Corporate executives -- CEOs, in particular -- need to get out of conference room meetings and get to their factory floors and with their customers to find ways to improve their products. "Spend less time on finance, spend less time in conference rooms, less time on PowerPoint and more time just trying to make your product as amazing as possible," Musk said during The Wall Street Journal's virtual CEO Council annual summit on Tuesday.

Companies that frequently acquire other companies often use a pay-to-stay approach to retain employees and typically expect more than 80% of employees and leaders to stay with the company. Acquirers also use nonfinancial strategies, such as outreach and the possibility of enhanced career opportunities as part of their retention programs.

Defined-contribution plan sponsors are growing increasingly receptive to adding features to help employees save for emergencies and reduce student-loan debt, a Willis Towers Watson study found. According to the study, 60% of employers expressed interest in a feature that helps workers build emergency savings, while 78% said they were interested in adding a student-loan payment feature.

The Facilities Management Talent Development Pipeline is a continuing education partnership among the International Facility Management Association Foundation, California Community Colleges and industry experts designed to grow hard-to-find, younger facilities managers through continuing education. A customized program for Google resulted in better job titles and pay increases for the upskilled employees.

Accelerating change, emphasizing employees' wellness and improving their experience will be among HR's top priorities next year, writes Lisa Dodman, chief people officer at Unit4. Other efforts will include providing continuous learning opportunities and helping employees find their purpose, Dodman writes.