This week in 5 numbers: Workers push back on AI

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including the share of workers who are skeptical that the “skills gap” is a reflection of their abilities.

By Emilie Shumway • June 5, 2025

Climate change will cost your healthcare plan. Analysts want to know how much.

Extreme weather, rising temperatures and increased air pollution all threaten employee health — but executives and finance teams may not be paying attention.

By Ryan Golden • June 5, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Inside the rapidly changing world of employee benefits

Healthcare costs are climbing and employee needs are changing. How can HR professionals adapt?

By HR Dive staff

Employee mental health is deeply intertwined with job conditions, survey finds

Leaders can provide help through better communication and supportive measures for worker needs, a May 2025 report by Inmar Intelligence suggests.

By Laurel Kalser • June 5, 2025

Identity of HR 2025: A complex tangle of challenges

Hiring remains a challenge, but popular remote work opportunities are drying up and employers are deprioritizing upskilling.

By Emilie Shumway • June 3, 2025

Half of moms in the ‘sandwich generation’ say they’ve left jobs due to caregiving roles

Many moms responding to a recent survey reported feeling trapped in their jobs due to a lack of qualifications or time to upskill.

By Carolyn Crist • June 3, 2025

Employees are increasingly working while on vacation, report shows

Employers can help workers achieve better work-life balance by creating team coverage plans for vacation days and having managers lead by example.

By Carolyn Crist • June 2, 2025

Once a branding strategy, pay transparency is here to stay

Even though the verbiage might change, the necessity of pay transparency isn't going away, a vice president at Salary.com said.

By Ginger Christ • May 30, 2025

Widow sues Coca-Cola under ERISA for former exec’s retirement benefts

The company assured the couple before and after they married that she would receive his retirement benefits if he predeceased her, the lawsuit said.

By Laurel Kalser • May 29, 2025

Nearly all employers say they plan to maintain or expand well-being offerings in 2025

About three-quarters of employers incorporate social connectedness and community in their well-being strategy through offerings like employee resource groups, peer coaching and mentoring programs, a survey shows.

By Carolyn Crist • May 29, 2025

DOL rescinds Biden-era warning against offering cryptocurrency in 401(k) plans

In reversing course on the 2022 guidance, the department said it is “reaffirm[ing] its neutral stance” on cryptocurrency’s inclusion in plans.

By Ginger Christ • May 28, 2025

As corporate boards pay CEOs similarly, company performance could take a hit, report finds

Boards have increasingly benchmarked against peers as companies release more detailed pay data, per the research.

By Carolyn Crist • May 27, 2025

Text, email and more: Why employers are taking a multi-channel approach to benefits communication

Employers devote significant time, energy and resources toward employee benefits — and showcasing a robust benefits package can significantly impact recruitment and retention.

May 27, 2025

New York contractors boost pay, benefits to fight labor shortages

A report that surveyed more than 200 contractors in New York also highlighted workforce development programs, flexible work options and mental health resources.

By Sebastian Obando • May 21, 2025

Randstad: Employees appear more likely to make trade-offs as bargaining power weakens

Workers value employability, time autonomy and well-being and would give up a higher salary and remote work in exchange, Randstad says.

By Carolyn Crist • May 20, 2025

Federal consumer watchdog drops lawsuit against Walmart

The CFPB sued the mass retailer and Branch Messenger at the end of last year, claiming the companies illegally opened accounts for Spark drivers and then deposited their pay into them without consent.

By Peyton Bigora • May 19, 2025

7 strategies to overcome the rising costs of specialty medications

Skai offers clarity in the fast-growing, complex field of medical pharmacy.

May 19, 2025

Patagonia parents on why on-site child care matters

“I wanted to be with my family,” Chris Lopez, a working parent at Patagonia, said. “I knew that in order to do that, I had to find a company that cared about family as well.” 

By Emilie Shumway • May 15, 2025

Workers’ benefits demands are changing — and employers are responding

Employees want personalized benefits that reflect their individual needs, experts have told HR Dive. 

By Ginger Christ • May 15, 2025

On-site child care can be an extension of workplace culture

With outdoor adventuring at Patagonia and STEM learning at Qualtrics, companies’ infusion of workplace values into child care can add greater purpose to employees’ experience.

By Emilie Shumway • May 14, 2025

Trump administration weighs rolling back mental health parity rule

In a court filing last week, DOJ said the administration will not enforce a regulation designed to improve access to mental health benefits for people with private insurance, and could rescind it altogether.

By Susanna Vogel • May 14, 2025

From RFPs to ABCs: How employers create on-site child care

Sheryl Shushan, director of global family services at Patagonia, told HR Dive how the company went from babies sleeping in filing cabinets to a full-time day care operation for 200 children.

By Emilie Shumway • May 13, 2025

Employers say their benefits are modern. Employees don’t agree, study finds.

“The workplace is at a tipping point,” with a lot at stake for employers, said Michael Estep, president of Prudential Group Insurance.

By Ginger Christ • May 13, 2025

IRS sets new HSA caps for 2026

Employers continue to seek ways to mitigate rising health costs, but high-deductible plans now play a smaller role, according to recent research.

By Ryan Golden • May 12, 2025

Why HR teams are building a business case for babies at work

“We’ve heard a lot of anecdotal stories from new hires that this was a primary component of their decision to join Whirlpool,” Sara McLeod, director of global compensation for the company, said of its on-site day care.

By Emilie Shumway • May 12, 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