Welcome to Pressing Questions, Fast Company’s work-life advice column. Every week, deputy editor Kathleen Davis, host of The New Way We Work podcast, will answer the biggest and most pressing workplace questions. Q: What should I do if HR doesn’t do anything about my toxic boss? A: This is a frustrating and all-too-common situation. There is a widespread belief … Read more
The H-1B visa program, which countless tech companies and other large employers rely on to recruit highly skilled talent from abroad, has recently sparked a debate between various factions of the Trump administration. On one side are the likes of Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and other tech industry figures who Trump has brought into the … Read more
In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s wild how often we still get stuck in echo chambers—surrounded by the same opinions, hearing the same narratives on repeat, and, without realizing it, putting false idols and so-called experts on pedestals. It’s not just frustrating; it’s actually dangerous. Whether it’s blindly trusting a favorite podcast host or falling into … Read more
The number of Americans applying for unemployment checks dropped last week to the lowest level since March, suggesting that most U.S. workers continue to enjoy unusually high job security. Jobless claims dropped by 9,000 to 211,000 last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average of claims, which strips out week-to-week ups and downs, fell … Read more
How does the future of work look in 2025? As workers and employers continue wrestling between remote and return to office, and the speed of innovation outpaces many industries and workplace structures, this is the year when new models will anchor into the zeitgeist (minus the post-pandemic prefix that we can hopefully stop attaching to … Read more
Many wonder what Trump’s win means for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). To me, it simply confirmed what I already knew: The fight against discrimination is far from over, and DEI has to evolve for us to meet the challenges to workplace culture ahead. Employers are entering an unprecedented age of instability. Trump’s previous policies, … Read more
Often our workplaces are a microcosm of the country’s, even the world’s, anxieties and hopes. It’s no surprise then that in this tumultuous year we’ve seen a lot of worry (over automation, layoffs, RTO mandates, and bad leadership), but also a lot of hope (for building more inclusive teams, better managing our time and energy, … Read more
In 2025, companies will continue to face their fair share of challenges when it comes to hiring and boosting morale among their employee base. Fast Company asked 15 chief people officers and HR leaders to share their predictions for how workplaces might evolve next year and which trends are likely to shape the way we … Read more
The workplace is at an inflection point. Rapid advancements in AI, intensifying polarization, eroding employee perks and protections, and shifting employee expectations are transforming the role of HR in unprecedented ways. These trends demand bold, strategic responses from HR leaders who must balance technological adoption with human-centered leadership, global instability, and increasing demands to do … Read more
With smartphones and social apps taking over, the way we connect with each other has totally changed. We’re always “on” and somehow still feeling alone. On top of that, with more of us working remotely or in hybrid setups, loneliness is hitting record highs. There’s no getting around it: real, face-to-face connection is essential for … Read more
