Small Business Association of Michigan

Organizations spend considerable resources attracting talent, but many still stumble when it comes to onboarding. After the recruitment process, onboarding is the first impression a new hire receives and is critical to formulating the way they view the organization. New research from a 2026 Adobe Acrobat study suggests that common onboarding frustrations continue to undermine the employee experience at a point when engagement should be building. One of the biggest complaints is duplicate paperwork.

Over the years, I’ve had conversations with many business leaders about workplace culture. Most of those conversations center on the common goal of creating an environment where employees feel valued, respected, and supported. But a recent Harvard Business Review article made me pause to think: Can a workplace become too nice? At first glance, it sounds like an odd concern. Many organizations have spent years working to create cultures that are more collaborative, inclusive, and employee-focused.

New round of general election endorsements includes eight House, six Senate candidates Lansing, MI – The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Biz PAC today announced its third round of candidate endorsements for the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives in the 2026 election.

Article courtesy of MIRS for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter President Donald Trump’s job approval rating has fallen to 30%, another record low in EPIC-MRA polling, while Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is posting the highest job disapproval number of her governorship. The Aug. 22-28 EPIC-MRA survey of 600 likely November voters found 67% giving Trump a negative job rating, including 51% who rated his performance “poor.” Only 11% called Trump’s performance excellent and another 19% said pretty good.

Article courtesy of MIRS for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter The House passed the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) initiative to prevent utilities and high-dollar state contractors from contributing to campaigns with a 77-26 vote, though it likely will remain stalled in the Legislature as Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) said she wouldn’t take it up for a vote.

Shelley explains that many workplace issues stem from communication breakdowns, leadership gaps, accountability challenges, and the human behaviors that shape organizational culture. Through her work at Essdee & Co., she helps businesses identify and overcome these obstacles so teams can work more effectively and organizations can reach their goals.

Managers are often the first to notice when something isn’t quite right. An employee who was once highly engaged becomes withdrawn. A top performer begins missing deadlines. Team members express concerns about a colleague who appears overwhelmed, anxious, or unusually emotional. While managers are not expected to serve as counselors or clinicians, they are increasingly expected to recognize when employees may need support and know how to respond appropriately.

For the past several years, artificial intelligence has been promoted as a workplace productivity game changer. Employees report that AI tools help them complete tasks faster, automate routine work, and reclaim valuable time during the workweek. In fact, a recent study by Glean’s Work AI Institute found that employees estimate AI saves them approximately 11 hours each week. On the surface, that sounds like a remarkable return on investment.

Two recent reports, considered together, describe a workforce development challenge that goes beyond how artificial intelligence will change any single job. A recent report from ETS found that U.S. workers understand the need to continually adapt. In fact, 78% said job security now requires continuous adaptation, and 85% said upskilling or reskilling is a necessity. Yet only 71% reported proactively developing new skills, a lower share than in other high-growth countries such as India and China.

What if candidates could publicly call out your company for ghosting them? Well, now that is the reality. A newly launched website called Did They Ghost You? gives job seekers a place to report employers who stop communicating with them after an interview. And apparently, there is no shortage of stories to tell. Within weeks of launching, the site had more than 2,000 companies listed, including some of the biggest names in technology, finance, and media.