Today's Human Resources Pulse
Greenhouse completes acquisition of Ezra AI Labs, adding voice‑AI interviewing
Greenhouse announced the completion of its acquisition of Ezra AI Labs, a voice‑AI interviewing platform. The technology enables on‑demand, role‑specific conversations that are scored against a uniform rubric, delivering transcripts and explainable evaluations. The deal expands Greenhouse’s structured hiring methodology to the earliest stage of the recruiting funnel.
IT Jobs Dipped, Unemployment Rose in March
In March, U.S. tech employment contracted, with 118,000 fewer IT positions compared to February, according to CompTIA analysis of BLS data. Unemployment among technology workers rose to 3.9%, up from 3.1% a year earlier but still below the overall 4.3% national rate. Despite the dip, employers posted 254,000 new tech job listings, keeping more than half a million openings active. Industry leaders see the slowdown as an opportunity for CIOs to recruit experienced, adaptable talent amid AI‑driven transformations.
DLA Piper Headed To Trial Over Firing Of Mom-To-Be
DLA Piper failed to secure summary judgment and will face a federal jury trial in Manhattan over allegations it fired associate Anisha Mehta for taking maternity leave. Judge Analisa Torres found the firm’s performance‑based justification conflicted with evidence, siding with...
The Leadership Skill No One Talks About (But Everyone Needs) with Margaret Andrews
In this episode, Brandon Laws talks with leadership educator Margaret Andrews about the often‑overlooked skill of self‑understanding that underpins effective leadership. Andrews shares stories of high‑achieving managers who realize their technical talent isn’t enough, explains her "best boss" exercise which...
Starbucks Adds Mobile Tipping and $1,200 Bonus to Barista Pay Plan
Starbucks announced a July 2026 rollout of new employee incentives, including card‑based tips for mobile orders and a performance‑based bonus that can reach $1,200 per year. The measures aim to lift barista earnings by 5%‑8% and support the company’s broader...
Fortnite's Engagement Drop Triggers 1,000+ Layoffs, Raising Questions on US Gaming Dominance
Epic Games announced more than 1,000 layoffs tied to a measurable decline in Fortnite activity. Analysts link the cut to a wider erosion of American cultural dominance in gaming, as platform owners capture an ever‑larger share of revenue.
Take‑Two Cuts AI Team After CEO Zelnick Pledges Generative AI Push
Take‑Two Interactive has let go its Head of Artificial Intelligence, Luke Dicken, and an undisclosed portion of his team, just months after CEO Strauss Zelnick said the publisher was "actively embracing generative AI." The move raises questions about the viability...
Dear Emeka,
The author recounts hiring Emeka as head of marketing, initially expecting a stereotypical extroverted marketer but discovering an introverted thinker with a sharp sense of humor. This misalignment revealed that the true value Emeka brought—critical questioning, cultural fit, and adaptability—couldn’t...
The Book I Would Have Given Every Candidate I Interviewed At Amazon
Steve, a former Amazon Bar Raiser who conducted nearly a thousand interviews, has released *Technical Behavioral Interview: An Insider's Guide*. The book compiles 130+ interview questions, 72 example stories, and a new High‑Signal Storytelling framework to help candidates master Amazon's...
UBTech Offers $18 Million Salary to Lure Chief Scientist for Humanoid Robots
UBTech Robotics announced an annual compensation package of 124 million yuan (about $18 million) to attract a chief scientist who will steer its humanoid robot roadmap. The move comes as the Shenzhen‑based firm posted a 23‑fold jump in full‑size humanoid robot sales...
Why Is the Labor Market Stuck?
Chief economics correspondent Ben Casselman explains that the U.S. labor market is caught in a "low‑hire, low‑fire" cycle, where hiring has stalled even as job openings stay elevated. Unemployment hovers around 3.7% while the quits rate dropped to a decade‑low...
Gen Z Interns Want Practical Experiences that Can’t Be Digitized, Survey Finds
A KPMG U.S. survey of 361 interns reveals Generation Z interns prioritize hands‑on, in‑person experiences, mentoring and networking over digital training. They aim to showcase critical thinking, problem‑solving, and creativity—skills AI cannot replace. The cohort would sacrifice about $5,000 in annual...
AI Anxiety Fuels Job Stagnation and Uncertainty
Jobs are weird now. Lots of stagnation, lots of fear, lots of ai-pilled CEOs trying to force llms into work, lots of people automating their work, no clear productivity gains lots of concern about job loss/career tracks. I wanted to...
White House Budget Proposal Silent on Civilian Federal Pay Raise
The White House’s FY 2027 budget request omits any civilian federal pay raise while proposing a 5‑7% increase for military personnel and a $1.5 trillion defense budget—about $445 billion more than 2026 levels. Civilian workers received only a 1% raise in 2026, the...
Why High Performers Burn Out Faster Than They Admit 🚨
The piece argues that high‑performing employees burn out faster when their effort isn’t matched by visible impact. Missing clarity, autonomy or purpose erodes energy, leading to cynicism before physical exhaustion sets in. The author warns that early signs—“whatever, it won’t...
Skills Shortages Risk Slowing Housing and Infrastructure Delivery Despite Strong Demand
Engineers Ireland’s 2026 barometer shows that over 40% of engineering firms need three to six months to fill vacancies, creating a bottleneck for housing, energy, transport and water projects. Only 17% of engineers rate the nation’s overall infrastructure as good,...
