Kathryn Mayer

Parker

Compensation and Benefits Editor at SHRM HR News

Contributor at PopSugar

writer & editor. focusing on benefits & compensation at @SHRM. co-author of “Disneyland on the Mountain” @RLPGBooks

Articles

Trump Administration Reconsidering the Mental Health Parity Rule

3 weeks ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

HR must always include human intelligence and oversight of AI in decision-making in hiring and firing, a legal expert said at SHRM24. She added that HR can ensure compliance by meeting the strictest AI standards, which will be in Colorado’s upcoming AI law. The proliferation of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the ensuing expected increase in productivity and efficiency, could help usher in the four-day workweek, some experts predict.
Incivility Takes a Hit on Worker Mental Health, SHRM Data Finds

3 weeks ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

Societal incivility dipped slightly in the second quarter of the year, but workplace incivility remained the same and overall incivility is still a concern, according to the SHRM Q2 2025 Civility Index. Those findings indicate that employers must remain vigilant over incidents of incivility among workers to create a more productive and healthier organization — as well as to better support employees’ mental health.
Employers’ 2025 Annual Pay Raises Have Been Lower Than Expected

1 month ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

More PromotionsAlthough annual pay raises are slightly lower than anticipated, other pay strategies are gaining steam this year. Considering smaller compensation budgets, 86% of employers are increasingly focusing on performance-based pay, Mercer’s data found. This year, employers expect to promote approximately 10% of their workforce, up from 8% in 2024, with an average pay increase of 8.5% associated with promotions.
10 Ways HR Leaders Say They Prioritize Their Own Mental Health

1 month ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

So how do HR leaders prioritize their own mental health? What tips do they recommend to other HR professionals? Here’s what they told SHRM. Carve out time for yourself in the morning. “I’m an early riser and usually wake up about an hour before the rest of my family,” said Cheryl Yuran, CHRO at Absorb Software in Rochester, Mich. “I guard this time fiercely — it’s my space to think clearly and prepare for the day.
How Employers Are Widening the Definition of Mental Health Benefits

1 month ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

How Benefits Impact Mental Well-BeingIn general, benefits offerings are known to improve employee mental health. For instance, a study by a Northeastern University researcher found a significant association between paid vacation leave and lower rates of depression in women. Specifically, for every 10 additional days of paid leave, the rates of depression decreased by 29%.
What Trump’s Drug Pricing Executive Order Means for Employers

1 month ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

A new executive order (EO) that aims to curb soaring prescription drug prices, including for popular weight loss drugs known as GLP-1s, could potentially result in savings for employer health plans. However, experts said employers shouldn’t take their foot off the gas when it comes to trying to curb costs on their own. President Donald Trump on May 12 issued an EO directing drugmakers to lower the prices of their medicines to align to the prices charged in other wealthy countries.
Annual Inflation Holds Steady as Tariffs Start to Show Impact

1 month ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

President Donald Trump’s tariffs are beginning to affect inflation, although economists say most of the impacts are yet to come. The consumer price index (CPI) for April increased 0.2% on a monthly basis, after falling 0.2% in March, and rose 2.3% for the 12 months ending in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported May 13. The annual inflation rate was just below March’s 2.4% figure.
Here’s What Employees Say Is a Fair Annual Pay Increase

1 month ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

Employees say a sizeable annual merit pay bump — at least above 5% — is only fair from their companies at the same time that their organizations are pumping the brakes on salary increases. U.S. workers believe that, on average, an annual 8.2% pay increase is fair and reasonable, according to a recent labor market report from San Francisco-based finance company NerdWallet. The median, however, is lower at 5%, according to the company’s January survey of 2,087 U.S. adults.
How HR Can Support Employee Mental Health During Life Transitions

1 month ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

But many workplaces fail to focus on life transitions and how they affect employees’ mental health, the webinar speakers said. “We’re not talking about them enough at work because we’ve lived in a society for a long time that has had stigma against being anything other than big, brave, and strong all day, every day,” said Dr. Caroline Carney, president and chief medical officer of Magellan Health in Phoenix.
IRS Announces 2026 HSA, HDHP Limits

1 month ago | shrm.org | Kathryn Mayer

Employees will be able to save an additional $100 annually in their health savings accounts (HSAs) next year. The annual limit on HSA contributions for self-only coverage in 2026 will be $4,400, a 2.3% increase from the $4,300 limit in 2025, the IRS announced. For family coverage, the HSA contribution limit will jump to $8,750 in 2026, up 2.4% from $8,550 in 2025. The figures met estimates from analysts.