3 Things Workers Need to Know in 2025

Happy New Year’s…Eve! 🥳

Before we hop into ways to make the most from your career in 2025 (no need to eat 12 grapes at midnight), given former President Jimmy Carter's recent passing, I wanted to take a second to highlight his contribution to workers.

I recently stumbled across this 1977 article in The Washington Post about his goals to better protect workers and penalize employers who violate their rights. Slay!

This is a fascinating glimpse into history and a striking example of how President Carter prioritized the collective rights of workers.

Speaking of workers’ rights…do you know yours? We cover that (and more) in our main topic below. 👇

See you next year!

3 Things to Know in 2025

New Year, new possibilities - and that includes your paycheck! As everyone starts mapping out their 2025 goals, let's put “getting the bag” at the top of the list.

Here are 3 things you need to know to level up your salary game in the new year!

1. Your Market Rate

A 2024 survey found that only 37% of people with a salary feel that it has kept up with inflation, and 41% believe they are currently underpaid. If this sounds like you, start by taking our ‘Are You Underpaid’ quiz to figure out if you’re making your market rate.

What is a “market rate” you ask? It’s the expected pay rate for your position according to your experience, education, skill level, and other pertainable factors like your location and industry. If you need help calculating your most accurate market rate, download our free Market Research Guide for assistance.

2. How to Negotiate

We’re going to hold your hand while we say this: If you’re underpaid, you need to negotiate.

Negotiations aren't just for new jobs - it’s a year-round skill to exercise, and there are many ways to quantify your worth outside of your base salary. Whether it’s better healthcare, a higher 401(k) match, more flexible hours, additional PTO, or that title you’ve always wanted, we’ve got resources to help you nail those conversations: 

• Free Salary Negotiation Guide

• Can you lose a job offer by negotiating?

• 9 negotiation myths debunked

3. Your Rights in the Workplace

Knowledge is power, and knowing your workplace rights is your secret weapon for 2025. First things first: discussing your salary is not only allowed but also legally protected for most workers under the National Labor Relations Act. Yes, even if your boss tries to tell you otherwise!

Not only that, 5 new states are enacting pay transparency laws this upcoming year that will require disclosure of pay ranges in job postings: Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Vermont. Check our Pay Transparency Law Map to track each state’s current (and upcoming) laws and how they protect you.

Should healthcare CEOs without medical training make 70x what their highest-paid doctors make? 

In last week’s Two Cents episode, we tackled this controversial topic and explored how pay inequity might connect to the shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO.

What’s your take on pay disparities in the healthcare industry?

• Unions, unions and more unions. 📈 Protection against pay discrimination, negotiations on your behalf, and top-notch benefits like healthcare coverage and a pension - what’s not to love? Find out if joining a union is right for you.

• Senate passes Social Security Fairness Act. 📜 The U.S. Senate made history on December 21, 2024, by passing the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (H.R. 82), set to provide equitable Social Security benefits to nearly 3 million public sector workers. Now all that's left is a signature from President Joe Biden to become law.

• AI takeover? How technology is shaping the workforce. 💻 AI is now a common term in the workforce. Thomson Reuters CEO, Steve Hasker shares the potential reality facing workers when it comes to the looming technology.

• If you’re feeling stuck…😵‍💫 Don’t be discouraged if you struggled in the job market this year, it was a tough one. This career coach shares six steps she recommends to reset and tackle your goals next year.

Thanks for reading! And thanks for being with us this year!

What would you like to see from us in the new year? Let us know in the poll below, or feel free to reply back and freestyle your response, we’d love to hear from you!

Happy New Year (and please don’t drink and drive; they have robot taxis now, people!)