Thanks to buzzy results and popularity among celebrities, there's a big spike in demand for GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, as a tool to help people shed pounds. The injectable medications, originally prescribed for diabetes management, have also shown promising results for weight loss.

That demand is creating an important decision point for employers: whether or not their health insurance plans should cover the pricy drugs for weight loss. Read more.

Thanks in part to persistent high inflation, employees will be able to sock away a lot more money in their health savings accounts (HSAs) next year.

Annual health savings account contribution limits for 2024 are increasing in one of the biggest jumps in recent years, the IRS announced May 16: The annual limit on HSA contributions for self-only coverage will be $4,150, a 7.8 percent increase from the $3,850 limit in 2023. For family coverage, the HSA contribution limit jumps to $8,300, up 7.1 percent from $7,750 in 2023. Read more.

U.S. employers added 253,000 new jobs in April, beating economists' expectations, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.4 percent, one of the lowest levels on record, according to the latest employment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report shows that hiring is not slowing down, after strong job growth in the first quarter of the year. Most of the new jobs were reported in leisure and hospitality, professional business services, and health care. Read more.

The traditional performance review is taking heat from all sides these days.

More than 9 in 10 managers say they're unhappy with the traditional review process, which they call "biased and unreliable," according to a Gartner study. And more than half of employees believe their annual reviews are inaccurate and say those reviews don't motivate them.

U.S. managers spend more than 210 hours each year focusing on performance management tasks, with mixed results. Is there a better way to measure employee performance without relying on managers' subjective opinions? That's where performance statistics enter the picture and can be a cornerstone of any employee evaluation process. Read more.

With the increasing popularity of schedule flexibility, some employers are choosing an option that strikes a balance between the regular five-day workweek and the four-day workweek: granting workers every other Friday off. Here are some practical and legal tips on adopting such a schedule. Read more.

States reported that 191,000 workers filed for new unemployment benefits during the week ending March 18, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. About 1.69 million workers continue to claim unemployment benefits, which is considered within the normal range.

Economists point out that unemployment remains exceptionally low by historic standards, underscoring how the labor market continues to thrive despite the Federal Reserve's efforts to cool the economy and tamp down inflation by raising interest rates. Read more.

Attendee and vendor registration is open for the #MNSHRM23 Conference on October 9th and 10th at Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake!

With a theme of "That's So Minnesota", this year's conference is focused on celebrating the unique culture of our state while sharing HR insights and best practices.

At this year's conference, you will have the opportunity to connect with HR professionals from across the state, gain valuable insights, and discover new strategies to elevate your workplace culture.

You'll enjoy engaging keynote speakers including Devin Henderson and Dan Meers plus one yet-to-be-named keynote speaker, interactive breakout sessions, a robust Exhibit Hall and plenty of opportunities to network and collaborate with your peers.
We're excited to showcase what makes Minnesota unique and celebrate our state's spirit with the theme of #ThatsSoMinnesota.

Whether you're a seasoned HR professional or just starting out in the field, this conference is designed to help you grow and thrive in your career.

http://bit.ly/3ZBITax

Finding good job candidates and keeping employees will be the key priorities for organizations in 2023, according to a report the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) released Jan. 30. But the clash between the desire to offer competitive pay and what organizations' budgets will bear will create challenges for those concerned about inflation. Read more.

States reported that 190,000 workers filed for new unemployment benefits during the week ending Jan. 14, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised level. Weekly jobless claims are at their lowest level since late September 2022. The number of workers continuing to claim unemployment benefits—1.64 million—is below pre-pandemic levels. Read more.