Share your perspective in our 2026 Identity of HR survey

HR Dive would like your insight on the state of the profession and your priorities for the future.

By HR Dive staff • Jan. 30, 2026

6 or more days of PTO can reduce turnover, study shows

A new study shows sufficient PTO can prevent workers from quitting, right when employers say they’re investing in leave.

By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 29, 2026

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

Nearly 3 in 4 US companies say they plan to invest in leave in the next 2 years

Employers are expanding multiple forms of leave, including parental, bereavement and caregiver leave, WTW found.

By Ginger Christ • Jan. 29, 2026

How to keep health care costs predictable

Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care and coverage make health care costs more predictable.

Jan. 26, 2026

Feds tout reopened wage-and-hour violation self-reporting program

The Payroll Audit Independent Determination program, or PAID, now allows employers to voluntarily resolve Family and Medical Leave Act violations.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 23, 2026

Why cover GLP-1s? They’ll lower employer healthcare costs, study says

While the medications may be pricey, a multiyear study by Aon found consistent use correlates with lower medical cost growth and fewer hospitalizations for cardiovascular events.

By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 23, 2026

‘Stark divide’ emerging in pay for in-demand roles versus stagnating jobs

Artificial intelligence-related skills are driving compensation growth, according to Aquent’s 2026 Salary Guide.

By Lara Ewen • Jan. 23, 2026

Small business health insurance coverage at risk as costs rise, EBRI finds

Even as overall employer-based coverage increased in the U.S., small companies pulled back.

By Ginger Christ • Jan. 22, 2026

Trump’s ‘no tax on tips’ brings new W-2 era

In this transition year, employers should carefully document the methods they use to track tip payments, one tax professional said.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Jan. 22, 2026

Salary budgets to remain stable in 2026, WTW finds

Only 6% of companies said they plan to increase budgets, while 21% will reduce pay budgets from their initial projections, the report said.

By Ginger Christ • Jan. 21, 2026

How to keep health care costs predictable

Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care and coverage make health care costs more predictable.

Jan. 20, 2026

Employee who seemingly told work he would misuse FMLA leave still gets jury trial

The decision shows just how thoroughly a court may scrutinize an employer’s handling of intermittent Family and Medical Leave Act leave.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 16, 2026

State paid family leave benefit changes in 2026

An Epstein Becker & Green attorney noted that navigating the logistics of multiple state leave plans can get tricky.

By Ginger Christ • Jan. 15, 2026

Front-line workers say pay and flexibility are top 2026 priorities

Nearly half of those surveyed said there were two separate cultures at their workplaces: one for front-line employees and one for everyone else.

By Lara Ewen • Jan. 13, 2026

Feds caution employers about bonuses, pay structures in overtime compliance

The U.S. Department of Labor also addressed exemptions for “learned professionals” and commission-earning employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 12, 2026

The unlimited PTO trap: Insights from the experts at Deel

Unlimited PTO promises freedom, but new data shows cultural norms create risks for global teams.

By Ellie Merryweather • Jan. 12, 2026

New DOL independent contractor rule arrives at Trump White House

The administration may decide to return to the “economic reality” standard it articulated in a final rule released at the tail end of the president’s first term in office.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 9, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: Lonely workers say they miss more work

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including the number of companies who cite a lack of relevant experience among candidates as a major barrier to hiring.

By Ginger Christ • Jan. 8, 2026

Minimum wage increases hit 19 states in 2026

A number of states crossed the $15 per hour threshold long used as a rallying cry among worker advocates.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 8, 2026

GameStop floats CEO pay entirely tied to performance

Ryan Cohen would have to reach sky-high goals to receive the lucrative compensation, a setup resembling Elon Musk’s at Tesla.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 8, 2026

How to keep health care costs predictable

Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care and coverage make health care costs more predictable.

Jan. 5, 2026

CFPB shifts on EWA policy, again

Certain employer-partnered earned wage access products aren’t subject to U.S. lending laws, the bureau said, formally discarding a 2024 Biden-era rule.

By Justin Bachman • Jan. 2, 2026

Nearly half of US workers say they’ll need $1M or more to retire, spurring stress

Workers’ retirement hopes generally surpass their savings, which leads to growing anxiety about the future, a report finds.

By Carolyn Crist • Dec. 22, 2025

5 benefits predictions for 2026

Rising costs will force employers to make changes to offerings and access, experts predict.

By Ginger Christ • Dec. 18, 2025

Only 1 in 4 employers clearly explain their reward program strategy, report finds

“Today’s reported common practices in reward strategy are not necessarily best practice for tomorrow’s challenges,” Korn Ferry says.

By Carolyn Crist • Dec. 17, 2025