In partnership with
Hey there, People Leaders! โจ As you juggle year-end chaos, hereโs a little sparkle: office-friendly, thrifty treats to keep Secret Santa fun and HR-safeโbecause the only thing we want reported is holiday joy.
On todayโs agenda:
โก The $20B talent engine
๐ฉโ๐ผ Global gender pay gap
๐ต Minimum wage hike
WEEKLY GOODY
Employee Benefits Survey
Uncover gaps in your benefits program and transform your rewards game.ย ย
Only available for download to subscribers.
THE HR SPOTLIGHT
๐ Holiday Cheer Without the Budget Burn: OfficeโFriendly, Thrifty Treats
The holidays are here, and thoughtful gifting can make employees feel appreciated โ without blowing the HR budget. Smart, creative choices can boost morale, strengthen culture, and keep remote and inโoffice teams feeling connected.
๐ The snapshot - Yearโend is here, and everyone loves feeling appreciated โ ReadySetGiftโs survey shows nearly all employees (93.9๏ผ ) say company gifts make them feel more valued. Thoughtful gifts can boost job satisfaction, connection to team culture, and even retention, with many employees reporting positivity that lasts months.
But letโs be real: not every HR budget can spring for luxury hampers or highโend experiences, and remote teams bring extra challenges in logistics and equity. So the question becomes โ how can HR make gifting feel meaningful without stressing the budget?
๐
Easy, practical picks for HR
InโOffice Treats:
โข Desk essentials that feel useful โ mugs, planners, water bottles, or fun stationery.
โข Group goodies like snack baskets or holiday breakroom surprises.
โข Teamโwide bonus (think lunch on the house or a small experience voucher).
Remote & Hybrid Picks:
โข Curated eโgift cards or options that let each person choose what they want.
โข Virtual experiences (online wellness classes, coffee tasting vouchers).
โข Home office upgrades โ tech accessories that make work more comfy.ย
Pro Tip: Pair every gift with a quick handwritten (even digital) note โ personalization goes a long way and supports impact without adding cost.
TOGETHER WITH RIPPLING
The Experts Powering Kraft Heinz's 20B Talent Engine
The worldโs most iconic brands donโt scale by accident.
In this Built to Scale session, where HR leaders share the behind the scenes that fuels their enterprises, Andrea Rickey reveals how sheโs modernizing talent strategy across a 19,000-employee workforce and turning HR into a true business driver.
Weโll go deep into what high-leverage HR looks like and what people teams of all sizes can take from it.
Youโll learn how her team is reshaping high-volume hiring through AI and skills-based recruiting, building leadership pipelines, and aligning people decisions directly to business impact โ all inside one of the worldโs most recognizable companies.
Join us for a candid conversation on the future of talent, organizational design, and what high-leverage HR looks like at scale.
TODAYโS CULTURE CUE
๐ Team-Powered Holiday Gifts - Have each team member share a talent or skill (e.g. recipes, tutorials) and swap โexperience giftsโ for zero-cost holiday cheer.
THE HR PULSE
๐ฝ Union Win for Federal Workers โ AP News
Whatโs unfolding:ย The House passed a bill restoring collective bargaining rights for 600,000 federal workers.
Why it matters: HR should monitor potential impacts on compensation and labor relations, updating union engagement strategies as needed.
๐ Texas Tops U.S. Job Growth โ Spectrum Local News
Whatโs unfolding: Texas added more jobs than any state, reaching nearly 16 million workers with unemployment below the national rate.
Why it matters: HR pros should adjust recruitment and retention strategies in tight local labor markets to attract key talent.
๐ฉโ๐ผ Global Gender Gap Persists โ The Guardian
Whatโs unfolding: Women work more hours globally but earn significantly less, with little progress on workplace equality.
Why it matters: HR leaders should strengthen pay equity, career development, and flexible work policies to support womenโs advancement.
WEEKLY GOODY
๐ Level Up Rewards: The Employee Benefits Survey
Is your perks program actually wowing your teamโor just checking a box? Grab this free Employee Benefits Survey template to uncover gaps, boost morale, and transform satisfied employees into high-performing rockstars.
RESOURCE ROUNDUP
Case IQ
Code of Conduct Template
A template with 26 sections you can edit according to your companyโs needs.
Download ยป
Trinet
401k Calculator
See variations on potential retirement earnings based on different contribution levels.
Try this tool ยป
COMPLIANCE CORNER
๐ต Minimum Wage Climb in 2026 โ USA Today
Whatโs unfolding:ย Minimum wage rates are rising in about 19 states and dozens of cities on January 1, 2026, with many reaching or exceeding $15/hour.
HR implications: HR leaders should prepare for wage restructuring, payroll updates, and budgeting impacts, and communicate changes to employees well ahead of the effective date to ensure compliance and morale.
๐ถ Childcare Labor Crunch Hits Parents โ 19th News
Whatโs unfolding: Increased immigration enforcement is shrinking the child care workforce and forcing many parents โ especially mothers โ to leave jobs due to unstable care availability.
HR implications: HR should recognize childcare barriers as a retention risk, consider flexible work options and support programs, and monitor how labor shortages outside the company can affect attendance and career progression.
๐ Ban the Box Tightens โ NatLaw Review
Whatโs unfolding: Philadelphia is expanding its Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards, further restricting how employers can ask about and use criminal history in hiring, effective January 6, 2026.
HR implications: HR teams with Philly employees must revise screening and hiring policies now to comply and avoid discrimination claims, update job postings and training on the new process before the new year.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dec 17, Virtual - HR Morning
Beyond Fire and Re-hire
Learn how to find, develop, and retain talent in a shrinking talent pool.
Attend the webinar ยป
Dec 18, Virtual - CHRO Association
Generative AI Company Adoption & ROI
Get expert tips on how leaders can prepare their workforces for AI-enabled roles.
See event details ยป
BREAKROOM
SMART READS
๐ข Employer of Record: Benefits & Examples
โ Must-Have Office Break Room Supplies
๐ค How AI is Used in HR: Example & Use Cases
