We’re rounding up last week’s stories, including the average percentage employers plan to increase pay in 2027.

The U.S.’s recent spate of wildfire-induced air pollution provided a view of the direct effect extreme weather events may have on leave management.

Month-to-month job cuts are down 27% between June and July, according to data analysis by Challenger, Gray and Christmas. U.S. employers announced 33,429 job cuts in July. Overall, layoffs are down 46 ...