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By Carolyn Crist   Specific technical skills and broad soft skills are driving workforce demand in 2025, Aura Intelligence says. Across millions of job postings, employers are seeking a wide range of skills in 2025, including specific technical skills around generative AI and soft skills that help employees adapt to change,  according to a Jan. 6 report  from Aura Intelligence, a workforce analytics platform. Soft skills, in particular, remain in high demand, with communication skills being the top skill requested across nearly 2 million job postings in December 2024. Still, a balance of hard skills and soft skills on applicant resumes will most likely appeal to hiring managers and applicant tracking systems this year, the report found.    Read More Here. Image by Unsplash

By Carolyn Crist   AI adoption faces three barriers: organizational change management, a lack of employee trust and workforce skills gaps, a report shows. Few companies have aligned their workforce strategies with their artificial intelligence investments, leaving a major gap in preparedness and talent needs,  according to a May 29 report  from Kyndryl, an enterprise technology services firm. About 7 in 10 leaders responding to a survey said their workforce isn’t ready to successfully leverage AI tools, and half said their organizations lack the skilled talent to manage AI. “Only a small group of businesses have been able to harness AI successfully for business growth,” Michael Bradshaw, global practice leader for applications, data and AI at Kyndryl,  said in a statement . “This report shows that while data architecture and technology infrastructure are key pieces of the puzzle, organizations that do not prioritize their workforces will miss out.”   Read More Here. Image by Unsplash

By Maryalene LaPonsie, Katy Marquardt and Susannah Snider These benefits can help caregivers juggle their many responsibilities.   Key Takeaways Workplaces provide a variety of benefits that can make it easier for employees to care for their loved ones. Both paid and unpaid leave options are available at many workplaces. Benefits that can help caregivers financially include subsidized insurance coverage, child care and flexible spending accounts. Workplaces may offer specialty benefits such as access to caregiver concierge services.   Caregiving is a part of daily life for many American workers. Employees may be caring for minor children at home, or they could be among the increasing number of people caring for aging relatives. From 2011 to 2022, the number of family caregivers helping aging adults with daily activities increased  32% to 24.1 million people nationwide . Whether it is for children or aging adults, caregiving is a significant commitment – both in terms of time and money. Some workplace benefits, however, may help reduce that burden. “Often, it’s a combination of benefits that prove to be most beneficial,” says Breanna Boysel, chief care officer with Cariloop, a concierge caregiver support program. Workplace caregiving benefits include: Leave time Flexible scheduling Financial savings On-site care Employee assistance programs Legal services Caregiver concierge services Read on for more about each caregiving workplace benefit. And for more information on the employers that provide benefits to caregivers, explore the  U.S. News Best Companies to Work For: Supporting Family Caregiving list . All companies on the list provide at least the ability to work from home, primary caregiving paid leave and nonprimary caregiver paid leave. When exploring companies in the list, look out for the "Benefits and Perks" section, which marks caregiving-related benefits with a special flag.   Read More Here. Image by Unsplash

By Samantha Cho   It’s estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, making mental health a critical concern for millions (1). Yet, in a world where we’re constantly juggling work, relationships, and life’s endless to-do lists, self-care can often feel like a luxury we just can’t afford. But what if self-care wasn’t an indulgence at all? What if science showed that small, intentional habits could rewire your brain, improve your mood, and help you cope with stress more effectively? Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths or occasional spa days—it’s about taking charge of your mental well-being, using habits deeply rooted in neuroscience. Let’s explore the science behind self-care and discover practical, easy-to-implement habits that can make a tangible difference in your mental health.r Read More Here. Image by freepik

By Bianca Flowers and Disha Raychaudhuri   April 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office have featured an unapologetic assault on diversity and inclusion efforts, unraveling decades-old policies to remedy historical injustices for marginalized groups in a matter of weeks. In his second term, Trump revoked a landmark 1965 executive order mandating equal employment opportunities for all, slashed environmental actions to protect communities of color and ordered the gutting of an agency that helped fund minority and women-owned businesses. Read More Here. by freepik

By Jonaki Mehta   Every year, in order to receive federal money, state and local school leaders promise the U.S. Department of Education they will continue following federal rules, including civil rights laws. It's standard practice. So when the department sent a memo on April 3 asking school leaders to, once again, certify they would follow civil rights laws, or risk losing federal funds, it left many scratching their heads. Hadn't they already done that this school year? Read More Here. Image by jcomp

By  Olivia Hampton ,  Obed Manuel ,  Leila Fadel The U.S. Department of Education has given schools and universities that receive federal funding an ultimatum: eliminate diversity initiatives or risk losing federal funding. The Education Department has directed institutions, from preschools to colleges, to stop using "racial preferences" in admissions, financial aid, hiring and other areas in a letter sent last week . The directive extends President Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs as part of his fight against "wokeness." Read More Here.   Image by creativeart

By Kayla Haskins The recent surge of companies dismantling their DEI programs has sent shock waves throughout the corporate world. From Tractor Supply Company to Lowe’s, Harley Davidson, and even the University of Kentucky, this trend raises concerns about the future of workplace inclusivity initiatives. However, it’s crucial to look beyond the headlines. While some organizations are scaling back, many others are quietly reinforcing their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In fact, 72 percent of C-suite and HR leaders plan to increase their DEI commitment over the next two years. Read More Here. Image by rawpixel

By Curtis Bunn One by one, diversity, equity and inclusion programs at some of the country’s biggest companies fell apart in 2024, with signs that efforts to reverse DEI initiatives will only ramp up in 2025. This year saw the rise in prominent figures like Elon Musk and Lululemon founder Chip Wilson , among others, who vocally pushed against DEI initiatives. Major companies, including Walmart , Lowe’s , Ford and Toyota , heeded the calls and dialed back their DEI programs, particularly after social media-driven campaigns by influencers like Robby Starbuck .  Read More Here.  Image by rawpixel

By TalentMap The  Merriam-Webster  dictionary defines “welcoming” with terms such as comforting, inviting, desirable, hospitable, kindly and personable.  If you’ve ever walked into a party where you don’t know anyone and after about an hour, you realized you didn’t want to leave, you either met an old friend that you really like or there’s a good chance the host did a great job at making you feel welcome.      The power of feeling welcome   Organizations have the power to do the same thing. Smart organizations realize that their most valuable resource is their staff, so they invest in a work culture that makes every employee feel welcome.    We’re using the example of a house party here but it’s easy to see how these “welcoming” behavio u rs easily transfer to a welcoming work culture. Whether you’re welcoming new employees to your workplace culture, or you’ve recently updated your culture and you’re helping employees to adapt to the changes, these tips will help to ensure  that you’re creating  a culture that says, “you’re welcome here.”  Read More Here. Image by rawpixel