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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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5 Companies Where Employees Move Up the Ladder Fast

by Pamela Reynolds

IBM, Southwest Airlines, and other companies proactively help workers advance their careers to try to retain them, says research by Joseph Fuller. The findings show just how important an employer can be to future salary and job prospects.

Recruiters: Highlight Your Company’s Diversity, Not Just Perks and Pay

by Sean Silverthorne

Many job seekers want to join inclusive companies that reflect their values. Research by Joseph Pacelli shows how employers can attract more talent by promoting the diversity of their workforce.

How Will Gamers and Investors Respond to Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard?

Re: Joseph Pacelli

In January 2022, Microsoft announced its acquisition of the video game company Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. The deal would make Microsoft the world’s third largest video game company, but it also exposes the company to several risks. First, the all-cash deal would require Microsoft to use a large portion of its cash reserves. Second, the acquisition was announced as Activision Blizzard faced gender pay disparity and sexual harassment allegations. That opened Microsoft up to potential reputational damage, employee turnover, and lost sales. Do the potential benefits of the acquisition outweigh the risks for Microsoft and its shareholders? Harvard Business School associate professor Joseph Pacelli discusses the ongoing controversies around the merger and how gamers and investors have responded in the case, “Call of Fiduciary Duty: Microsoft Acquires Activision Blizzard.”

Feeling Separation Anxiety at Your Startup? 5 Tips to Soothe These Growing Pains

by Julia Austin

As startups mature and introduce more managers, early employees may lose the easy closeness they once had with founders. However, with transparency and healthy boundaries, entrepreneurs can help employees weather this transition and build trust, says Julia Austin.

A Penny for Your Thoughts? For Big-Picture Ideas, the Right Pay Structure Matters

by Scott Van Voorhis

Employment contracts that try to squeeze more productivity out of workers can thwart innovative thinking, says research from Susanna Gallani. She offers advice to help companies align incentives with expectations.

Why a Failed Startup Might Be Good for Your Career After All

by Sean Silverthorne

Go ahead and launch that venture. Even if it fails, the experience you gain will likely earn you a job that's more senior than those of your peers, says research by Paul Gompers.

You Don’t Have to Quit Your Job to Find More Meaning in Life

by Shalene Gupta

Before you give notice and go on a vision quest, consider this: Fulfillment doesn't require big change, says research by Julian De Freitas and colleagues. In fact, you can find more meaning even in a job you don't love.

Does Hybrid Work Actually Work? Insights from 30,000 Emails

by Ben Rand

It's a pandemic debate raging at companies everywhere: How often should employees come to the office? In the first large-scale study of its kind, Prithwiraj Choudhury finds that hybrid schedules might offer the best answer for everyone.

Your Best Employees Are Burning Out: A Framework for Retaining Talent

by Hise Gibson and MaShon Wilson

Companies have long ignored the factors that are burning out employees today. Hise Gibson and MaShon Wilson offer a five-step approach for leaders who are ready to confront this scourge and support their talent.

Why People Crave Feedback—and Why We’re Afraid to Give It

by Michael Blanding

How am I doing? Research by Francesca Gino and colleagues shows just how badly employees want to know. Is it time for managers to get over their discomfort and get the conversation going at work?

Will Demand for Women Executives Finally Shrink the Gender Pay Gap?

by Kristen Senz

Women in senior management have more negotiation power than they think in today's labor market, says research by Paul Healy and Boris Groysberg. Is it time for more women to seek better opportunities and bigger pay?

Can the Foodservice Distribution Industry Recover from the Pandemic?

Re: David E. Bell

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, US Foods struggled, as restaurant and school closures reduced demand for foodservice distribution. The situation improved after the return of indoor dining and in-person learning, but an industry-wide shortage of truck drivers and warehouse staff hampered the foodservice distributor’s post-pandemic recovery. That left CEO Pietro Satriano to determine the best strategy to attract and retain essential workers, even as he was tasked with expanding the wholesale grocery store chain (CHEF’STORE) that US Foods launched during the pandemic lockdown. Harvard Business School Professor David E. Bell explores how post-pandemic supply chain challenges continue to affect the foodservice distribution industry in his case, “US Foods: Driving Post-Pandemic Success?”

From Truck Driver to Manager: US Foods’ Novel Approach to Staff Shortages

by Pamela Reynolds

Restaurant closures, supply disruptions, and now, worker shortages. The pandemic has been hard on food suppliers. A case study by David Bell looks at the innovative thinking that helped one of the industry's biggest companies stabilize staffing—and grow.

In a Work-from-Anywhere World, How Remote Will Workers Go?

by Kara Baskin

Will professionals still choose cities if they have the option to work from the beach? Research by Prithwiraj Choudhury considers the radical ripple effects of remote work.

College Degrees: The Job Requirement Companies Seek, but Don't Really Need

by Jay Fitzgerald

Hiring platforms routinely screen out experienced candidates simply because they aren't college graduates. With millions of openings going unfilled, Boris Groysberg says that companies should look for skills instead of degrees.

Desperate for Talent? Consider Advancing Your Own Employees First

by Rachel Layne

What would it take to build the skills your company needs in your current workforce? Joseph Fuller and Manjari Raman offer a new playbook for a historic talent crunch with no end in sight.

What Does Your Business Stand For? Why Building Trust Starts with Purpose

by Ranjay Gulati

Trust is fragile and must be nurtured. By tapping into their purpose, leaders can help their organizations embody the values and principles they espouse, says Ranjay Gulati in his book Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

Companies Can Expand Their Talent Pool by Giving Ex-Convicts a Second Chance

by Jay Fitzgerald

People with criminal convictions often have trouble finding work and face double-digit unemployment rates. Yet employers would be more willing to hire them under certain conditions, says research by Zoë Cullen. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

How to Avoid the 'Ethical Slide' That Leads Companies Astray

by Lane Lambert

Building strong ethics requires continuous effort from everyone in an organization. In the book Business Ethics: What Everyone Needs to Know, J.S. Nelson offers practical advice for cultivating a "speak-up" culture. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Rituals at Work: Teams That Play Together Stay Together

by Kristen Senz

Rituals—even seemingly silly ones—help employees bond and add meaning to their work, says research by Michael Norton, Francesca Gino, and colleagues. After two years of pandemic disruption, who wouldn't welcome a workday pick-me-up? Open for comment; 0 Comments.