Ben Goodwin said.

By Caroline Colvin • July 24, 2025

With the hidden costs of sick days, workers say they lie about taking time off

A culture of secrecy around mental health at work can lead workers to exaggerate physical symptoms to justify taking time off, a recent report found.

By Carolyn Crist • July 24, 2025

Mercer: Half of large employers plan to shift health plan costs onto employees

Employers are looking for ways to manage costs, cover popular weight loss drugs and offer well-being and mental health options.

By Carolyn Crist • July 23, 2025

What to know about the minimum wage

The federal minimum wage — $7.25 — was last increased 16 years ago.

By Ginger Christ • July 22, 2025

5 stories on the state of PTO and vacation benefits

The prospect of taking time off can be a fraught one, despite the potential benefits for both employees and employers.

By Ryan Golden • July 18, 2025

Majority of workers feel uneasy taking time off, survey shows

Employees worry about work piling up, missing out on opportunities and being perceived as less committed.

By Carolyn Crist • July 18, 2025

AI-based salary research fuels inflated expectations, Payscale finds

Nearly half of employers noted an increase in turnover tied to salary conflicts in the past year, Payscale found. 

By Ginger Christ • July 17, 2025

Most employers worldwide feel unprepared for pay transparency laws

The vast majority of companies remain focused on compliance rather than using pay transparency as a strategic priority, a survey shows.

By Carolyn Crist • July 15, 2025

Employers report unchanged salary budgets, with increases flat at 3.5%

“Organizations are being more deliberate about how they allocate pay, where they focus investment and what outcomes they expect to drive,” a WTW director said.

By Carolyn Crist • July 14, 2025

Nearly 1 in 3 employers plan to expand voluntary benefits by 2027

Quality-of-life products, such as pet insurance and employee perks programs, have increased in recent years and can improve employee satisfaction, Gallagher says.

By Carolyn Crist • July 14, 2025

Getting personal, rising above and avoiding lawsuits: 8 stories from SHRM25

Former U.S. President Joe Biden was among the speakers at the massive convention for HR professionals, held in San Diego.

By Emilie Shumway • July 11, 2025

This week in 5 numbers: Nearly a quarter of companies offer GLP-1 drug coverage for weight management

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including the percentage of managers who use AI to help determine terminations. 

By Ginger Christ • July 10, 2025

Caregiving benefits will take center stage as the ‘sandwich generation’ expands, expert says

“Employers do really need to be thinking about how to retain that part of their workforce” and investments that can aid in doing so, said Sparrow CEO Deborah Hanus.

By Ginger Christ • July 10, 2025

Cash is king — until a certain level, SHRM reports

Workers say they’ve had to sacrifice their time and health to advance, but organizational support can play a role in mitigating those trade-offs, the survey finds.

By Carolyn Crist • July 10, 2025

Healthcare, retirement and leave benefits top employer priorities for 2025, SHRM says

Notably, nearly one-quarter of employers now provide coverage for the expensive GLP-1 diabetes and weight loss drug, SHRM’s annual benefits survey found.

By Laurel Kalser • July 8, 2025

Offering student loan payment assistance a ‘no brainer,’ benefits manager says

Employers have several options at their disposal, even if only for the 1% to 2% of workers who are most in need, a SHRM 2025 panel moderator told attendees.

By Ginger Christ • July 2, 2025

Is a 6-figure paycheck needed for financial security? More than a quarter of adults say yes.

Inflation is leaving workers strapped for cash, but base pay increases are only one part of the talent attraction equation, a survey found.

By Carolyn Crist • July 2, 2025

What is polyworking? Half of workers do it, survey shows

Workers said they need extra money for living expenses and debt, as well as a financial safety net and flexibility.

By Carolyn Christ • July 2, 2025

6 ways employers can lower healthcare costs in 2025

"Employers have absorbed the majority of cost increases over the past four years, and they likely cannot continue to do so," one expert said.

By Michael Brady • July 1, 2025

[Podcast] The Stretch: Workforce health and benefits – expanded

This podcast series seeks to highlight innovative thinking when it comes to health and benefits.

By HR Dive's studioID • Updated Nov. 25, 2024