Kathryn Mayer

2 weeks 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.

2 weeks 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.

3 weeks 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%.

3 weeks 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.

3 weeks 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.