While the business landscape is constantly changing in Hawaii, one thing has not changed when it comes to serving customers: people will always remember how you made them feel. In Hawaii, where community and word of mouth really matter, customer service is more than a frontline function. It influences whether customers return, what they share with friends
As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the past year and the many ways our HEC community has grown together. In a time of constant change for employers and employees alike, I am especially grateful for your trust, partnership, and resilience. To our members, thank you for inviting us into your workplaces and for engaging with our
HEC's annual Holiday Practices Survey provides a brief overview of how employers in Hawaii are managing holiday time off, celebrations, and charitable giving. The results from this year indicate slight changes in scheduling and party plans, while the level of charitable giving remains stable or has slightly increased. Holiday Eve Time-Off Nearly half of
Hawaii Employers Council is launching HEC Gives Back Month with a food and fund drive to support Hawaiʻi Foodbank and the people they serve. Throughout November, we’re encouraging members, partners, and friends to help families, keiki, and kūpuna keep food on the table. Community needs are increasing. With the federal government shutdown disrupting
Calling all nonprofits! The Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO) is updating its data about compensation and benefits in the nonprofit sector in Hawaiʻi. HANO's Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Survey is NOW OPEN through November 14, 2025. With the data collected from this survey, HANO will generate the 2026 Nonprofit Compensation &
On November 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2025-62, which relieves employers from penalties relating to certain reporting requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The OBBBA requires employers to comply with reporting requirements relating to qualified tips, tipped occupations, and
The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) released the 2026 Form HC-5, which is also available on the Disability Compensation Division’s Forms website. Employees wanting to waive health insurance benefits must complete the applicable Form HC-5 each calendar year. For employees who waived coverage last year, employers should
HR teams carry significant responsibility supporting leaders, resolving workplace issues, maintaining engagement, and driving organizational results, often without enough time or resources. Managers are typically the first point of contact for employees, but what happens when they’re unsure how to respond or handle a situation effectively? When
For the first time ever, Kim Scott, the author of Radical Candor® and a bestselling author in both the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, will be the keynote speaker at HEC’s Annual Member Meeting in Hawaii! Join us to hear directly from the leadership expert who has transformed the conversation around feedback and workplace culture.
Public speaking isn’t a talent that some people are born with and others aren’t. It’s a trainable set of skills that anyone can learn with the proper structure, practice, and feedback. Whether you’re briefing executives, onboarding new hires, or presenting to community partners, your goal is the same: deliver a clear message that