Here’s one thing all of us agree on about the future of work: It would be great if it didn’t involve mean people. But, sadly, mean people aren’t going away, so what can we do about them to make both our work lives and our personal lives better? It’s a question all of us have grappled with, and finally there’s an answer. This week on #WorkTrends we speak with Michael Brenner, author of “Mean People

Technology has altered the employee experience in a major way. For most of us the days of legal pads and filing cabinets are long gone, replaced by software suites and apps we use every day. “Technology is 30% of the overall employee experience,” says Jacob Morgan, a futurist, speaker and author. “It is the central nervous system of the company.” But technology is doing more than just changing the workplace. It’s also creating opportunities for

The narrative around gender equality has largely shifted in the past few years, and organizations are beginning to recognize that gender equality in the workplace isn’t just an admirable goal — it can also drive profitability. However, we’ve got a long way to go until there is true gender equality in the workplace. Research shows that women are promoted at a slower rate than men, and if the current rate continues the number of women

Are you minding the gap? The compliance gap, that is. Keeping up with regulations can be a real challenge. There are federal laws, state laws, county laws, city laws — and if your business is located in more than one state, good luck! (And if so, maybe buy your HR department something really nice to thank them for the headaches they endure on your organization’s behalf.) Thankfully, help is on the way! This week, we

Artificial intelligence has streamlined many human resources processes. These sophisticated computer programs excel at recognizing patterns, planning and adapting in ways that mimic human thought. Unlike people, however, who can grow tired or bored, or bring unconscious biases into their decisions, AI programs are fast, tireless and efficient. AI is increasingly being used to automate many HR processes, and it appears automation is going to pay off big time. A study from McKinsey projects that

Learning how best to work with others is a huge challenge that often derails and stalls organizations. Over many years I’ve seen tremendously talented and productive teams struggle because of subtle misunderstandings, miscommunications and unspoken conflicts. Most business failures stem from these issues. Leaders often talk about the importance of teamwork, but they rarely say exactly how to do it. Here’s one game-changing step your organization and/or team can take: implementing a “How to Work