The rise of 'helicopter managers' -- those who excessively monitor employees -- is leading to decreased morale and productivity, according to a survey by Owl Labs. Nearly half of employees (46%) say having their work monitored is their top workplace issue and 86% of employees say that organizations should be legally required to disclose their use of monitoring tools. These surveillance tactics can backfire on employers, as workers resort to performative work, says Owl Labs CEO Frank Weishaupt. "That's why we've also seen the recent 'task-masking' trend, whereby employees try to appear to be more busy than they really are," Weishaupt says.

Leaders are collecting employee feedback more frequently and integrating it into business strategies, but challenges such as limited analytics and a gap between feedback collection and action remain, according to a Perceptyx report. "Too many companies confuse collecting feedback with actually listening," says Patrice Williams-Lindo, CEO of Career Nomad. "True listening happens after the survey -- when organizations take real action."

Legislation reintroduced in the House and Senate would require both spouses to consent to 401(k) withdrawals, aiming to safeguard women's retirement savings. The Women's Retirement Protection Act of 2025 also would enhance financial literacy and provide legal fee assistance when spouses are dividing retirement plans in divorce cases.

Alternatives to college such as apprenticeships, entrepreneurship and microcredentialing are becoming increasingly popular among young people, driven by factors such as rising college debt and a desire for practical skills. Connor Boyack, president of Praxis, emphasizes the need for diverse postsecondary pathways, while Kathleen deLaski, an author and senior advisor to the Project on Workforce at Harvard University, advocates for higher education institutions to offer more responsive programs.

Your team members may hesitate to give you honest feedback due to fear of retaliation or the belief that their input won't lead to change, writes leadership consultant Marlene Chism, who recommends clearly explaining changes, keeping promises, encouraging respectful dissent and recognizing employee contributions. "Every leader has blind spots that could be minimized by openly initiating strategic conversations at every level within the organization," Chism writes.