🤦HR’s Biggest Headache

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Good Morning!

The workplace is changing fast, and so are the rules. Some companies are doubling down on leadership development, while others are struggling to keep up with pay equity demands. And if you’re still working from home? Some CEOs think you’re missing out.

Here’s what’s making waves in the world of HR and business right now.

Upcoming in this issue 📰

• 🌎 Multinationals Are Also Going Quiet on DEI

• 📊 Report | Insights from the 2025 SHRM State of the Workplace Report

• 💰 2025: The Year of Contention and Pay Battles

• 🚫 JPMorgan CEO Doubles Down on Office Return: "WFH Can’t Build Culture"

 📰 Latest in HR News

• ❌ Accommodation Denied: Employee Told to Retire or Face Termination

• 📆 2025 IRS Refund Schedule: A Guide to Tax Refund Dates & Tracking

• 👬 Dual Roles: C-suite Structures are Undergoing a 'Fundamental Shift'

• 😠 ‘People are really angry’: A vibe shift around layoffs is happening across the workforce

🌎 Multinationals Are Also Going Quiet on DEI

Read the full 414-word article here

According to research from UK law firm GQ Littler, many multinational companies fear that vocal support for DEI could put them at odds with shifting US policies. While UK-based companies aren’t expected to roll back DEI initiatives outright, they are becoming more cautious about how publicly they promote them.

Key Insights

• 🌐 Multinationals are going quiet on DEI—While UK companies aren’t dismantling DEI, they are avoiding bold public statements to prevent political and legal fallout in the US.

• 🌈 US executives predict DEI cuts—A survey found that 61% of large US company leaders expect DEI to take a backseat due to political pressure.

• 🧑‍⚖️ Legal fears drive DEI pullback—Nearly half (42%) of US executives worry that maintaining DEI policies could expose them to discrimination lawsuits.

• ⚠️ UK compliance risks loom—UK companies that stop DEI training or tracking diversity metrics may struggle to defend against discrimination claims under evolving employment laws.

📊 Report | Insights from the 2025 SHRM State of the Workplace Report

According to the 2025 SHRM State of the Workplace Report, hiring, leadership development, and employee experience are at the forefront of HR’s strategic shift in 2025. Yet, despite these priorities, execution remains a hurdle.

Key Data:

• 🙅 Recruiting remains a struggle – Despite being HR’s top priority, only 56% of professionals rate their hiring efforts as effective in a competitive market.

• 🧑‍💼 Leadership development is crucial but underdelivered – 51% of CHROs rank it as a top 2025 priority, yet many workers report poor leadership within their organizations.

• 🤖 AI’s role in HR is accelerating – 90% of CHROs anticipate greater AI integration in the workplace, reshaping HR functions and talent strategies.

• 🧘 Employee well-being takes center stage – 59% of CHROs foresee increased mental health support, while 53% predict greater investments in rapid skill development for evolving tech.

💰 2025: The Year of Contention and Pay Battles

Read the full 682-word article here

I’ve seen plenty of workplace trends come and go, but this one feels different—pay is now the #1 challenge for organizations, outpacing even recruitment and retention. According to Payscale’s 2025 Compensation Best Practices Report, companies are bracing for a "Year of Contention" as employees push for fair pay while employers tighten budgets.

Key Insights

• 🤦 Pay beats recruiting as HR’s biggest headache – 1 in 3 HR leaders say unfair pay is the top reason employees leave, surpassing hiring and retention challenges.

• 🪙 Pay transparency slows but remains strong – Though investment in pay equity dropped 5% from 2024, over 56% of companies still post pay ranges in job listings.

• 🏳️‍🌈 DEI investments are holding steady – While 28% of companies plan to boost DEI efforts, only 11% expect to cut back, despite political and economic pressures.

• 👩 Gender pay gap narrows but persists – Women now earn 85% of what men do, a jump from 65% in 1982, but full wage equality remains elusive.

🚫 JPMorgan CEO Doubles Down on Office Return: "WFH Can’t Build Culture"

Read the full 643-word article here

I’ve seen plenty of debates on remote work, but JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon in particular, isn’t budging—he insists that culture simply can’t be built over Zoom. Speaking at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Dimon shared his frustrations with remote work.

Key Insights 🔍

• 💻️ Remote work weakens company culture – Dimon insists that Zoom meetings don’t foster engagement, noting that employees are often distracted during virtual calls.

• 🧒 Younger employees may be left behind – Career growth depends on exposure and mentorship, and Dimon warns that remote workers miss key opportunities to advance.

• 🏠️ JPMorgan still supports remote work—where it works – 10% of employees in virtual call centers work from home full time, proving it can be effective in specific roles.

• 📝 Hybrid work lacked structure – Dimon says managers failed to enforce clear guidelines, leading JPMorgan to mandate full in-office work for hybrid employees.