💡 HR's “Aha” Moments, Well-Being Spending Mismatch, AT&T's Workplace Policy Backfires - Jan 12, 2026

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On today’s agenda:

💡 HR’s aha! moments

🤩 The dare to dream challenge

⚠️ Well-being spending mismatch

📉 AT&T’s workplace policy backfires

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

💡HR’s Aha! Moments in January: When Clarity Crashes Into Reality

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📉 AT&T’s Workplace Policy Backfires — Yahoo Finance

• What’s unfolding: AT&T reversed a workplace policy after strong employee backlash, showing how top‑down decisions can misfire when staff sentiment isn’t fully considered.

• Why it matters: It’s a reminder to validate major policy changes with employee feedback. Incorporate pilots or surveys before rollout, and prepare communication strategies to preserve trust.

• What’s unfolding: Recent research shows UK workers — especially ethnic minorities — want mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting to improve fairness and transparency in compensation.

• Why it matters: Pay transparency trends are spreading globally; HR teams should assess their own reporting practices and be proactive about equity communications to stay ahead of evolving expectations and policy shifts.

• What’s unfolding: Amazon is revamping its annual review process by requiring corporate employees to list specific accomplishments that demonstrate impact, shifting away from broader self‑assessments.

• Why it matters: You may need to prepare employees and managers for a more outcome‑focused performance culture, update review training and guidance, and support conversations on meaningful impact.

COMPLIANCE CORNER

• What’s unfolding:  The IRS has set the 2026 business standard mileage rate at 72.5¢ per mile, up from 70¢, with medical and moving rates slightly lower while charitable mileage stays the same.

• HR implications: HR teams should update reimbursement policies, mileage tracking tools, and expense guidelines to reflect the new IRS rate to prevent payroll errors and unhappy travelers later.

• What’s unfolding: The UK’s Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent late last year and introduces sweeping reforms with phased implementation through 2026-27.

• HR implications: For HR leaders with UK operations, start auditing contracts, updating policies on dismissal, leave, and zero-hours work, and prepping managers for new compliance duties this year to stay ahead.

• What’s unfolding: Former EEOC officials publicly criticized the agency’s move to drop existing anti-harassment guidance, arguing it avoids public comment and may weaken federal workplace harassment standards.

• HR implications: HR must reevaluate internal harassment policies, training, and reporting processes to ensure they align with both federal law and best practices, not just current EEOC guidance.

TREND WATCH

⚠️ Well‑Being Under Pressure: When Cost Overshadows Gains

BREAKROOM

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📬 Missed Wednesday’s issue on ‘Reboarding the Workforce’? Read it »