Looking Back at ExtensisHR’s Most-Read Blogs of 2025
Quick look: As 2025 comes to a close, we’re highlighting our 10 most popular human resources (HR) blogs of the year. From evolving benefits and Gen Z expectations to top cybersecurity risks, communication best practices, and HR outsourcing options, explore the key shifts that impacted workplaces over the past 12 months.
Whether you’re a human resources (HR) professional or business owner, staying aware of industry developments has never been more important.
The end of 2025 is right around the corner, and we’re taking a look back at the topics that resonated most with our readers, from building benefits packages that appeal to today’s diverse workforce to staying protected against advanced cyber threats, and pulling together the top 10 most-read ExtensisHR blogs. Explore the key takeaways you’ll want to keep in your back pocket in 2026:
1. HR Trends 2025: What Business Leaders Need to Know
HR is constantly evolving, and if one thing is clear, it’s that readers want to know what to expect. Clocking in as our most-read blog of the year, this piece from January outlines five key HR trends for 2025:
- Widespread adoption of AI and technology to automate and streamline HR tasks
- Evolving benefits and compensation strategies, such as financial-wellness programs and customizable plans
- Increased focus on leadership development through coaching, feedback, and empathy
- More strategic talent management, including hiring, onboarding, mobility, and succession planning
- Strengthening company culture with improved communication, multigenerational engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts
And keep your eyes peeled: our 2026 version of the report drops soon (subscribe at the bottom of this page to be alerted)!
2. What Does Gen Z Want in the Workplace?
Gen Z, or those born between 1996 and 2012, is expected to make up 30% of the workforce by 2030. Many companies are preparing for this shift, and our second most popular blog this year focuses on what this tech-savvy, value-driven generation seeks from their employers:
- A strong work/life balance
- Projects that fit their lifestyle and values
- Modern technology and tools
- Personalized benefits that suit their specific lifestyle
- Career growth opportunities
- A commitment to inclusion, ethics, and mental well-being
3. Ramadan in the Workplace: Best Practices for Employers
This blog focuses on how employers can best accommodate Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for many Muslims. It encourages organizations to consider offering flexible schedules, access to a quiet space for prayer, adjusted meeting times when possible, and allowing time off for Eid al-Fitr, the joyful celebration marking the end of Ramadan. These actions help promote inclusion and respect in the workplace.
4. 5 Ways to Foster Open Communication in the Workplace
Open communication is powerful: when employees feel heard, they are 4.6 times as likely to be empowered to do their best work.
The post outlines five tips to encourage high-quality interaction and understanding:
- Demonstrate honesty, respect, and interest in employees’ personal goals
- Check in with employees regularly via short surveys
- Offer anonymous suggestion channels
- Act on feedback and respond transparently
- Measure success through metrics like employee satisfaction, turnover, and productivity
5. How to Motivate Employees: 10 Tips for Leaders
Our fifth most-read blog aims to help employers boost morale by outlining 10 ways business leaders can boost workforce motivation, from getting to know team members personally when and where appropriate and encouraging creativity, to soliciting feedback, celebrating wins, and showing gratitude. It emphasizes empathy, clear vision, adaptive leadership, and leading by example to revitalize energy and drive performance.
6. What Are Legal Services Benefits and How Can Employers Offer Them?
Today’s top talent seeks benefits that provide meaningful value, and our sixth most popular blog reflects that trend. The post takes a deep dive into legal services benefits, often offered through a voluntary plan or employee assistance program (EAP), that provide support with matters such as wills and estate planning, family law, real estate transactions, debt or bankruptcy, traffic or contract issues, and more. These offerings can help SMBs stand out by reducing staff’s personal and financial stress and aiding in recruitment and retention.
7. What Employers Need to Know About Holiday Pay
U.S. federal law doesn’t require holiday pay, meaning it’s up to businesses to create their own policies. As such, it makes sense why many readers were interested in our holiday pay blog.
Holiday pay is compensation for time off (or work on) a federal, state, or company-recognized holiday. It may mean a paid day off, premium pay for holiday work, or a “floating holiday.” To stay compliant and fair, employers should clearly outline eligibility, pay calculations, scheduling, and final-pay conditions.
8. 6 Cybersecurity Threats Facing Small Businesses
Did you know one-third of all ransomware breaches impact companies with fewer than 100 employees? Cyber threats are increasingly complex and convincing, and this year, many SMBs researched what to look out for. Our eighth most popular blog summarizes six common cybersecurity threats and prevention tips:
- Phishing and business email compromise (BEC)
- Ransomware and data extortion
- Unpatched and vulnerable systems
- Supply chain and third-party risks
- Weak passwords and misconfigured systems
- AI-enhanced scams
9. Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How Employers Can Make a Difference
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and many business leaders look for tips on how to support their teams. Our ninth most-read blog in 2025 does just that, sharing ways employers can assist employees impacted by breast cancer, from prevention and early-detection coverage to comprehensive support during diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. It also suggests flexible scheduling during treatment, counseling through EAPs, compassionate leave policies, and encouraging an empathetic workplace culture.
10. What is Employee Leasing and How Does It Differ from PEO?
It’s estimated that the human resource outsourcing market will grow over $14 billion, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%, from 2025 to 2029. The blog that rounds out our top 10 most popular list reflects this increased interest, explaining the difference between employee leasing and co-employment, the relationship maintained between a business and its professional employer organization (PEO):
- Employee leasing supplies new workers or contractors to a company, usually temporarily, while
- In co-employment, a PEO assumes certain employer rights, responsibilities, risks, and other administrative HR tasks, but does not supply workers to the business. All employees are either currently employed by the company or will be hired by it in the future (bonus perk: recruiting is something a PEO can help with!).
PEO: a team of HR experts at your fingertips
Managing HR and staying updated on industry trends is important but time-consuming. Many SMBs turn to a PEO like ExtensisHR to streamline administrative tasks, stay current on HR best practices, and create a scalable HR foundation that supports growth.
But with hundreds of PEOs in the country, how do you choose the right partner? Here’s what sets ExtensisHR apart:
- Three layers of dedicated service: Including an Account Manager, HR Business Partner, and Payroll Specialist.
- Complimentary recruiting: From job advertisement creation to offer letter consultations, we help you hire the best at no additional cost.
- Unparalleled employee support: Our Employee Solution Center answers your staff’s phone calls in 15 seconds or less (and is available via email and live chat, too).
- Tailored HR and benefits options: We craft our solutions to match your specific workforce’s needs.
- Proven accolades: We are among the few PEOs that maintain three key accreditations: IRS Certified PEO (CPEO), ESAC, and SOC 1 Type 2 certification.
With ExtensisHR, you can head into the new year with a team that stays up to date on HR trends and laws, manages your daily workload so you can focus on more strategic initiatives, and is truly invested in your success.
Want to catch up on more hot HR topics? Explore our collection of resources for SMBs, or if you might need an extra hand with HR, take our quiz: Should You Outsource HR?.
