May 2026 Newsletter

May 8, 2026

May 2026 News You Can Use
 

Events
 
Want to explore all of our upcoming events?
 
Check out our
event calendar!
 
 
 
 

May’s Featured Training Topic:

Are You an Effective Communicator?  
 
Communication is an extremely important yet often overlooked skill to develop and nurture in the workplace.
 
Here are some compelling facts about company communication:
  • 7% of U.S. workers feel that communication is open, accurate, & timely
  • 86% blame poor communication as a reason for company failures
  • 57% of employees report not being given clear direction from their supervisors
  • 55% of what is communicated in a meeting is non-verbal
  • 97% of employees believe communication impacts task efficacy on a daily basis
  • Companies with effective communication increase retention 4.5x
  • Teams with effective communication see productivity increase by up to 25%
Reflect and ask yourself: Do you have a productivity/people problem, or do you have a communication problem?
 
Employees who know what they have been hired to do, what success looks like, how they are viewed in the organization, what to do when they feel stuck, and what entitlements are available to them (perks! growth! pay equity! benefits!)…
stick around, stay engaged, and share higher metrics of job satisfaction.
 
Need help with communication pathways in your workplace that help build connection and clarity? Let’s chat!
 
 
Reminder: New clients get $500 off a live, facilitated training when you book in the first six months!
 
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ON THE ONLINE COURSE LIBRARY

Communication Foundations

 
80-90% of workplace problems stem from communication errors.
 
Luckily, this is a very preventable issue!
 
Our Communication Foundations online course empowers employees to embrace the goals of effective communication. It also shares awareness of diverse communication preferences, styles, and norms to help build better connections with your peers.
 
After completing this course, you’ll walk away with…
  • An understanding of the foundations of effective communication.
  • An awareness of communication styles & preferences to build better connections with others.
  • An overview of what causes communication breakdowns.
  • Reflection on your role as an active sender and receiver of communication.
 
You’ll also earn 1 SHRM and 1 HRCI credits upon completion of the course.
 
The course is available anytime through our online learning platform (with English & Spanish captions), making it accessible and easy to fit into busy schedules. 
 
You can take it yourself or roll it out across your organization so that communication breakdowns are a thing of the past.
 
Click the button below to get started!
 

 

HR Annie Recruitment Highlight

 

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The Importance of Pay Transparency in the Hiring Process

 
Pay transparency is quickly becoming a recruitment best practice, and for good reason!
 
Being upfront about pay builds trust with candidates from the start and prevents surprises at the offer stage. The last thing you want is to invest weeks in a hiring process only to discover your top candidate isn’t in your salary range.
 
Transparency is a great first step, but it works best when your compensation is actually competitive.
 
If you haven’t benchmarked your pay recently, you could be losing qualified candidates before they even apply.
 
And remember: today’s job seekers are weighing company offerings outside of just base salary. Employer-paid health insurance, 401(k) match, and generous paid leave all factor into their decisions.
 

If you offer strong benefits, make sure to include them in your job ad.

Not sure where to start? Our Recruitment Consulting services are here for you!

 
We can help you with the following:
  • Review and improve job ads
  • Conduct market analyses to benchmark your compensation
  • Meet with your hiring team to review your talent acquisition strategy and provide actionable recommendations.
 

Whether you’re actively hiring or planning ahead, we’d love to help you put your best foot forward. 

Contact us today for a no-pressure virtual coffee to learn how we can support your hiring initiatives!

 

 

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Hiring? Check Out this All-Star Candidate!

 
Multidisciplinary brand marketer and content designer with over 5 years of experience leading culturally relevant campaigns across paid, earned, social, and community channels.
 
Combines creative strategy with hands-on execution to manage end-to-end campaigns from insight and art direction to production, influencer seeding, and paid media. Skilled in influencer & PR outreach, social & community management, copywriting, UX/UI, and photo/video production.
 
Known for using cross-collaboration to translate brand narratives into high-impact storytelling to deliver trend-forward brand experiences.
 
