11/07/2025
๐ก ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธโ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฅ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ (๐ญ๐ญ/๐ฌ๐ณ/๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ)
From how AI is reshaping performance management to the power of gratitude and PTO, this weekโs themes all center around one question: What really motivates people to give their best? Hereโs a quick recap โฌ๏ธ
๐ฉโ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐:
๐ค Companies look to AI and skills to strengthen performance management. A new WTW report shows nearly half of organizations believe productivity could rise 10% or more if performance management were improved โ yet only 39% think their current systems meet employee expectations. To close that gap, 37% of employers already use AI to enhance reviews, goal-setting, and feedback, with another third planning to follow. Over half (54%) now integrate โskillsโ into performance frameworks to better align development and pay. The takeaway: technology canโt replace human coaching, but it can make performance management clearer, fairer, and more consistent.
๐ฌ Never underestimate the power of gratitude. Recognition shouldnโt just appear once a year on Thanksgiving. According to Gallup, only one in three employees strongly agree they received recognition in the past week โ and those who donโt feel valued are twice as likely to quit within a year. Meaningful appreciation doesnโt have to cost much: extra time off, a personalized note, or public praise can do more to boost engagement than expensive perks. When gratitude becomes cultural, not seasonal, morale and retention rise together.
๐จโ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐:
๐ด How to build a team culture that truly supports taking time off. Nearly one in four U.S. employees didnโt take a single vacation day last year, according to FlexJobs โ and 29% feel guilty when they do. Thatโs a burnout risk waiting to happen. My article explores how managers can model healthy boundaries, plan ahead for coverage, and treat time off as performance fuel rather than a perk. When managers normalize rest, they prevent turnover and strengthen engagement long-term.
๐ When change backfires: Why employees arenโt buying in. Change fatigue is real. Eagle Hill Consulting found that 63% of employees faced major workplace change last year, but one in three say it wasnโt worth the disruption. Meanwhile, 62% say their manager didnโt adjust workloads to make room for adaptation. The solution? Involve employees early, test ideas in small groups, and clearly explain the โwhyโ behind every change. When people see their input reflected in final plans, buy-in follows.
๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐น๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ: Each week, I share one free employment law article from HR Employment Law Advisor. This weekโs pick, ๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ข๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฐ๐บ๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฌ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ต by employment law expert Anniken Davenport, outlines what every employer should include โ and update โ to stay compliant and protected. ๐ https://www.hremploymentlawadvisor.com/free/your-essential-employee-handbook-checklist
๐ฐ These insights come from my work on articles for Managing People at Work and The HR Weekly โ two subscription-based newsletters that deliver actionable guidance for managers and HR pros navigating todayโs workplace challenges. Consider subscribing to explore these topics in full each week.
๐ฌ Whatโs been on your radar this week? Iโd love to hear in the comments below.
