Core Insights - The TriNet 2025 State of the Workplace report highlights significant changes in employee engagement, AI adoption, workplace flexibility, and benefits within small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the U.S. [2][4] Employee Engagement - Employee engagement is perceived to be increasing, with 47% of employers believing employees are "extremely engaged," a rise of 10 percentage points from 37% in 2024. However, only one-third of Gen Z employees share this sentiment, indicating a disconnect between employer perceptions and employee realities [5]. Workplace Flexibility - The trend towards workplace flexibility is evident, with 26% of employers favoring three days in the office, up from 21%. In contrast, only 14% of employees agree with this arrangement, suggesting a need for better alignment on flexible work policies [5]. Skills Gap - There is a growing talent readiness gap, as 46% of employers believe their workers possess the necessary skills, while only 49% of employees agree, down from 59% in 2024. This indicates a widening disconnect in perceived workforce capabilities [5]. AI Adoption - AI usage in HR is becoming mainstream, with 94% of employers and 84% of employees reporting its use. However, there is a slight pullback in sensitive areas like offboarding and training, where human context is still deemed essential [5]. Mental Health Support - Recognition of mental health support is increasing, with the percentage of employers considering it "extremely important" rising to 37% from 28%. This reflects a growing prioritization of mental health in workplace benefits [5]. Fertility Coverage - Fertility coverage is gaining importance, with employer ratings for "extremely" and "moderately important" climbing to 29% and 31%, respectively. Employee indifference towards this benefit has decreased from 31% to 19% [5]. Childcare Assistance - There is a notable alignment between employers and employees regarding childcare assistance, with both sides showing increased support. Employers have raised their "extremely important" and "somewhat important" ratings, while employee responses indicating "not at all important" have nearly halved [5]. Employee Discounts - The importance of employee discounts has seen a shared increase, with employers' "extremely important" ratings rising to 32% from 27%, and employees' "moderately important" responses increasing to 36% from 29% [5].

[Music] Monday mornings, the most dreadful moment of the week for so many people. Let me ask you, why do some people love their work and others hate it. A few years ago, my sister was admitted into a hospital in the excellent city of Lagos, Nigeria.While visiting her at the hospital, I met a hospital cleaner called David. I spoke a conversation with him and I asked, "David, what do you do for the hospital?" I was expecting a common answer like, "I'm a cleaner. I clean floors." But David was different. He sa ...

Core Argument - Play is not separate from work; it reflects individual behaviors in building relationships, handling pressure, and accepting responsibility [26][27] - Integrating play into team building can lead to stronger teams and better leadership [27] Benefits of Play in the Workplace - Play builds relationships and breaks barriers by fostering collaboration and dissolving hierarchical silos [11][16] - Play reveals how individuals handle pressure and progress, promoting adaptability and a growth mindset [17][19] - Play helps individuals step out of their comfort zones, building confidence and leadership skills [20][21] Examples and Applications - The "Shuffle Showdown" event demonstrated how play can build relationships among employees who had never interacted before [13][16] - The "Calibrate Together" game illustrated how play encourages knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving under pressure [17][19] - A session with college students entering the workforce used play to help them connect and see each other as collaborators rather than rivals [23][25] Historical Context - Ancient games like patici (evolving into ludo) and chaturanga (ancestor of chess) demonstrate the historical importance of play in teaching planning, patience, critical thinking, and strategic sacrifice [7][9]

Core Insights - Paylocity has introduced Peer-to-Peer Rewards to enhance employee recognition and retention, allowing managers and peers to directly reward outstanding performance with monetary awards and digital gift cards [1][4][5] - Research indicates that employees who feel recognized are 45% less likely to leave their jobs, highlighting the importance of impactful appreciation in driving engagement and retention [3][2] - Paylocity's unique offering allows 82% of rewards to be redeemed as cash, catering to employee preferences for flexible rewards, and ensuring compliance with tax regulations through seamless integration with payroll [3][6] Company Overview - Paylocity, headquartered in Schaumburg, IL, is a cloud-based provider of HR, payroll, and spend management software solutions, recognized for its innovative culture and employee engagement [7] - The company has been publicly traded since 2014 and aims to help businesses automate HR processes, attract talent, and foster a positive workplace culture [7] Product Features - The new Peer-to-Peer Rewards functionality will be available to clients in August 2025, allowing for a culture of appreciation across the organization [5] - Administrators can manage rewards through a company wallet, offering flexible redemption options and automated tax processing, which simplifies fund management [6] - The platform allows for customization of recognition programs, enabling personalized employee acknowledgments that align with company values [6]

Core Insights - Residential Home Health and Hospice has been awarded the Top Workplaces 2025 honors by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, marking the fifth consecutive year of receiving this recognition in the St. Louis market [1][4]. Company Overview - Graham Healthcare Group (GHG) is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company, employing over 3,000 professionals and serving 19,000 patients daily [6]. - Residential Home Health and Hospice provides skilled home health, palliative, and hospice care across multiple states including Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania [7]. Award Significance - The Top Workplaces Award is based solely on employee feedback collected through a third-party survey by Energage LLC, focusing on employee satisfaction and engagement [2][3]. - The award reflects the company's commitment to creating a supportive work environment, which in turn empowers employees to deliver exceptional care to patients [4].

Core Insights - Biodesix, Inc. has been recognized as a Colorado Top Workplaces 2025 Winner, highlighting its commitment to a people-first organizational culture [1] - This recognition is based on employee feedback collected through a third-party survey conducted by Energage, which measures various aspects of the employee experience [2] - This marks the second consecutive year that Biodesix has received such recognition, following the Inc. Magazine 2024 Best Workplaces award [3] Company Overview - Biodesix is a leading diagnostic solutions company focused on improving clinical care and outcomes for patients, particularly those with lung disease [4] - The company offers diagnostic tests that support clinical decisions and expedite personalized care, as well as development services for biopharmaceutical and life sciences companies [4] Employee Engagement - The Top Workplaces award is based on themes such as respect, support, growth opportunities, and empowerment within the workplace [2][4] - The CEO of Biodesix emphasized the importance of employee contributions to the company's high-performing culture and commitment to excellence [3] About Energage - Energage is a company that specializes in turning employee feedback into actionable business intelligence and employer recognition through the Top Workplaces program [5] - The organization has a rich history of culture research, having surveyed over 27 million employees across more than 70,000 organizations [5]