Today's Human Resources Pulse
Fragmented HR systems drive costly payroll errors
EY research finds a single input mistake averages $291, and 20% of annual payrolls contain errors. Forrester reports 77% of organizations still rely on multiple, non‑integrated HCM platforms, fueling inefficiencies.
What Makes Leadership Human in the Age of AI? | Brad Harris | HEC Paris
In a recent HEC Paris talk, Brad Harris argues that the rise of artificial intelligence reshapes, but does not replace, the core of leadership. He emphasizes that meaningful change still hinges on people, not merely on systems or technology. Harris notes three lessons from his two‑decade research: higher‑education initiatives can drive real impact; leadership skills are teachable; and classroom learning combined with hands‑on practice accelerates growth. He warns that AI is turning once‑rare assets—data, analytics—into commodities, leaving distinctly human qualities as the new source of strategic advantage. Citing the classic VRIN framework, he says “the real leaders will inspire, bring people together, and make tough decisions when data is incomplete.” He highlights intuition, empathy, courage, kindness, and humility as essential, and points to HEC’s Now Lab for Leadership as a laboratory where these traits are cultivated alongside technology. For businesses, the message is clear: investing in holistic leadership development that blends AI tools with human judgment will be critical to thrive in an increasingly complex environment. Companies that nurture “complete leaders” will better navigate uncertainty and sustain competitive advantage.
Target to Assess Staff for Consistent Shopper Service
Target $TGT is planning to evaluate workers on how they greet, help out and engage with shoppers, stepping up efforts to make service in its stores more consistent - Bloomberg
Speak Observations, Then Ask—Avoid Judgments in Tough Talks
There's a difference between: "You've been checked out lately." And: "In the last three standups, you gave one-word answers and didn't ask any questions. I noticed that. I want to understand what's going on." The first is judgment. The second is something that actually...
What's the Difference Between Exempt and Non-Exempt Employees?
The video explains that exempt versus non-exempt status is a legal classification under the FLSA that determines overtime eligibility, not something set by job title alone. Exempt employees—typically executives, certain administrators, professionals, outside salespeople and some computer roles—are excluded from...
The Word Eric Harding Banned From Every Problem Statement on His Team
The People Solve Problems podcast features Eric Harding, Vice President of HR Operations and Systems at Republic Services, who reveals his signature rule: the word “manual” is banned from every problem statement on his team. He explains that this simple...
South Korea Expands Civil‑Servant Parental Leave to Children Under 12, Adds Infertility Leave
South Korea's cabinet approved a revision to the State Public Officials Act that lets civil servants take parental leave for children up to age 12 and creates a separate infertility‑treatment leave. The changes aim to address school‑age childcare needs and...
Kroger’s Senior HR Officer Retires Amid CEO‑Led Executive Turnover
Kroger said senior human resources officer Tim Massa will retire after 16 years, joining a string of senior departures that have unfolded since Greg Foran became CEO. The exits include senior vice president Valerie Jabbar, former COO Joe Kelley and...
How to Build a Recruitment Pipeline with Tellent Recruitee
Tellent Recruitee provides a stage‑based recruitment pipeline that unifies sourcing, screening, interviewing, evaluation, offers and onboarding into a single, configurable workflow. Users can customize stage names, set time limits, and trigger automated actions such as knockout questions, interview scheduling and...
Why Women Need Other Women at Work
A new Wharton study co‑authored by Tiantian Yang shows that women who participated in virtual career‑training classes composed solely of other women outperformed those in mixed‑gender groups. Across 4,600 participants, women‑only cohorts achieved higher on‑time completion (76% vs 67%), certification rates...
People Analytics Is Levelling the Field for HR Leaders Everywhere
People analytics is moving from niche, specialist teams to a core competency for all HR professionals, driven by AI‑enabled, cloud‑based tools. A recent HRD LinkedIn poll shows 66% of respondents already use analytics, while 24% want to adopt it. Smaller...
Mercer Survey Shows 99% of Executives Anticipate AI‑Driven Layoffs Within Two Years
Mercer’s Global Talent Trends report, based on responses from 12,000 senior leaders and HR professionals, found that 99% of C‑suite executives expect AI to trigger layoffs within two years. The finding underscores a looming talent‑management crisis as companies scramble to...
EY, Microsoft Commit $1 B to AI‑Powered HR and Talent Solutions
EY and Microsoft have announced a joint five‑year AI program with more than $1 billion in funding, targeting HR, talent acquisition and workforce analytics. The partnership blends Microsoft’s engineering depth with EY’s consulting expertise to move clients from pilot projects to...
Every Moment Matters: How Leadership Behaviors Shape Results | Anne Frewin
The webinar, presented by Anne Fruin, explored how everyday leadership behaviors shape organizational outcomes. Drawing on her lean‑focused background, Fruin argued that managers are the primary lever for employee engagement and that disengagement is a systemic risk to continuous‑improvement initiatives. Key...
Selecting the Best Talent for the Modern Workplace | Honest HR
The Honest HR live session tackled the modern hiring dilemma: how to blend AI efficiency with genuine cultural fit. Host Nicole Belyna and consultant David Cohen argued that traditional résumé‑centric methods miss the nuanced behaviors that predict long‑term success. Cohen highlighted...
How AI Is 'Snipping the Career Ladder Off at the Bottom'
Researchers tracking labor-market effects of generative AI find that entry-level hiring has weakened sharply since the release of ChatGPT, with one study estimating an immediate 9% drop in hires and roughly 150,000 fewer early-career jobs in the observed period. The...
It’s Not the Job, It’s the Boss
The article argues that a supervisor‑employee relationship outweighs pay or benefits in driving job satisfaction. It traces the evolution from authoritarian oversight in the early industrial era to today’s human‑centered, flexible leadership model. Practical advice urges workers to shift from...
Restaurants Can’t Find Workers. AI Says It Can.
The restaurant sector is grappling with chronic labor shortages, with turnover rates exceeding 75% and many operators reporting multiple open positions. In 2025, the average restaurant carried five vacancies, up from 3.8 the year before, and training a new hire...
FTC Warning Letter Highlights New Risks for Employers That Seek to Enforce Noncompete Agreements in Court
On May 8, 2026 FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson sent a public warning letter to mortgage‑service provider Mortgage Connect after the firm sued to enforce a blanket noncompete agreement. The letter orders a comprehensive review of all employment contracts and demands immediate cessation...
Workday Debuts Three Autonomous AI Agents for HR, IT and Travel
Workday launched three autonomous Sana AI agents—covering HR, IT service management and business travel—during its Q1 earnings call, positioning them as margin‑expanding, end‑to‑end workflow tools. The move signals a strategic shift from conversational chatbots to execution‑focused agents, challenging incumbents such...
TSMC Employees Rumor‑Driven Unrest Amid Record $36 B Revenue Quarter
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co posted a record first‑quarter revenue of NT$1.134 trillion ($35.9 billion) and net profit of NT$572.5 billion ($17.9 billion). Despite the earnings surprise, rumors of 5% layoffs and 15% bonus cuts have ignited unrest among its roughly 78,000 staff. Analysts warn...
U.S. Bars Green‑Card Holders From DRC, Uganda, South Sudan Amid Ebola Surge
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC issued an emergency order that temporarily blocks lawful permanent residents who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the past 21 days from...