Episodes tagged: Work

The Hidden Cost of Cutting Employee Benefits

Major employers are reconsidering what they will fund in their benefits programs. Steve Boese examines Albertsons’ and Disney’s 2027 spouse-coverage restrictions, Deloitte’s reductions for certain internal support employees, and the 2026 withdrawal of weight-loss drug coverage at Starbucks, PepsiCo, and PwC. He explores the financial pressures, household consequences, retention and employer-brand risks, and whether escalating costs could strengthen business support for a broader government role in healthcare.

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Can You Trust the Candidate? The New Hiring Fraud Challenge

From fabricated qualifications to interview stand-ins and stolen identities, candidate fraud is challenging how employers establish trust in hiring. Steve Boese examines recent research, explains why the threat has gained urgency, and explores responses from HCM tech providers like Oracle, SAP/SmartRecruiters, and iCIMS.

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The AI Layoff Trap: Are Companies Cutting Too Far, Too Fast?

Steve examines the emerging evidence of AI’s impact on employment, particularly for younger workers, and explores the risks of cutting too deeply before organizations understand the consequences. From disappearing entry-level opportunities to employee burnout and lost institutional knowledge, this episode challenges HR leaders to take a more measured approach to AI-driven workforce transformation.

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Kroger, AI, and the Real Cost of Cutting 3,000 Jobs

On this episode, Steve Boese examines Kroger’s business performance, what the announcement signals for HR leaders, and why the long-term costs of workforce reductions deserve as much scrutiny as the projected savings.

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Workplace Connection: What Drives Motivation, Retention, and Performance

In this episode of At Work in America, Steve Boese speaks with workplace strategist, advisor, and keynote speaker Jason Lauritsen about the Human Connection Study, a large-scale research project examining how connection shapes the employee experience.

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The Return-to-Office Debate Has Settled. Here’s What We Learned.

In this episode of The Workplace Minute, Steve examines one of the defining workplace stories of the past several years and examine where it stands today.

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The Largest Companies are Earning Record Revenues and Profits but with Fewer Employees

America’s largest companies are hitting record profits while headcounts decline. This episode explores how AI, digital products, and outsourcing are permanently breaking the link between company growth and employee growth.

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Labor Force Decline: Why Workers Are Leaving

More than 700,000 Americans exited the labor force in June 2026, pushing participation rates to historic lows. This episode analyzes the economic factors driving this unprecedented labor force decline and outlines the critical steps employers must take to rebuild the market.

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The American Dream at Work: What Does Independence Mean for Workers in 2026?

For generations, work has been the pathway to opportunity, stability, and the belief that each generation…

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Unemployment Benefits: Why Aren’t Laid-Off Workers Collecting?

While headlines warn of major layoffs, nearly 75% of unemployed workers never apply for benefits. In this episode of The Workplace Minute, Steve Boese explores the misconceptions and systemic hurdles keeping workers from accessing critical financial safety nets amid AI job displacement.

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