In April 2024, the DOL issued a final rule increasing the standard salary level for executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This final rule provides for current and future updates of the salary thresholds, as follows::

As we approach 2025, crafting an effective salary strategy involves more than just staying updated with market trends; it also requires aligning compensation with the organization's broader objectives and meeting employee expectations. Over the last few years, employers have experienced unpredictable fluctuations in the market.

Working from home has been a popular option for many years—even before the Covid pandemic forced many people to vacate the office. Back in 2019, around 5% of people were fully remote, with over 60% working a hybrid mix of remote and in-office days.

Data is becoming more important than ever in the HR department. In 2019, 48% of CHROs said that their recruitment process depended on data analytics. In 2024, that figure has risen to 78%.

The 2020s have been a stressful decade for everyone, from the Quiet Quitting trend of 2022 to the slew of high-profile layoffs in 2023. All of this uncertainty has had a big impact on employee engagement.

At Helios, we are often approached by current and prospective clients to conduct compensation benchmarking for their organizations. Typically, it's because they are losing talent to the competition or having conversations with their employees about salaries they found online.