HR Strategy
CEOs and CHROs are hyper-focused on talent as businesses invest deeper in AI
To better realize the value of AI, companies should focus on upskilling their HR leaders, consultants with Protiviti said.
Courtney Vinopal is a senior reporter for HR Brew covering total rewards and compliance. Her reporting has appeared in a variety of print, broadcast, and digital outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, PBS NewsHour, and Quartz. Prior to entering journalism, Courtney worked for the press office of the French Embassy in Washington.
Compliance
Legislative lowdown: Supreme Court may dismantle job protections for independent agency heads
The decision, which is expected in 2026, is likely to affect a number of federal agencies, including those tasked with protecting US workers.
HR Strategy
Starbucks’s HR chief aims to fuel customer loyalty by investing in workers
“If we invest in our partners and we deliver on that in-store experience for them, they will deliver on the experience for our customers,” Kelly says.
Compliance
Legislative lowdown: Starbucks’s $39 million settlement highlights Fair Workweek compliance challenges
New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection found Starbucks failed to give some workers regular schedules, among other violations.
Total Rewards (Comp & Benefits)
Pay transparency set to disrupt companies’ total rewards strategies over the next 2 years
Few people managers believe their company’s rewards strategy is effectively communicated, according to a Korn Ferry survey fielded in October.
Total Rewards (Comp & Benefits)
HR leaders’ favorite total rewards investments of 2025
HR leaders from companies including L’Oreal, AT&T, and BetterUp told us about the benefits that stood out to them in 2025, and their impact on the workforce.
Total Rewards (Comp & Benefits)
Republican tax bill could give employee benefits a boost come Jan. 1
Provisions related to childcare benefits, health savings accounts, and student loan contributions will take effect in the new year.
Total Rewards (Comp & Benefits)
How employers are addressing food insecurity driven by SNAP cuts, inflation
Recognizing that a paycheck doesn’t always go far enough to pay for groceries, some employers are exploring ways to make up the difference through their total rewards programs.
Total Rewards (Comp & Benefits)
Worker well-being is declining even as employers deepen investments in benefits
Young people and rank-and-file employees have been acutely impacted by this decline, according to research from Johns Hopkins University.
Total Rewards (Comp & Benefits)
These regulatory changes could open the door to more private equity in 401(k)s
Alternative assets like private equity have historically been considered too risky for defined-contribution plans, but safe harbors might change that calculation.