Hello, HR Pros! ๐งโ๐ผ Clunky workplace setups don't just hold back neurodivergent staffโthey drain everyone. This NDEAM, let's skip the legal fluff and run some low-lift checks that promote accessibility for all.
In this issue:
๐ฏ Employee training plan
๐ The open enrollment playbook
โ WEEKLY GOODY
Employee Training Plan
This weekโs HR goody โ Give your team clear growth trajectories and turn training into a continuous learning curve.
Only available for download to subscribers.
โ THE HR SPOTLIGHT - People problems, solved
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Monthโa timely reminder that accessibility means more than ramps and elevators. With more top-performing companies embedding inclusion directly into their core operational systems, itโs high time for HR pros to start treating workplace accessibility as a growth engine.
The Barrier & The Breakthrough โ A workplace can be accessible on paper but frustrating in practice. Bright lights, noisy spaces, rigid schedules, and inaccessible software can create hurdles for employees with visible and non-visible disabilities.
This month, run checks on these seven areas:
Physical accessibility: Keep entrances, hallways, and work areas clear.
Digital tools: Confirm accessibility of image descriptions and video captions.
Sensory needs: Consider quieter spaces, lighting adjustments, and noise-reducing options.
Flexible work: Review schedules and breaks where job duties allow.
Clear instructions: Share meeting agendas and written follow-ups.
Accommodation requests: Make the process easy to find, prompt, and confidential.
Everyday inclusion: Ask what would help employees work effectivelyโwithout prying into medical details.
Under the ADA, reasonable accommodations may include equipment, schedule changes, or policy adjustments. Accessibility isnโt special treatment; itโs removing unnecessary obstacles.
๐ Unlock true accessibility in the workplace ยป
โ TOGETHER WITH - Thatch
The 2027 Open Enrollment Playbook: Timelines, Checklists, and Templates
Renewal shock, confused employees, endless admin: open enrollment doesn't have to feel like this. Grab the free step-by-step playbook benefits leaders are using to plan for 2027.
Inside the 2027 Open Enrollment Playbook: a week-by-week timeline, a communication plan that cuts down support tickets, employer and employee checklists, and how to weigh your group plan against an employee health budget with fixed, predictable costs.
โ CULTURE CUE
Banish 1 Outdated Unwritten Rule ๐ โ Uncover a vague expectation (like needing camera-on for all calls) and explicitly tell staff they're free to skip it.
โ THE HR PULSE - Whatโs shaping the workplace
โ Smartwatches Pose Driver Distraction Risks โ Fleet News
Whatโs unfolding:ย Work-synced smartwatches are delivering ping notifications directly to driving staff, creating a dangerous distraction loop that traditional mobile phone policies completely miss.
Why it matters: Unmonitored wrist alerts expose your company to massive safety and legal liabilities. HR needs to update driving policies to explicitly cover wearable tech behind the wheel.
๐ Kroger to Cut Corp Jobs โ 24/7 Wall St.
Whatโs unfolding: Kroger is slashing 3,000 corporate positionsโnearly 37๏ผ of its central officeโas it deploys AI to automate routine management and lower overhead.
Why it matters: AI-driven corporate downsizing is shifting quickly from test runs to full-scale restructuring. HR must build proactive reskilling and internal mobility pathways before automation claims core roles.
๐ค Poor Health Costlier Than Sick Days โ InsuranceBusiness
Whatโs unfolding: The biggest drain on company output isn't empty desks, but unwell employees struggling through workdaysโwhich standard absence trackers completely miss.
Why it matters: Counting sick days gives HR a false sense of security while hidden burnout quietly drains productivity. Evaluating health metrics beyond attendance helps HR fix workload friction before talent burns out.
โ WEEKLY GOODY
Build a Skills Engine: The Employee Training Plan
Stagnant skills lead to quiet disengagement. Give your team clear growth trajectories and turn training into a continuous learning curve with our practical training guide.
Only available for download to subscribers.
โ FLASH VOTE - The community weigh-in
Whatโs the biggest "uncharted territory" youโre navigating at the moment?
โ UPCOMING EVENTS - To learn, network & thrive
Oct 20-22, In-Person (Nevada) - HR Executive
HR Tech Conference & Expo
Explore innovative tools, core HR functions, people-first cultures, and diversity initiatives.
See event details ยป
Oct 25-28, In-Person/Virtual (Louisiana) - IFEBP
Employee Benefits Conference
A programme centered on rewards topics relevant to today's workforce.
Join the conference ยป
Oct 26-28, In-Person (Florida) - Gartner
Gartnerโs HR Symposium/Xpoโข
Tackle priorities on the new human-AI workforce and navigate shifting skills requirements.
Explore the agenda ยป
โ BREAKROOM - Your virtual watercooler
โ SMART READS - Worth bookmarking
๐ How to Write a Job Offer Letter
๐ก๏ธ HRโs Guide to Workplace Bullying Laws
๐ 25 Examples of Great Company Culture
A note from the editor
Every edition, we gather the most interesting workplace tidbits to give you insights, updates, and resources that can help drive better people decisions. We hope this Wednesday issue gave you something useful to take back to your team. If thereโs something we could do better, just hit reply. Weโd love to hear from our community.
โ Created with care by Vivienne Ravana
P.S. Run open enrollments without snags. Thatchโs step-by-step playbook got you covered.
