Feb 21, 2026

Subject: The 1 Thing Every Workplace Will Want to Become This Year: Kinder

Key Points:

– Focus on creating kindness and happiness in the workplace through four tactics.

– Medical and prescription drug expenses expected to rise 8.4% this year; a new PBM model can aid HR accountability.

– Upcoming webinar (Feb 26): Background checks vs. social media vs. AI in hiring — exploring overlaps and compliance risks.

– Report on Anaplan’s Operational Workforce Planning application shows how it brings agility and insight to workforce planning.

– Behavioral interview questions are crucial for getting beyond resumes to understand candidates better.

– Personnel document retention requires compliance; upcoming instructor-led event covers best practices.

– Blueprint available for improving performance review processes to better support employee development and reduce surprises.

Subject: Feb. 20 – EEOC alleges Coca Cola division excluded men from work trips

Key Points:

– EEOC lawsuit alleges Coca Cola division violated Title VII by excluding men from work trips amid anticipated focus on “reverse discrimination” in 2026.

– Recent data shows most workers enjoy learning from other generations.

– HR Dive 2026 Identity of HR survey invites professionals to share insights on their role and industry challenges.

– IT workers’ roles evolve every 18 months but current training cycles lag behind rapidly changing skills requirements.

– Resources, webinars, and reports available covering leadership, AI’s impact on workplace, trending benefits, employee engagement, and total rewards.

– News includes updates on industry legal cases and immigration’s effect on hospitality.

– Upcoming webinar (Feb 25): Sustaining growth through disruption with Catalyst Inc.

Subject: 📓 perfectly timed PIPs?s

Key Points:

– Tips for improving employee engagement in fully remote teams with zero budget:

* Create peer-to-peer virtual recognition channels on platforms like Microsoft Teams.

* Start meetings with recognition uplifts, employee spotlights, CEO/executive thank you messages.

* Share stories connecting employees to the impact of their work.

* Form volunteer committees to organize engagement activities such as contests, virtual games, and connection prompts.

– Recognition notably drives performance and retention; 80% of employees work harder with appreciation, high engagement leads to better business outcomes (e.g., 18% higher productivity, 23% higher profitability).

– Best days for PIP meetings tend to be mid-week (Tuesday or Thursday), avoiding Mondays (start of the week) and Fridays (end of the week) to respect employee well-being.

– PIPs are inherently difficult; timely and clear communication is essential to avoid surprises and prolonged issues.

– Resources offered include guides for compensation data reliability and performance management supported by AI.

Subject: Feb. 20 – Is ‘workslop’ more accepted now? | Cost-per-hire rose sharply in 2025s

Key Points:

– New report highlights “workslop,” i.e., correcting AI-generated errors is becoming an invisible burden at work.

– Hiring costs increased significantly in 2025 due to changes in job board pricing and programmatic media models.

– Workers express low confidence in retiring comfortably; this ongoing issue presents challenges.

– Gen X employees play a critical role in bridging generational gaps at work, with technology adoption similarities across generations.

– Editor encourages HR professionals to participate in the 2026 Identity of HR survey to shape future industry insights.

– Additional readings and resources cover workplace toxicity, AI developments in regulated industries, and upcoming leadership webinars.

Stay Well!