Employee retention

The more vocal millennial generation is pushing companies like Bank of America to redefine diversity in the workplace to include more freedom of expression.

JPMorgan Chase is shaking up the way it evaluates employees, introducing a mobile tool that lets workers across the sprawling organization send or receive instant critiques of their colleagues.

CoastHills chairman earns military honor and other awards, promotions and new hires at credit unions across the country.

From preparing Generations X and Y to replace baby boomers in leadership positions and enticing more demanding millennials to finding compliance talent and integrating divergent staffs post-merger, HR executives cited a variety of issues they expect to be tackling this year.

The embattled company's new incentive pay plan appears to resemble those used by other banks, which suggests that regulators are unlikely to demand big changes throughout the sector.

Some might question the payoff for lavish parties, fitness centers and even career-development programs. But a growing body of academic evidence suggests that there is a link between employee happiness and bottom-line results.