News
Why Do Good Goals Stay “on Paper” - and How Can We Change That?
2026/01/12
January is often the time when employees and managers across many organisations agree on goals for the year ahead. These discussions usually cover both company-wide objectives and individual development goals. But how do we set goals that are both inspiring and realistically achievable? And how can we ensure that goals do not remain merely “on paper” but are actually accomplished? Defining and tracking goals is precisely where many leaders still struggle.
New EU directive encourages employers to hold more systematic salary discussions
2025/12/16
Next year, a new directive on salary transparency (No. 2023/970) will come into force in the European Union, with the aim of reducing and preventing the gender pay gap and strengthening employees' rights to information about their salary level and how it is determined. Although many employers associate the directive primarily with tedious reporting obligations and an increasing administrative burden, it also encourages employers to make their wage policies more systematic and transparent, and thus more motivating for employees. One very practical tool in this process, which also offers opportunities to promote employee-centered management practices, is the regular salary review.
The Minimum Wage Is Half of a Living Wage
2025/12/09
When discussing pay, the issue of the minimum wage as the lowest salary threshold is often raised. This year, the minimum wage in Latvia is €740, which is €40 more than last year. In 2026, it will reach €780 before taxes, and according to data from the State Labour Inspectorate, nearly one-fifth of all employees in Latvia earn the minimum wage. In reality, when policymakers decide on pay thresholds, they should also be talking about a humane wage. In this context, it is essential to analyse what the living wage is in Riga and in the regions. This amount is significantly higher than €740.
61% of Employees Feel Resentment Toward Their Employer - Why Are We Experiencing a Crisis of Trust?
2025/12/08
Society is currently experiencing a deep crisis of trust, which is also affecting workplace relationships. Six out of ten employees feel resentment toward the management of the organization they work for, as well as toward the government in general, according to this year’s Edelman Trust Barometer. Only 75% of employees say they trust their employer to do the right thing. Trust in organizational leaders has declined significantly: 36% of top executives, 49% of middle managers, and 52% of employees do not trust senior leadership. What can employers do to rebuild trust, and what are the consequences when trust is lacking?
Performance Reviews Are Not Exams
2025/11/12
The end of the year is traditionally the time when organizations evaluate work performance and plan employee development for the year ahead. Recent trends show growing dissatisfaction with performance evaluation - both among employers and employees. Employers often see the process as bureaucratic and lacking meaningful impact, while employees feel that the evaluation is unfair. Much of this dissatisfaction stems from a misunderstanding of the purpose of performance reviews and a deeply rooted perception that evaluation is a form of criticism - the belief that “if I’m being evaluated, I must have done something wrong.” But is performance evaluation truly just a stressful administrative task? Could development conversations replace formal assessments and reduce employee anxiety? And what would such a shift mean for employers?