Employees want the basics when it comes to workplace environment, including healthy air quality, more natural light and a space to personalize, according to data from a survey by Future Workplace and View. Other perks, such as an on-site gym or tech-based wellness tools, ranked lower among employees' priorities.

The process of evaluating soft skills both by job applicants and recruiters can improve the quality of the hiring experience. Soft skill "touchpoints" can bring depth to the process of evaluation, says entrepreneur and corporate adviser Jason Finkelstein.

Organizations that prioritize gender equality will be better able to advocate equality for all members of their workplace, writes Shuchi Sharma of SAP. Sharma outlines four steps for moving an organization toward gender equality, including setting goals and evaluating processes to eliminate biases.

Data from Fidelity Investments analyzing more than 30 million 401(k) accounts show almost one-third of account-holders increased their rate of savings last quarter, with an average contribution rate of 8.8%, and an employer average of 4.7%. Increased employer focus on saving, plus auto-enrollment programs, have contributed to the boost in employee investment.

Five times as many women could become corporate leaders if US businesses changed their culture, according to a survey and report by Accenture pegged to Women's Equality Day. The survey of 22,000 working men and women from 34 countries found 40 factors -- including the creation of a diverse leadership team and family friendly policies -- can influence advancement for women.