You’ve probably heard of Industry 4.0, the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Often accompanied by tech buzzwords about optimizing production, becoming more agile, and predictive analytics, the term comes from a manufacturing strategy developed by the German government to increase computerization in factories. Digital automation in industry and manufacturing has also been discussed at the well-known German trade and technology show Hannover Messe since the early 2010’s.

In 2019 improving employee experience will top many organizations’ to-do lists. When you think of the resources companies devote to studying and improving customer satisfaction and overall experience, it makes sense to do the same with employees. After all, these are the people that make or break a company’s success, so their experience is critical to its welfare.

It might be hard to believe, but 2018 is drawing to a close. Right now your company may be preparing for a slow-down during the holiday season, ramping up for your busiest time of year, or rolling along with business as usual. In any case, it’s time to start thinking about 2019. Our revised and updated checklist will keep you on track as you look ahead to the new year.

As a millennial who has just graduated from college and been through the job search process, I’ve realized a few things about which company benefits are truly important. Throughout my four years as a business student, I’ve heard some big talk about the amazing benefits at companies such as Google and the studies that prove their effectiveness. All of this buzz gave me extremely unrealistic expectations. Sure, companies like Google exist and yes, the studies don’t lie. Offering employees unlimited vacations, nap pods, free food, on-site medical facilities and a plethora of other extreme benefits does affect employee happiness and productivity. However, the expectation that every company can provide the same benefits as Google is absurd. The reality is that while many companies may want to offer their employees all these benefits, the price tag is far too high. I learned this quickly in my job search and my priorities shifted. While flashy benefits would be amazing, I came to understand that the benefits that are most rewarding and beneficial are the ones that help me save money and plan for my future.

Work-life balance is a popular topic. Many employers realize their employees need time for hobbies, family and personal matters, and just a break from work. Flexible schedules, working remotely and generous paid time off policies go a long way toward meeting these needs. After all, an employee with time to attend to life outside work is more likely to be productive and focused on the job.

Summer is here and that means employees are making vacation plans. While your hourly employees,  non-exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), don’t get paid for hours they don’t work, it’s a little more complicated for exempt employees. What happens if they don’t have enough paid time off banked to cover their vacation? What if someone wants to take a half day off the last day before they leave for a trip? Do you have to pay your salaried employees even though your office will be closed on July 4? It’s enough to tempt you to extend your own vacation indefinitely!

If you follow labor news and legislation (and what smart business leader doesn’t?), you may have noticed the recent lack of headlines about the FLSA Final Rule. Announced in May 2016 under the Obama Department of Labor (DOL), the Final Rule raised the salary threshold for employees exempt from overtime from $23,600.00 annually (or $455.00 per week) to $47,476.00 annually (or $913.00 per week). This was the first threshold adjustment since 2004. The threshold is one of the keys to determining if employees are exempt from overtime.