🧩 401k-Powered Retention, Employee Benefits Template, Pregnancy Law Exceptions - Sep 5, 2025

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Hiya, HR Rockstars! 🤗 Happy 401(k) Day—we know retention isn’t just about ping-pong tables—it’s about future security. Nothing says ‘we value you’ like funding tomorrow.

On today’s agenda:

🧩 401K-powered retention

🎁 Employee benefits template

⚙️ HR tech value keeps soaring

⚖️ Pregnancy law expansion

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

🧩 401k Powered Retention: Boost Engagement and Keep Top Talent Onboard

It’s 401(k) Day today, symbolizing the shift from hard work to planning your people’s future nest eggs. Let’s turn this event into retention gold.

🤔 The situation:

• Despite 79％ of Americans working for companies offering 401(k) plans, only about 41％ take full advantage—and most employees still feel financially uneasy about retirement. (National Today)

• Meanwhile, 66％ of employees say financial stress negatively affects their work and life—and 83％ of HR leaders worry it’s hurting productivity and retention. (Morgan Stanley)

🎯 What HR can do:

1. Link 401(k) education with career chats: Start development talks with a “What’s your retirement vision, and how can your 401(k) help?”

2. Embed in mentorships or wellness programs: Add a “401(k) 1％ Challenge” to wellness campaigns—encourage one-percent boosts in contributions (thanks, PSCA). 

3. Tap plan sponsors for toolkits: Use PSCA’s “Step Up to Retirement” materials to make learning fun and inclusive.

4. Benchmark & iterate smartly: Nearly 90% of plan sponsors say financial-wellness tools drive satisfaction, retention, and productivity (Bank of America)—so track your impact like a total rewards rockstar.

These moves will help align your 401(k) strategy with retention, engagement, and long-term talent loyalty.

📌 Need more ideas? Explore more Financial Wellness Programs That Truly Support Employees »

TOGETHER WITH PACASO

 🎗 Cancer Check, HR Speaks — HR Grapevine

• What’s unfolding: Aflac’s HR chief has launched a “Check for Cancer” campaign encouraging employees to prioritize preventive screenings. The initiative integrates health awareness directly into workplace conversations, aiming to boost early detection and well-being.

• Why it matters: Showing genuine care about employees’ health cultivates trust and loyalty. By embedding cancer-screening reminders in benefits communication, wellness programs, and manager check-ins, HR can drive engagement and reduce absenteeism while demonstrating a culture that values real human beings.

• What’s unfolding: A recent survey from Skillsoft reveals a stark confidence gap: only 10％ of HR and L&D pros trust that their teams have the skills to meet business goals over the next 12–24 months, while 91％ believe employees overstate their abilities, especially in leadership, AI, and tech.  

• Why it matters: When HR’s confidence falters, so can strategy. If people are pitching themselves stronger than they are, projects stall and stress spikes. Leaders should act now: prioritize transparent skills assessments, build real-time learning paths, and recalibrate expectations through continuous feedback loops to ensure goals align with true capabilities.

• What’s unfolding: The HR technology market—spanning recruitment, payroll, engagement, performance, and more—was valued at $36B in 2024 and is forecast to nearly double to $69.6B by 2033, growing at a 7.6％ CAGR. North America holds nearly 60% of current market share.

• Why it matters: As digital transformation and hybrid work redefine the workplace, investing in AI-powered, cloud-based HR platforms can boost efficiency, drive engagement, and turbocharge decision-making. Seize the moment to upgrade systems, enhance data insights, and future-proof their strategies.

WEEKLY GOODY

COMPLIANCE CORNER

• What’s unfolding: The Department of Labor is reviewing the now-vacated 2024 overtime rule with no clear timeline set for its next move.

• HR implications: HR leaders need to stay alert and prepare for potential shifts in exempt classifications and payroll compliance, ready to act quickly once the direction becomes clear.

• What’s unfolding: Colorado has postponed the implementation of its groundbreaking AI employment law from February 2026 to June 30, 2026, allowing additional time for legislative fine-tuning.

• HR implications: HR professionals should use this extension to build AI governance frameworks—covering transparency, bias mitigation, and use disclosures—so compliance is seamless once the law goes live.

• What’s unfolding: A federal court has blocked enforcement against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding PWFA accommodations related to medical abortions, citing religious objections..

• HR implications: Employers—especially those with religious affiliations—must closely monitor evolving PWFA enforcement landscapes and adjust accommodation policies to maintain compliance.

BREAKROOM

📬 Missed Wednesday’s issue on ‘Back to Routine’? Read it »