Let’s start with the good news: The average account balance for 401(k) plans managed by Vanguard rose by 13% last year, reaching a record high of $167,970 by the end of 2025. The share of plans with automatic enrollment continued to grow, and a majority of those plans (62%) enrolled their employees in them at a default savings rate of 4% or higher.

The bad news? Hardship withdrawal rates also increased from 5% to 6% year over year, a record high, as more participants took money out of their 401(k) accounts to avoid foreclosure, or eviction, for example, or cover medical expenses.

While this uptick may seem alarming, there are likely other factors contributing to it besides a tough economy, David Stinnett, a principal with Vanguard’s strategic retirement consulting, said.

For more on what’s driving the uptick in hardship withdrawals, and how HR can respond, keep reading here.—CV

Catalyst, a company championing workplace inclusion and women’s advancement, kicked off its annual Convene conference this week with an unexpected guest.

While Target has largely shied away from talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion since President Trump returned to office, it sent Alisa Dalton, VP of community engagement and belonging, to open the event.

She acknowledged that Target fell short and lost trust with customers, but claimed the company is committed to inclusion work.

For more on Dalton’s remarks, and Target’s stance on DEI, keep reading here.—KP

While the majority of US adults support corporate DEI initiatives, their embrace of these efforts has declined in recent years, according to research from Bentley University and Gallup.

Within the world of HR, however, support remains strong: 71% of HR professionals surveyed by the Human Resources Certification Institute in April 2025 expressed support for DEI, and 96% agreed that diversity programming improves the functionality of a company.

That sentiment was echoed by many of the respondents to our own survey. In fact, several said that their support for DEI has deepened amid recent attacks on the practice.

For more on how the HR professionals who responded to our survey feel about DEI, keep reading here.—PM