Core Skills:
Brand Marketing & Social Strategy
PR & Influencer Outreach
Art Direction
Graphic Design
Copywriting
Photo & Video Production
Paid Media
UX/UI Design
Performance Reporting
Adobe Creative Suite
Figma, Shopify, Nomad Sculpt, & Blender
 
Previous Roles:
Content Designer
Community & Social Media Coordinator
Community Manager
 
Interested in getting in touch with this candidate? Reach out to us to schedule an introduction!
 

 

Consulting

 

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Your Compensation Strategy Might Be Impacting Your Retention More Than You Think

 
Compensation is one of the most tangible ways employees experience fairness at work.
 
Without a clear structure, we often see organizations fall into these common pitfalls:
  • Inconsistent pay decisions over time
  • Issues between new hires and tenured employees
  • Lack of clarity around growth and advancement opportunities
  • Difficulty explaining or defending pay decisions
 
These challenges don’t just create internal frustration—they directly impact retention!
 
Employees who feel underpaid or uncertain about how compensation works are significantly more likely to seek opportunities elsewhere.
 
A thoughtful compensation strategy helps address this by:
  • Establishing clear, defensible pay practices
  • Aligning internal equity with external market data
  • Creating transparency in how pay decisions are made
  • Supporting meaningful career progression conversations

 

HR Annie is Here to Support Your Compensation Strategy!

 
Our wage and compensation services are designed to help organizations move from reactive pay decisions to a structured, transparent, and sustainable approach.
 
Our compensation analysis process typically includes:
 
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Turning Compliance into a Competitive Advantage

 
While many organizations begin this work in response to compliance requirements, the most successful companies go a step further by using compensation strategy as a tool to strengthen culture and retention.
 
Pay transparency, when done well, signals:
  • Fairness and consistency
  • Organizational integrity
  • Investment in employees’ long-term success
In a time when employees have more visibility and choice than ever before, these signals matter!
 
 
Build a More Transparent, Retention-Focused Pay Strategy
 
Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an existing structure, investing in your compensation strategy is one of the most impactful steps you can take in 2026.
 
We work with both current clients and new organizations to develop customized compensation solutions that support compliance, transparency, and long-term retention.
 
Ready to get started? Reach out today to learn more about our wage and compensation services or request a customized quote!
 

 

Client Love

 

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Celebrating Our New Client, Scotch Lodge

Scotch Lodge is a whiskey-focused cocktail bar curated by Tommy Klus, with modern, Pacific Northwest-inspired small plates from Chef Tim Artale.
 
They’re also getting some well-deserved national attention. Scotch Lodge is a 2026 James Beard Award finalist in the Outstanding Bar division, and they were a finalist last year, too!
 
Right now, they’re donating 20% of sales from their Cocktail for the Community to New Avenues for Youth, a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to preventing and intervening in youth homelessness.

 

Pre-Employment Screening

 

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Did You Know We Also Offer Pre-Employment Screening Services?

 
HR Annie specializes in providing thorough, fast, and reliable background checks to help you make informed hiring decisions.
 
Here’s why our services are a smart choice: 
  • Comprehensive Solutions: From criminal history and employment verifications to drug testing and DMV checks, we offer a wide range of pre-employment screening services.
     
  • Fast & Reliable: We understand that time is critical, so we provide quick turnaround times without compromising on accuracy. 
     
  • Customized Search Packages: We tailor our search packages to suit your organization’s unique needs. 
     
  • Compliance-Focused: We stay up to date on all legal requirements, helping you remain compliant with regulations such as FCRA, EEOC, and more. 
     
  • Reliable Communication: Communicate directly with one of our REAL experts. Our client-first approach ensures you receive excellent customer service in real-time.
 
Ready to strengthen your hiring process? Click the button below to learn more or get in touch via email.
 

 

Giving Back
 

2026 HR + Benefits Masterclass Nonprofit – Dougy Center

 
This year, for our upcoming HR + Benefits Masterclass, we’ll be donating 100% of the event’s proceeds to the Dougy Center.
 
The Dougy Center provides grief support and resources at no cost to children, teens, and young adults before and after the death of a family member.
 
CLICK HERE to learn more about this fantastic organization.

 

Thank you so much for being a part of everything we do.
 

#HRisCool

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