September reset: The EX trends that matter

Inside This Issue:

Welcome back, EX practitioners!

Hope you squeezed in some recharge time during our week off, because if there's one thing we've learned lately, it's that energy trumps productivity every single time. As we hit that September "back to school" reset mode, the workplace conversation is shifting in some fascinating directions.

While everyone's still talking about AI transforming meetings (spoiler: it finally might), we're seeing deeper questions emerge around what actually sustains employee engagement. Are we measuring the right things? Are our benefits strategies missing the mark on basic financial wellness?

And perhaps most importantly—how do we create change that doesn't just sound good in all-hands meetings but actually sticks? This week's stories dig into the reality behind the buzzwords, including some eye-opening survey data on meeting energy, the uncomfortable truth about living wage gaps, and why your change initiatives might be failing before they even start.

Featured Insights:

Change That Sticks Starts with Employee Experience

Finally, someone's saying what we've all been thinking: change management without employee experience design is just expensive theater. Rebecca Brown breaks down why your transformation initiatives keep falling flat and offers a framework that puts employee reality—not executive wishful thinking—at the center of organizational change. Essential reading for anyone tired of watching "strategic pivots" crash and burn.

Read the full article.

The Living Wage Gap: Is Your Benefits Strategy Missing the Point?

Before you celebrate that comprehensive benefits package, ask yourself this: Can your people actually afford to live? This piece exposes the uncomfortable reality that flashy perks mean nothing when employees are struggling with basic financial security. It's time to rethink what "competitive benefits" really means in 2025—and why addressing the living wage gap might be your most strategic EX investment yet.

Read the full article.

Fresh off the Press

Stay current with key headlines and announcements from across the industry.

• Forget Productivity – Energy Is the Real KPI for Meetings, Says New Survey

• How AI is Finally Solving the Biggest Workplace Problem: Bad Meetings

• Beyond the Holiday Club: Why Employers Are Investing in the Next Generation’s Skills

From Our Vault

Sometimes the classics hit different. Revisit Ulrich's framework for balancing operational excellence, innovation, and transformation—particularly relevant as we navigate this season of organizational recalibration and strategic planning.

Read the full article.

The Extra Point

September Reality Check: As we head into Q4 planning season, here's your friendly reminder that employee experience isn't just another initiative to stack on your people's plates. The organizations thriving right now aren't the ones with the most programs—they're the ones asking better questions. Start with this one: What would your employees say is their biggest barrier to doing great work? Then actually listen to the answer.