Tech giants including Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon are executing large-scale layoffs in 2025, affecting thousands of employees as they shift focus to AI initiatives. The layoffs highlight a growing trend where human workers are increasingly seen as expendable, leading to personal and professional upheaval for many. Employees who once felt secure in their roles, now face uncertainty and the challenge of finding new employment. HR teams are caught in the middle, delivering difficult news while struggling with the emotional toll of dismantling workplace cultures they helped build.

Employers can improve retention by prioritizing development opportunities, and comprehensive benefits, according to analysis of recent reports from The Conference Board. The reports highlight that flexible work policies significantly reduce retention challenges, while growth opportunities and a supportive culture enhance employee loyalty.

Former NBA player Willie Burton, once known for his 53-point game with the Philadelphia 76ers, has transformed his life from battling substance abuse to becoming an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. Despite his struggles with mental health and addiction during his basketball career, Burton has been sober since 1997 and now focuses on mentoring young athletes through Excel U.

In response to rising health care costs, maintaining stable and consistent benefits has become a priority for employers. They are prioritizing preventive care and innovative plan designs including promoting the use of generic drugs, telehealth services and flexible plan models, plus high-deductible health plans with health savings accounts. This is crucial for attracting and retaining skilled workers, as well as for supporting employees' financial security and reducing stress around health care expenses.

Employee handbooks are essential for communicating company policies, but getting employees to read them can be challenging, say attorneys, who recommend making handbooks user-friendly by using clear language, translating them if necessary and clustering related policies. Frequent updates and proactive communication, such as presentations during orientation and regular reminders, can help ensure employees understand and follow the policies, attorneys say.