Market Insights

Historically, benefit costs have been the most volatile component of compensation, often rising sharply during economic downturns.

In just the last year, CEOs at Walmart, Target and Disney have either announced their exits or begun actively planning handoffs, while Apple's board is reportedly accelerating its own succession timeline.

Bonuses will be 42.3% above baseline levels, according to records reviewed by Bloomberg News — a sharp reversal from 2024, when payments were more than 60% below target.

"You've got to think of your hospital as a startup and your first doctors as your first employees or your partners," Mark Cuban said during a recent interview on the Healthcare Bridge podcast.

One is cutting headcount and telling employees that the workforce will shrink. The other is investing in skills, certifications and manager training while insisting that its future is "people-led, tech-powered."

Three-quarters of working parents say they know people who are leaving the workforce because of child care challenges.