Salary growth forecasts, shifting healthcare costs, Gen Z’s workplace wellness, and more!
Q3 may have just gotten underway, but employers are already looking ahead to forecast salaries and benefits for 2026. According to results from new surveys out in July, change is on the horizon.
We’ll cover the shifts employers are eyeing and more in this round-up of the most talked-about employee wellness topics from the last month.
Trending Topics & News
Report: AI & Social Media Are Fueling Salary Misinformation and Tensions at Work
Payscale’s 2025 Pay Confidence Gap Report is out, and its findings reveal a growing disconnect between how employees and employers feel about pay. The core problem? Both applicants and hiring teams are using generative AI tools like ChatGPT to conduct salary research, and the information it returns can be wildly misleading. Get a deeper dive on the findings in the full report summary.
Read the full HR Tech Edge article here >>
What Is the Gen Z Stare and How Is It Affecting the Workplace?
A trending TikTok topic is sparking debate over Gen Z’s soft skills. The so-called “Gen Z Stare” is a blank expression that critics say characterizes the generational group’s disinterested, passive-aggressive attitude that can hinder their careers. While we’re not fans of generational stereotypes, they can have real implications on team dynamics. This interesting take explores how the trend could impact Gen Z wellness in the workplace.
Read the full HR Digest article here >>
Benefits & Compensation
Employers Eyeing Flat Salary Increases in 2026
The majority of employers are planning no change to their salary increases in 2026. Fifty-three percent say they’ll stick with the pay raises they gave this year, which averaged 3.5%. About a third of companies say they’ll cut salary increases, and only 15% plan to boost them. Delve into the reasons behind the flat wage increases and some of the things employers are doing instead to make up for the lack of wage growth.
Read the full SHRM article here >>
PTO Outlook: 59% of Workers Now Feel Uneasy Taking Time Off
It’s a long-running stereotype that Americans are workaholics. A study out this month seems to prove it’s true–but not because workers are obsessed with their jobs. One in three employees say it’s the stigma of taking time off that prevents them from fully using the PTO they’re entitled to. Learn how company culture can undermine healthy PTO use and get expert tips for helping employees feel more confident about taking a break from work.
Read the full HR Morning article here >>
Healthcare & Insurance
Mercer: Half of Large Employers Plan to Shift Health Plan Costs Onto Employees
Employees will bear a larger responsibility for their healthcare costs in 2026. That’s according to the July results from a survey by global consulting firm Mercer. Fifty-one percent of large companies say they’re planning moves like raising deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums that increase how much employees contribute to the cost of their care. Read on for a full breakdown of the survey findings, including what other healthcare changes are on the horizon for employers.
Read the full HR Dive article here >>
Employees Would Take a Job If GLP-1s Were Part of Their Benefits Package
As demand for popular GLP-1 weight loss drugs grows, so does their importance as part of an attractive job offer. One in four millennial and Gen Z employees now say they’d be more likely to take a job if the company’s healthcare plan offered access to these medications. Their cost, however, is an obstacle that benefits managers are still grappling with. Learn more about employees’ sentiments around weight loss support and explore alternative offerings that can support workers’ weight goals.
Read the full Employee Benefit News article here >>
Industry Conversations & Voices
8 Ways to Sustain Employee Benefits Engagement Year-Round
Benefits are an important, even essential, ingredient to a healthy and happy workforce. And yet, employees often struggle to understand them (not to mention the fact that reading a benefits pamphlet from HR isn’t much fun). Discover eight ways to make benefits more engaging and accessible to workers. Our favorite tip–using a content calendar to keep up a steady, but not overwhelming, stream of benefits-related communication.
Read the full SHRM article here >>
In An Era of Loneliness, Belonging May Be The Key to Employee and Business Success
Ever heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? You may remember the classical theory from high school psychology class. It states that belonging is a core human need–only basic survival needs like food, water, and safety are ranked more important. Now, new research suggests belonging is a critical workplace need, too, one that’s directly tied to critical business outcomes. CLick through for more on what it means for employers.
Read the full HR Dive article here >>
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