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Nearly 1 in 4 American adults provide unpaid care to family, friends or loved ones with special needs. Research by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving found that the number of family caregivers jumped from 59 million in 2015 to 63 million in 2025. Of the current figure, almost one-third are part of the…

Many parents and kids may be excited for school to start after a long summer. However, the new school year may come with new or recurring challenges. Working parents with school-age children often need to establish new routines, manage an influx of activities, prepare healthy meals and snacks, and help ease any back-to-school anxiety. The…

President Donald Trump recently signed a major tax and spending bill, commonly referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB Act), into law. The OBBB Act includes changes for employee benefit plans, including the following:  For more help on what this means for your organization, contact Ollis/Akers/Arney Human Resources Consulting. © 2025 Zywave,…

Employee engagement refers to an employee’s emotional connection and commitment to their organization and its goals. It is often reflected in their loyalty, motivation and willingness to advocate for the organization. Engagement is a critical factor in driving retention and productivity.  According to a report from Gallup published in early 2025, the percentage of engaged…

Summer internship programs are temporary work opportunities that help students and young professionals gain practical work experience while developing valuable skills and creating professional connections. For employers, internships help support business operations and expand their talent pipeline.  Organizations that currently run a summer internship program may benefit from reviewing best practices. Those that don’t currently…

Generation Z (Gen Z) accounts for a growing percentage of the global workforce. In the second quarter of 2024, this group comprised 18% of the U.S. labor force, and this rate will only continue to grow. These individuals, born between 1997 and 2012, range from 13 to 28 years old, making up nearly all of…

Health care costs are projected to increase substantially in 2025.  Estimates show a similar growth in spending to 2024, marking  multiple years of compounding costs.  Several industry surveys and reports reveal  that employers anticipate health care costs to grow between 7% and 8% in 2025.  Here are seven key factors impacting rising health care costs  this year: …

As talent acquisition continues to evolve, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for organizations aiming to attract and retain top-tier talent. This past year was once again filled with labor shortages and a demand for evolving skills. As 2025 begins, the traditional hiring approaches are being reshaped by technology, remote work dynamics, and shifting…

As of Dec. 29, 2022, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act expands existing requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for employers to provide break time and a private place, other than a bathroom, for employees to express breast milk. Under the PUMP Act, these requirements now apply to almost…

Employers have been forced to navigate and respond to several challenges over the last few years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a tight labor market, rising health care costs, inflation and a potential recession. These challenges have pushed many organizations and their employees to their limits. According to a recent survey from management consulting firm McKinsey,…