PTO Culture, 50+ Policy Docs, Macro Forces Shaping Work... - Jun 11, 2025

Hello, HR Aces! ♠️ Out of office or out of balance? June is National Employee Wellness Month—a good time for a PTO Culture Check. Because if your team treats PTO like a myth, it’s time for HR to step in.

On today’s agenda:

🧐 PTO culture check

📕 50+ fillable HR policy docs

📉 U.S. hiring hits the brakes

👀 Macro forces to shape work…

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

Clocking Out or Burning Out? Time for a PTO Culture Check

It’s mid-June already—vacation season is officially on. But while employees may technically have PTO, are they really using it? And when they do… is it guilt-free or guilt-trip central?

The situation:

• 47﹪ of U.S. workers had unused PTO in 2024, but 61﹪ said they’d like more PTO (Solitaired)

• 60﹪ say they struggle to disconnect when taking time off (The Harris Poll)

• Employees skipping breaks = rising burnout, resentment, and quiet quitting

• These are even more relevant during National Employee Wellness Month (yep, that’s June 🧘)

What HR can do: Follow this mini checklist…

• Start with a PTO Culture Check—do managers model time off? Is PTO use encouraged or side-eyed?

• Audit your policies and unspoken norms. PTO shouldn’t feel like a secret escape mission.

• Tie it into wellness goals: Gen Z and Millennials want mental health & flexibility in 2025 and beyond (Deloitte)

• Share success stories—when leaders take real breaks, it sets a healthy tone.

Use this guide to see how your overall work culture stacks up:

50+ Fillable Documents — Download this HR Policies Bundle

This HR Policies Bundle will help you to regain time, reduce risk, and keep your workplace running smoothly. Perfect for businesses that want to stay ahead, not behind.

What’s inside:

📜 Up-to-Date Policies – Covering everything from employee conduct to performance and beyond.

🛡️ Legal Protection – Policies designed to meet the latest industry standards.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Fully Customizable – Tailor each document to reflect your company’s unique values and culture.

💼 Fair & Transparent – Foster a positive work environment for both employees and management.

Community promo ends June 14, midnight EST.

📉 U.S. Hiring Hits the Brakes - Economic Times

• What’s unfolding: May saw just 130,000 jobs added in the U.S.—a sharp cooldown from previous months. Analysts link the slowdown to policy uncertainty surrounding the 2024 election and market hesitation.

• Why it matters: Hiring freezes or slowdowns = HR strategy pivots. You may need to shift focus from recruiting to retention, internal mobility, and workforce planning. Tighten budgets, but don’t lose top talent.

• What’s unfolding: Klarna’s CEO warns of a looming recession, even as AI-driven roles grow. The fintech leader suggests we’ll see job cuts in traditional roles and a surge in demand for AI-related talent.

• Why it matters: HR should prep for uneven growth—fewer roles overall, but more in AI. Upskilling, internal reskilling, and strategic hiring will be key. Don't wait—AI-readiness should be in your 2025 plan.

• What’s unfolding: The U.S. labor market is softening—but not crashing. Job openings and quits are declining slowly, suggesting a shift from a hyper-competitive hiring market to a more balanced one.

• Why it matters: HR teams may find relief from talent wars—but that doesn’t mean it’s time to coast. Keep your EVP strong and re-engage existing employees. Competitive advantage lies in retention.

COMPLIANCE CORNER

• What’s unfolding: CEDIA helped pass a U.S. House bill expanding workforce training grants, especially for the tech integration industry.

• HR implications: Ideal time to review and refresh reskilling programs. HR leaders in tech or trades should track eligibility and be ready to apply once grants open.

• What’s unfolding: Former HHS employees allege 10,000 job cuts were based on flawed data, sparking a major class lawsuit.

• HR implications: A cautionary note to ensure accuracy in workforce data before executing layoffs. HR must involve legal and data teams before any large-scale reduction decisions.

• What’s unfolding: Federal agencies are prepping for swift reductions-in-force (RIFs) pending a court ruling expected soon.

• HR implications: If the ruling drops, actions will be quick. HR should have RIF protocols, communication plans, and legal reviews ready—this could unfold within weeks.

BREAKROOM

📬 Missed Monday’s issue ‘Summer HR Pilots’? Read it »