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New research on human resources from Harvard Business School faculty on issues including organizational design, compensation, incentive plans, hiring practices, and recruitment.
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Readers Ask: Which Companies Are Transforming Work?

by Kristen Senz

Joseph Fuller answers readers' questions about automation, virtual internships, and the future of work on Working Knowledge’s “Office Hours” series. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Keep or Cut Workers? How Companies Reacted to the COVID-19 Crisis

by Lane Lambert

Analysis by Ethan Rouen and colleagues reveals the true factors behind leaders' choices during the pandemic's painful early months, when survival was at stake for many businesses. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

The COVID-19 Mutiny: When Teams Leave and Take Their Clients

by Robin Abrahams, Boris Groysberg, and Steven L. Manchel

Remote work and pandemic turbulence have made it easier to poach star teams. Boris Groysberg and colleagues offer advice for companies trying to retain or recruit high performers, and for professionals considering a move. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Are Employers Ready for a Flood of 'New' Talent Seeking Work?

by James Heskett

Many people, particularly women, will be returning to the workforce as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes. What will companies need to do to harness the talent wave? asks James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Why America Needs a Better Bridge Between School and Career

by Joseph B. Fuller and Rachel Lipson

As the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, America faces a critical opportunity to close gaps that leave many workers behind, say Joseph Fuller and Rachel Lipson. What will it take? Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Reversing Brain Drain: Moving Talent to Middle America

After decades of brain drain in rural America, Tulsa Remote is working to attract a diverse group of remote workers to live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The program offers a $10,000 grant to remote workers and entrepreneurs living outside Oklahoma, who relocate to the state’s second largest city for one year, with the goal that they stay longer and truly engage in the community. Professor Prithwiraj “Raj” Choudhury discusses how the Tulsa Remote model provides workers the flexibility to move out of congested cities and explores the challenges in scaling this model throughout rural America and beyond, in his case, “Tulsa Remote: Moving Talent to Middle America.” Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Remote Workers Spend More on Housing. Do They Deserve Higher Pay?

by Kristen Senz

A kitchen table is not a home office. Companies competing for talent after the pandemic may need to consider remote workers' added housing costs, says Christopher Stanton. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Why Companies Hunt for Talent on Digital Platforms, Not in Resume Piles

by Michael Blanding

Rather than sit back and wait for applicants to send resumes, companies are proactively targeting prospective employees on digital platforms and social media, often with a recruiter's help, says research by Rembrand Koning. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Short-Termism, Shareholder Payouts, and Investment in the EU

by Jesse M. Fried and Charles C.Y. Wang

Shareholder-driven “short-termism,” as evidenced by increasing payouts to shareholders, is said to impede long-term investment in EU public firms. But a deep dive into the data reveals a different story.

Why a Blended Workforce May Be Key to Lasting Competitive Advantage

by Joseph B. Fuller

Companies are increasingly blending full-time staff with skilled on-demand talent. The problem: Few companies have developed cultures that accommodate gig workers, says Joseph B. Fuller. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Consumers Punish Firms that Cut Employee Pay in Response to COVID-19

by Bhavya Mohan, Serena Hagerty, and Michael Norton

In the wake of COVID-19, firms announced both employee furloughs and (typically small) CEO wage cuts. This research shows that firms’ treatment of employees matters far more to consumers than executive pay cuts.

The Evolution of CEO Compensation in Venture Capital-Backed Startups

by Michael Ewens, Ramana Nanda, and Christopher Stanton

Resolving uncertainty related to market demand—so called “product-market” fit—marks a key inflection point in the compensation contract for CEOs of venture-capital backed firms.

It's Time for a Bipartisan Health Plan for Employers and Employees

by Regina E. Herzlinger and Richard J. Boxer

Regina E. Herzlinger and Richard J. Boxer prescribe a seemingly impossible cure for battling health care options: a plan that embraces both Republican and Democratic ideas. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Is a Business School-Industry Collaboration Needed to Attract Black Talent to Campus?

by James Heskett

SUMMING UP:James Heskett's readers suggest that recruiting minority students to business school must be matched with programs to retain them. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Does Remote Work Mix with Organizational Culture?

by James Heskett

SUMMING UP: Readers who themselves work from home think differently about how organizations should respond to remote work initiatives. James Heskett sums up the dicussion. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

How Remote Work Changes What We Think About Onboarding

by Boris Groysberg

COVID-19 has turned many companies into federations of remote workplaces, but without guidance on how their onboarding of new employees must change, says Boris Groysberg. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

The New Rules for Remote Work: Pandemic Edition

by Dina Gerdeman

Welcome to the new world of remote work, where employees struggle to learn the rules, managers are unsure how to help them, and organizations get a glimpse into the future. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Nominal and Opportunity Effects of Managerial Discretion

by Wei Cai, Susanna Gallani, and Jee Eun Shin

This study of field data from a Chinese manufacturing company explores the consequences of subjective performance evaluations leading to bonuses and penalties. Results may help practitioners improve the effectiveness of incentive systems.

Love in the Office Is Wonderful. Except for CEOs.

by Regina Herzlinger

Finding love among your office colleagues can be a wonderful thing, and not inevitably career ending. Unless, of course, you are the CEO. Advice to the corporate lovelorn from Regina Herzlinger. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Open Your Organization to Honest Conversations

by Dina Gerdeman

When company leaders can't hear the voices of their workers, serious strategic mistakes are likely. Michael Beer discusses ways organizations can build powerful communication channels in new video. Open for comment; 0 Comments.