Some companies are tracking employees through texts, collaboration software such as Slack, mobile phone use to assess productivity and how well they allocate resources. How organizations handle this data and disclosure are not just about what is legally permissible, but also "what you need to do to maintain trusting relationships with your employees," said Stacia Garr, co-founder of RedThread Research.

This decade's trend of organizations thinking about culture and people development hasn't been tested by recession, and economic downturns historically "weaken or sever ties between employers and employees," writes James daSilva. "In a downturn, I think HR, servant leaders and anyone else trying to build up people will find out quickly whether their organization cares about culture or considers it a profit-dependent resource," he writes.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon expects the Medicaid work requirements taking effect in the state next year to result in reduced life expectancy and increased uncompensated care, but his team is working to minimize harm. Gordon said his agency is working to educate beneficiaries about how and why they should comply with the rule, noting that "without insurance, there will be more people in emergency rooms, there will be more uncompensated care costs. ... [t]here will be more people suffering and more people living less long than they should."

Conflict happens, writes Taffi Dollar, CEO of Arrow Global Entertainment. She outlines four tips for handling the emotionally charged conflicts that sometimes occur at work, including improving communication and knowing when to step in.