January 28, 2025
Hello, and happy lunar new year – 2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese lunar calendar. While not my favorite animal, the snake is said to symbolize reflection, growth and change, and by embracing the snake’s wisdom, adaptability and good judgement, we can navigate the new year with grace and reach our potential more fully. I’m all for that personally, but also, in a professional context, this feels very on the nose for KMA. Helping our clients reach their full potential, and supporting them with grace, is what we do every day.
We’re about a week into the new administration, and there are already major impacts to the business community, with a sharp shift away from DEI. President Trump’s two executive orders on DEI policy effect both government and the private sector. If you’re unsure about the legality of your current DEI practices, we recommend that you consult an employment attorney to review your policy, knowing that we are in a period of uncertainty and things will continue to evolve.
In my experience, cultural shifts often swing on a pendulum: change takes hold in the culture broadly, sometimes succeeded by a rebalancing phase. And still another rebalancing phase can follow that – until the transformation becomes fully and truly rooted in the culture. We’re somewhere on the pendulum arc, but the ambiguity can be difficult to manage through.
As someone who has worked in the HR profession for my entire career, I can attest to the value of fostering a culture of inclusivity and belonging. If you consider what the workplace looked like 50 years ago (think of the series Madmen, set in the 1950s and 60s, or the movie 9-5 from 1980) we have made important cultural gains, and I continue to believe that treating everyone in the workplace with respect, and providing equal opportunities for all, is not just the appropriate, but the pragmatic approach for leadership.
How we manage hiring and promotion practices in the future while remaining compliant is a key concern, and the team at KMA will be tracking these developments closely. I predict we’re in for a bumpy ride. It’s the year of the snake after all, and we’ll need to tap into adaptability, grace and good judgement in facing change. As always, KMA is here to support you!
Now onto some HR, compensation and recruiting resources that you may find useful.
Q3 Fiscal Year?
If you have a Q3 fiscal year, now is the time to start planning and budgeting for next year’s compensation. Our recommended timeline is below, and KMA’s compensation consultants can guide you through all of these phases.
Curious about salary increase trends?
Our Salary Increase Trend report summarizes the findings from our recent salary increase survey. As inflation cools and the job market rebalances, salary increases for both Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and Merit are trending downward from their 2023 highs. After navigating through high inflation and a tight labor market, organizations are adopting a more moderated approach to compensation.
Get the full report here.
KMA’s Flexible Pricing Models for Recruiting
If you’ve ever wondered how KMA’s recruiting pricing models are different from traditional staffing agencies, this article with Chelsea Livingston explains how we are uniquely structured to provide our recruiting clients better flexibility and value in attracting and hiring talent.
Our Next Harassment Prevention Training is April 3rd!
It’s a new year and a good time to ensure that you’re in compliance with Maine’s harassment training requirements. KMA’s Harassment-Free & Respectful Workplace Training is designed to help employers comply with Maine’s workplace harassment prevention requirements and demonstrate their commitment to establishing a harassment free and respectful workplace. Register your team members for our next training on April 3 via Zoom. The cost to attend is $100 per employee registered. Learn more and sign up here.
Please reach out to us if KMA can help your organization with your HR, compensation or recruiting needs – we are your ally in navigating the new year with confidence.
Stay warm!
Kim Anania
President and CEO
KMA Human Resources