The Stayconomics Brief - Edition No. 1

This is the first edition of The Stayconomics Brief. 

We almost didn't send it. We rewrote the opening three times. We debated the format for longer than we should have. And then we remembered why we started.

Because the conversations happening in HR right now, about retention, benefits, AI, Gen Z, and what it actually costs to lose great people, deserve more than a LinkedIn post.

So here we are. Every Sunday. No fluff. Just the ideas, numbers, and conversations worth your time.

This week, one statistic kept me thinking:

"78% of workers would stay with their company if they had more opportunities to apply new skills like AI, making AI enablement a critical retention tool." (HRO Today)

Companies spend millions trying to reduce turnover… while ignoring the reasons people stay.Here's what mattered this week.

— Emma Olie, Co-founder SideUp

HR Numbers of the Week

News

How Employee Benefits Evolved Over America's 250 Years (SHRM)

As the US celebrates its 250th anniversary, the benefits landscape has shifted from basic protections to a personalized ecosystem supporting employees through various life stages, fundamentally changing why employers offer benefits.

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Over Two-Thirds of UK Employers Say Employee Benefits Costs Are Their Top Financial Pressure (Consultancy.uk)

A new Gallagher report reveals that 69% of UK companies rank benefits costs as their biggest financial challenge. While 49.7% are unclear how to appeal to a diverse workforce, cutting back on support during cost-of-living pressures can severely impact retention and engagement.

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Will AI Drive Talent Attrition? (HRO Today)

Research shows a growing risk that top performers at companies lacking an AI strategy will plan their exit. AI enablement is fast becoming a retention tool, not just a productivity one.

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Featured Podcast

In this episode, hosted by Julia Koch, we sat down with Natália Costa and Gabriel Meneses, founding partners at Trust, a boutique recruitment firm built for the new economy, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing technology companies today.

Talent Attraction and Retention in Tech

Upcoming Events

Tool of the Week

NotebookLM - Google's AI-powered research assistant lets you upload your own documents, reports, surveys, policies, and instantly get summaries, key insights, and even a podcast-style audio overview. Perfect for HR leaders drowning in data who need clarity fast. Free to use.

Quote

"People don't leave companies.They leave experiences."

How SideUp Can Help

The Gallagher report puts it plainly: 69% of UK employers are struggling with benefits costs, 49.7% don't know how to appeal to a diverse workforce, and 81% still offer only limited salary sacrifice options. The problem isn't that companies don't care, it's that the tools they're using weren't built for the workforce they have today.

A multigenerational, diverse team doesn't need one-size-fits-all benefits. They need flexibility. A 28-year-old values gym access and student loan support. A 45-year-old needs family care and financial planning. A remote employee in Bristol has different priorities from someone commuting into Manchester every day.

SideUp is a flexible benefits platform built around exactly that reality. One platform that lets employees spend their benefits where they actually matter, from wellness and commuting to home office setup and essential bills, while giving employers full control over costs, tax efficiency, and engagement. No cutting back. No guessing what your workforce wants. Just benefits that work for everyone, and a business case that works for the board.
Because the best retention strategy isn't spending more. It's spending smarter.

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