IRS bumps 401(k) contribution limit to $23K for 2024

The $500 increase comes amid widely felt inflation and rampant financial anxiety.

By Caroline Colvin • Nov. 1, 2023

4-day workweek postings are increasing but still rare, Indeed says

Most job ads with a 4-day workweek are growing in in-person fields instead of remote-focused areas, according to the report.

By Carolyn Crist • Nov. 1, 2023

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

Is the 4% raise the new normal?

The worker shortage brought on by the pandemic hasn’t completely gone away, leaving compensation still something of a Wild West, experts said.

By Jen A. Miller • Oct. 31, 2023

Can my sick days be used for my kids?

It comes down to employer policy and state law, an employment attorney told HR Dive. 

By Caroline Colvin • Oct. 30, 2023

Walmart’s doula benefits go nationwide

Since Roe v. Wade’s reversal, many employers have been more active in championing workers’ reproductive health.

By Caroline Colvin • Oct. 26, 2023

Working moms report child care difficulties 3 days per month, creating a retention problem

Employers can mitigate retention and inclusion concerns, however, with child care benefits and flexibility, research indicates.

By Kate Tornone • Oct. 26, 2023

Pregnancy’s 1st trimester can be hell — but employers are rarely privy to it. Here are 4 ways to help.

Imagine working through a heinous stomach flu. In secret. For months straight.

By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 26, 2023

Employers say they’re working to balance employee needs against predicted 6.4% increase in healthcare costs

Navigating that tension won't be simple, Courtney Stubblefield of WTW said.

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 25, 2023

Pfizer to pay $2M to resolve allegations that the company underpaid women

Federal regulators alleged that the company discriminated against 86 employees by paying them less than comparable workers who are men.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 23, 2023

UPS expands emergency day care after pilot program cuts turnover

The company said the pilot helped it avoid 120 unplanned absences and reduced turnover in the pilot group from 31% to 4%.

By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 19, 2023

Employers scrap pay practice secrecy amid regulatory shifts, WTW says

But creating pay transparency may lead to even more work, particularly managerial training on communicating about pay, according to survey data.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 19, 2023

Starbucks’ threat to cut abortion travel benefits violated NLRA, agency judge says

Starbucks has been hit with a litany of labor-related complaints as its workers across the country have unionized.

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 18, 2023

Premiums rose 7% for employer-sponsored health coverage in 2023

Many employers surveyed raised concerns about their workers’ views of health plan performance.

By Emily Olsen • Oct. 18, 2023

Why it’s time for employers to talk about menopause

Support for perimenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal employees isn’t just a health issue — it’s a key measure by which women evaluate their employers, experts said.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 17, 2023

GE to pay $61M to settle 401(k) fund mismanagement allegations

The payout represents the “largest ever in an ERISA case alleging a retirement plan improperly offered proprietary funds,” according to the plaintiffs.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 13, 2023

Open enrollment 2024: Best practices for HR

Year after year, surveys reveal that many employees don’t understand their benefits, and many fail to use them. How can HR help?

By Kate Tornone • Oct. 13, 2023

How the VA closed a 66% pay gap between public and private IT jobs

The agency moved to raise pay using a “people first, mission always” approach, Nathan Tierney, deputy CIO and CPO, told HR Dive.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 12, 2023

California law gives workers 5 days of leave for reproductive loss

“Reproductive loss” includes failed adoption, failed surrogacy, miscarriage, stillbirth and unsuccessful assisted reproduction.

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 11, 2023

Most employees say they’re now in office full time — and they aren’t happy about it

Workers report finding ways to skirt in-office requirements, including via the new trend of “coffee badging.”

By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 10, 2023

How Liberty Mutual rethought communications for open enrollment 2024

Employees typically rush through important benefits decisions, but a more holistic, human-centered approach could improve awareness of employers’ offerings.

By Ryan Golden • Updated Oct. 10, 2023

4 tips for implementing a thoughtful benefits strategy — and getting a strong ROI

From offering pet insurance to fertility care, employers need to be flexible to attract and retain workers, a human capital professional told HR Dive. 

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 10, 2023

Managers should tackle benefits education, experts say

Employees say they want to learn about benefits from their managers. Here’s how HR can help.

By Caroline Colvin • Oct. 10, 2023

Spike in employer-sponsored healthcare enrollment only just beginning

Loss of Medicaid coverage will cause a rush among workers to join employer-sponsored plans, Christopher O'Shea of Sentinel Group writes.

By Christopher O’Shea • Oct. 10, 2023

Gender pay gap report earns Nobel Prize

The “E” in DEI is undeniably on the map.

By Caroline Colvin • Oct. 9, 2023

How employers can ease the mental load for working parents

Economics professor and parenting writer Emily Oster suggested ways employers can make a real difference for working parents.

By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 6, 2023