“To say it was a beautiful day would not begin to explain it. It was that day when the end of summer intersects perfectly with the start of fall.” – Ann Patchett
August 1, 2025
Our summers are brief in New England, and this year, with an early Labor Day, it’s even shorter. That makes these last few weeks all the more precious, a time when a little bit of idleness is not just acceptable – it’s something to strive for!
At KMA we’ve been balancing vacation time with client work, stepping in for one another in the way that we always do to make sure our clients – who are also juggling their own teams’ schedules – stay supported, even should an urgent matter be brought to us late on a Friday in the middle of July. We are designed to flex with our clients’ shifting needs, just one of the advantages of working with us.
As we savor the final stretch of summer, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how things are going, individually, within our teams, and across the organization, and to reset goals, fine-tune team dynamics, and prepare for the key trends shaping the workplace.
Are goals still aligned? Is your culture thriving? Are your people engaged, supported, and performing at their best? Here are some trends we have our eye on as we move into the latter half of 2025.
Talent Attraction and Retention Still Require Attention
Even with a more stable labor market, employees continue to demand meaning, flexibility, and growth. Check in with your team. Are people engaged? Clear on expectations? Feeling supported? A mid-year employee survey is a great way to get a pulse check on employee engagement and wellbeing – but be prepared to be transparent in communicating survey results, as well as how you will respond to the findings.
Layoffs Are on the Radar for Some Organizations
Recent jobs reports have indicated a steady slowing in job growth, and while the unemployment rate remains low at around 4%, uncertainty around tariffs and immigration policy could cause further economic slowing in Q3 and Q4 of 2025. The pressures are real, particularly in key industries like manufacturing and retail. Now is the time to conduct workforce audits and identify reskilling opportunities. And as we always counsel, transparency and regular communication of your workforce planning will go a long way to fostering trust and loyalty among your employees.
Compliance Priorities Are Shifting
Federal I-9 audits are on the rise, making it essential to review your employment eligibility verification processes. Ensure your I-9 forms are complete, accurate, and properly stored, and that your team understands the legal requirements for verifying work authorization.
Now is also the time to prepare for upcoming changes to Maine employment laws: updates to the Earned Paid Leave law and new employee reporting pay requirements will go into effect on September 24, 2025.
Check out our Compliance Alert for a rundown on what employers need to know.
If you’d like to talk through your mid-year priorities, or explore how we can support your HR, compensation and recruiting efforts, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
As summer inevitably moves toward its intersection with fall, I hope you find time to recharge and refocus – both for yourself and your teams.
Kim Anania
President and CEO
KMA Human Resources Consulting