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
What would you do if your boss asked you to break the law? Years ago, I faced that very dilemma—and lost my job for doing the right thing. At this week’s Alabama SHRM Conference, I’m leading a session on Ethics in HR—not the checkbox kind, but the real-world, gray-area stuff we all encounter. We’ll explore practical frameworks, cultural pressures, and how to lead with integrity when the stakes are high. Join the conversation and walk away better equipped to lead with courage and clarity.
**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.
As we have already seen in the last two weeks, with a new administration comes big changes. Let’s take a look at what we know is ahead for us with employment law updates in 2025 and what may still be to come. Alabama Employment Law For employers in Alabama, there are a few laws that passed last year that may have tax implications for your organization. You can click on any of the headings to read more about each of these employment law updates in 2025. Childcare Center Tax Credit: This tax credit went into effect on January 1, 2025
2024 has been another year of highs and lows with plenty of opportunities to learn, grow and rest. We’ve had a great time keeping you informed on a wide variety of topics throughout the year. Every post we’ve written and shared, no matter the subject, we’ve strived to inform you on subjects that will help you professionally. Our team is happy to help keep you up to date with the latest information to better your career, your work environment, or your organization! With all the hustle and bustle this Christmas Season, we hope that you will slow down and practice some