A Look Back at Spring 2018 HR & Compensation Trends

It's fascinating to look back at the trends and events that were dominating HR and compensation circles in years' past. Spring 2018's hot topics included automation, immigration laws, and machine learning.

Here’s the top 10 blog posts we feel are worth the read:

1) Data is King: Survey Your Way to Better Decision Making

Making effective macro salary recommendations without accurate data around how competitors are budgeting can be a difficult task. How does Salary.com remedy this problem? Surveys.

Read more, and consider participating in Salary.com’s US and Canada National Salary Budget Survey to get the data you need to make strategic budget recommendations.

2) Equal Pay and the Gender Pay Gap in America

Equal Pay Day is the symbolic day dedicated to raising awareness of the gender pay gap. In the U.S., the date for 2018 was April 10 and it symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year.

Read more about the meaning behind Equal Pay Day and some questions you can ask yourself as you work to close the wage gap in your own organization.

3) EEO-1 Deadline Extended to June 1 at Employers’ Urging

In response to employer requests, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has extended the 2018 filing deadline for EEO-1 reports to June 1. The reason for the extension was an influx of requests for technical assistance. The move comes after a turbulent year for the EEO-1 as reporting requirements shifted by the new White House’s Office of Management and Budget.

Here’s more insight on what’s going on with the EEO-1.

4) Governor Murphy Signs Historic, Sweeping Equal Pay Legislation

Due to his dedication to fight gender inequality in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law the most sweeping equal pay legislation in the entire country. The Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act strengthens protections against employment discrimination and promotes equal pay for all groups protected by the Law Against Discrimination.

Learn more about Governor Murphy’s big move towards ending the gender pay gap.

5) Employers and Employees Embrace Automation but Fear Loss of Workplace Humanity

It’s not uncommon for workers to fear being replaced by machines, but there appears to be a shift in how employers and employees are thinking about automation and its implications. Workers and their employers are now welcoming the emergence of automation technologies, but do still worry about a loss of human connection within the workplace.

Read more about the influx of automation in the workplace and the sentiment behind this shift.

6) Making the Most of Machine Learning: 5 Lessons from Fast Learners

It’s no secret organizations are using machine learning to improve performance. A survey conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit and written in discussion with SAP reveals how machine learning has shifted from a buzz word to a strategic imperative, and details the five benefits of having these kinds of capabilities within an organization.

Read all about machine learning and how it’s impacting workplaces around the world.

7) Less than 30% of Companies Have a Training Plan in Place to Address Organizational Change

In a new study, Computer Generated Solutions (CGS) found that over 80% of learning and development professionals agree their organizations are in a constant state of change, but less than 30% of companies have a proactive learning plan in place in the case that major change occurs.

Read more of CGS’s findings and some insight into the implications of this data.

8) California Immigration Law Places Employers in Tough Position

California’s recent immigration law, AB 450, has many of the state’s employers on edge. They are concerned that the law puts them in the middle of a dispute between the federal and state governments. AB 450 was a response to Donald Trump’s administration, and prohibits employers from allowing federal immigration agents to enter nonpublic areas of a worksite without a judicial warrant. The U.S. Department of Justice isn’t happy, and is suing California on claims that AB 450 makes it difficult to enforce immigration laws.

Learn more about AB 450 and what it means for employers.

9) 11th Annual HireRight Benchmark Survey Reveals 73% of Organizations Plan to Grow Workforce in 2018

HireRight announced survey results from nearly 6,000 human resources, recruiting, security, and management professionals. The survey revealed negligent hiring as the top compliance concern amount respondents, and shows a decrease in the hiring of contingent workers.

10) U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Wage and Hour Opinion Letters

The U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Wage and Hour Division announced it has issued three new opinion letters to address compliance under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other laws.