Hello there, HR Champs! ๐ช September has officially entered its โback to businessโ era. Before Q4 brings the calendar chaos, letโs double down on the policies, processes, and people signals that could use a refresh.
In this issue:
๐ September audit
๐๏ธ HR planning [template]
๐ฅ Job interest drops
๐ Turnover outlook
โ WEEKLY GOODY
HR Planning [template]
This weekโs HR goody โ give your next planning cycle a clearer starting point.
Only available for download to subscribers.
โ THE HR SPOTLIGHT
HRโs September Audit: Before Q4 Gets Messy
A recent Marsh survey of 1,800+ U.S. employers found that health benefit expenses are expected to rise 8.2๏ผ in 2027, the highest increase since 2003. So this is an especially good month to audit whatโs workingโand whatโs quietly costing you. A good place to start: review the people basics before they become people problems.
Find the loose screws before Q4 does โ A quick September audit can cover:
Benefits: What needs attention before renewal or open enrollment?
Performance: Are managers doing proper evaluations, or saving everything for year-end reviews?
Policies: Anything outdated, unclear, or applied differently by different managers?
Training: Which certifications or required training are expiring this fall?
Employee data: Are records, roles, reporting lines, and contact details current?
Time off: Who still has significant PTO to useโand are managers planning around it?
Retention: Who might be quietly checking out before they officially check out?
This monthโs goal: spotting the small cracks while they're still small.
โ CULTURE CUE
The "Stop Doing" Audit โ โ Ask your team to drop one low-impact legacy task. Free up mental bandwidth before the middle of the week gets chaotic.
โ THE HR PULSE - Whatโs shaping the workplace
๐ Employers Facing High Turnover โ Pluang
Whatโs unfolding:ย Gallagherโs latest workforce outlook reveals US employers are grappling with high employee turnover, workforce capacity constraints, and the growing adoption of AI in HR.
Why it matters: Employers should focus on improving manager effectiveness and employee engagement to retain talent and successfully integrate AI into daily work.
๐ฅ Job Interest Drops โ NewsTribune
Whatโs unfolding: A smaller share of Americans is participating in the labor force, even as the U.S. economy continues adding jobs, while economists disagree on what is driving the shift.
Why it matters: A thinner talent pool can make hiring harder for small employers, so HR should look beyond job postings toward retention, internal mobility, flexible work and skills development.
๐ ๏ธ Fedโs Skilled Trades Strategy โ Legis1
Whatโs unfolding: The federal government is ramping up workforce development as defense and shipbuilding face major skilled-trades shortages.
Why it matters: ย The broader lesson for HR is talent pipelines: apprenticeships, skills-based hiring and non-degree pathways can help employers compete when traditional recruiting channels run dry.
โ FLASH VOTE - The community weigh-in
What makes you feel most appreciated at work?
LAST WEEKโS POLL:
โ WEEKLY GOODY
From โWe Shouldโ to โHereโs the Planโ: HR Planning Template
This editable, ready-to-print template puts hiring plans, talent priorities, workforce gaps, and resource decisions in one working document, giving HR teams a clearer view of what needs attentionโand what can wait.
Use it for annual planning, quarterly resets, or those moments when leadership suddenly asks, โSoโฆwhatโs our people plan?โ No need to rebuild the process every time the business changes direction.
Only available for download to subscribers.
โ UPCOMING EVENTS - To learn, network & thrive
Sept 14-15, Virtual - Bamboo HR
Bamboo HR Connect 2026
Expert insights, real-world stories, and practical strategies to help you lead with confidence.
See agenda ยป
Sept 15-16, In-Person (Texas) - M-Media
Future of Work USA
Gather ideas, strategies & solutions for the changing world of work.
Attend event ยป
Sept 23, In-Person (Nebraska) - Workshop
Brightside 2026
An event dedicated to workplace culture and engagement strategies.
Join the conference ยป
โ BREAKROOM - Your virtual watercooler
โ SMART READS - Worth bookmarking
๐งญ Mentorship Blueprint: Relational Learning With AI
๐ฌ Video Tools for Employer Branding & Recruitment
๐ 25 Examples of Great Company Culture
โ Created with care by Vivienne Ravana
P.S. More HR perspectives? Follow us as the convo continues on HRAddictโs LinkedIn.
