Both former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are courting workers on the campaign trail, pointing to their respective records and campaign promises in the hopes that this segment of voters will help propel them into the White House next January.

While another Trump administration might offer advantages to workplaces fighting unionization efforts and reinvigorate a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that’s more friendly to businesses, a Harris administration could push for additional workplace regulations, such as a higher minimum wage, while also seeking to lower startup costs for small businesses, all of which have implications for HR pros.

Which candidate manages to secure the presidency on Nov. 5 will have oversight over the labor board and other key federal agencies that can impact US workplaces and their HR teams as their agency heads pursue the president’s agenda.

Keep reading here.—AD, CV

The two industry forces we know as Indeed and Business Insider have teamed up to announce the launch of The Better Work Project.

Here’s the rundown: The Better Work Project aims to help leaders navigate new, emerging factors like AI, economic challenges, and generational POVs that are reshaping work culture.

And with these fresh approaches to hiring and business growth abound, The Better Work Project hub page was built with HR managers in mind. It’s a library of actionable content, including thought leadership editorials from their Workforce Innovation board, trend feature stories, and so much more.

PS: The hub page will have additional content added throughout the year and into 2025, so don’t forget to bookmark it to stay in the know.

Unlimited paid time off (PTO) has always sounded a little too good to be true. Sure, your company’s HR department may technically allow workers to take as much vacation as they want, but does that mean they actually will?

Research suggests workers who receive unlimited PTO don’t really take more time off than their counterparts on traditional plans. If anything, the benefit seems to offer a bigger return-on-investment for employers, as they don’t have to pay out unused vacation days when workers depart the company.

The limits of unlimited PTO. A new analysis of data from workforce intelligence firm Revelio Labs shows this benefit may be losing its appeal in the job market, as the share of job postings advertising unlimited PTO shrunk by half over the past two years. The peak in mentions of unlimited PTO coincided with the “Great Resignation,” when record numbers of workers quit their jobs, prompting employers to boost wages and benefits in an effort to hold onto employees. Extending this benefit to more workers doesn’t appear to have improved their satisfaction with their jobs, though.

Keep reading here.—CV

While many workers would likely love to work fewer days for the same amount of money, those in Japan may not be ready to spend less time at their desks—even if the government wants them to.

Where in the world? Japan is known for its culture of overwork, which is contributing to a workforce that’s stressed out and dwindling. The Japanese government is stepping up its efforts to combat worker exhaustion by encouraging employers to offer four-day workweeks, more flexible scheduling, and paid leave, according to the Associated Press. Advocates hope the changes will allow workers to spend more time with their families, help increase the country’s birth rate, or “remain in the workforce for longer."

Satellite view. Employers in the US have been toying with the four-day workweek trend as well, HR Brew previously reported. Leaders who’ve adopted it recommend that employers find an approach that works for their business and be diligent about enforcing the policy.

Keep reading here.—KP