The 2025 North Alabama Wage and Benefit Survey, conducted by Horizon Point Consulting and hosted by NAIDA, North AlabamaWorks!, NARCOG, NACOLG, and seven participating counties, gives employers in our region valuable insight into compensation, workforce practices, and benefits. With input from 152 participating organizations—including 81 manufacturers and 50 government contractors—this year’s report shows how pay and perk strategies are evolving across North Alabama. Who Took the Survey? Employers across diverse sectors contributed: Hard-to-Fill Jobs Respondents identified persistent hiring challenges in: Pay Practices and Compensation Trends Wage comparisons reveal moderate increases: Some employers are adopting skills-based pay programs, offering: Emerging Scheduling
This year at Horizon Point, we’re all about nourishment—and that includes feeding bold ideas and brave new beginnings. Meet Katie Caldwell and Susan Norgren, the powerhouse duo behind Fearless & Forty, a podcast born from real talk, full plates, and a dream they refused to let go. In this week’s blog, they share what it means to nourish the female entrepreneur, redefine success in your 40s, and launch something meaningful—on your terms. Whether you’re building a business or rediscovering your spark, this story will leave you inspired.
Wondering how to take your leadership team’s performance management skills to the next level—without losing sight of your values? In our latest blog, we reflect on a recent retreat with a returning client where we built on The People First Method to explore what values-based performance management really looks like. From ethical feedback to coaching with purpose, this session was all about leading with integrity. Discover how your team can turn values into action—and performance into growth.
**Excerpt (Horizon Point voice, matching *The Point Blog* style):**
Conflict at work is bound to happen—but how you choose to handle it can make all the difference. Mediation is often a practical, cost-effective way to resolve disputes without heading to court. It’s quicker, more collaborative, and can help preserve working relationships. But it’s not always the right fit. In this post, we take a look at the pros and cons of using mediation to settle employment disputes, so you can decide if it’s a smart step forward when tensions rise in your workplace.
At Horizon Point, we’ve guided many managers and navigated our own leadership journeys. Success in management isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about building relationships, self-awareness, and continuous learning. We often share practical tips with new managers, things we wish we knew when we started. Here are five that we find particularly valuable.