Citi Wealth Chief Andy Sieg Fell Off List Top-Paid Execs for 2025
Citi’s 2025 proxy report shows wealth head Andy Sieg dropped off the bank’s five highest‑paid executives, despite a 15% raise to $13 million the prior year. He was replaced by veteran international chief Ernesto Torres Cantú, whose total compensation reached $15.5 million,...
What ‘Hire The Best Person’ Misses About How Hiring Actually Works
The article argues that the common mantra “hire the best person” ignores how hiring actually works, with decisions driven by networks and familiar patterns. It uses the NFL’s Rooney Rule as a case study, showing that policies requiring interviews of...
UNFI Warehouse Workers in Florida Vote to Strike
More than 200 warehouse employees at UNFI’s Pompano Beach, Florida facility have voted unanimously to authorize a strike unless a fair contract is reached. The workers, represented by Teamsters Local 769, are demanding wages, benefits and safety standards that match contracts...
AI Threatens Gateway Jobs, Stalling Career Mobility
AI may reshape not just jobs, but the pathways between them. Millions of workers without degrees rely on “gateway” roles like admin or customer service to move into higher-paying jobs, yet many of these roles and the transitions they enable are...
CONFIDENTIAL FASHION STARTUP (LAUNCHING FALL 2026) - Design Internship (May–September) - Los Angeles
A design‑driven fashion startup based in Los Angeles is gearing up to launch its first collection in Fall 2026 and is hiring Summer Design Interns for May through September. The unpaid role targets current fashion or apparel design students with...
Ahold Delhaize USA Debuts Employee App
Ahold Delhaize USA has rolled out ADUSA Connect, a new mobile app for its store‑level associates. The platform aggregates curated news, company resources, and an internal social wall where employees can post updates and interact. Launched in early April, the app is...
Choose Full‑Time Marketer or Fractional CMO: Know Which Fits
Not sure whether you need a full-time marketing hire or a fractional CMO? I wrote about exactly this: the real differences, what each model actually costs, and how to know which one fits where your business is right now. https://www.mallorymusante.com/blog/should-you-hire-an-employee-or-a-factional-cmo-for-your-marketing Worth a...
Jagged Career Paths Fuel Growth and Resilience
Today is my last day at Fruitist. 🫐 It's been a wild 0→1 build standing up a global talent function from the ground up at a $1B CPG company. I'll be embarking on one of the most important chapters of...
Extend Fully Paid Maternity Leave for UK Teachers to Stem Exodus, Union Says
The NASUWT teachers' union is urging the UK government to extend fully paid maternity leave for teachers from the planned eight weeks to 26 weeks, arguing that inadequate support is driving a wave of resignations among women in their 30s....
Oracle Just Fired 30,000 People at 6 AM. Here’s What Nobody Told You.
Oracle announced an abrupt termination of roughly 30,000 employees—about 18% of its global workforce—via a single early‑morning email, despite posting a $6.13 billion net income and strong revenue outlook. The cuts are framed as a strategic shift to free $8‑10 billion in...
Managing Multiple Employments in SAP SuccessFactors Learning: Person-Centric Experience
SAP SuccessFactors Learning will roll out Person‑Based Learning in the first half of 2026, shifting from employment‑based to employee‑centric profiles. Under the new model, each employee retains a single learning record regardless of multiple concurrent or sequential employments, eliminating the...
Turn up the Volume: How to Use Storytelling to Build an Unstoppable Company Culture
Jim Knight argues that storytelling is the missing ingredient for turning a good company into an unforgettable one. By framing values, vision, and lessons as narratives, leaders can make culture emotionally resonant and up to 22 times more memorable than raw...
VTDigger Faces Executive Exodus Amid Funding Strain and Union Push
VTDigger announced the departure of its CEO and senior editors while a board‑led search for new leadership begins. The exits come amid lingering financial constraints and a contentious contract renewal with its staff union, underscoring HR challenges in nonprofit media.
Stop the Corporate Polo: Outdated, Unflattering, Gender Blind
The Corporate Polo Shirt has been the default canvas for company logos for 50+ years. Not because it's flattering (it isn't), not because it's comfortable (debatable, at best), and not because employees are clamoring for more pique cotton in their...
Passion Meets Purpose: The Core of Employee Engagement
Employee Engagement: A Confluence of Passion and Purpose - CX Journey™ https://t.co/kfuC7LPG52 #employeeexperience #employeeengagement https://t.co/TzUODthzwR
From ‘What Is’ to ‘What If’ : Building a Dual-Model Payroll Impact Simulator for SAP SuccessFactors
A developer created a Payroll Impact Simulator for SAP SuccessFactors, pairing a SAP Fiori front‑end with Backend ECP OData APIs to deliver instant, real‑time pay‑check forecasts. The tool lets employees model life events—such as a new child or a 401(k) change—and see...
U.S. Jobs Shift Toward Generalists, Entrepreneurs, Rare Specialists
The U.S. labor market may start to look more like 1980s Japan -- generalists looking for ways to fill in the weaknesses of AI, small businesspeople striking out on their own, and a few specialists with valuable skills. https://t.co/wRA2yG2bYg
Job Seekers and Tech Employers Warn AI Disruption
MyPOV: Job seekers, tech employers voice concerns over AI’s impact https://t.co/tKaRqPmGgj @CGTNOfficial @MarkNiuWrite @rwang0 @constellationr #AIF2026
How to Use Claude Cowork as a CHRO
Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) are overwhelmed by operational chaos, juggling scattered files, overdue reports, and urgent CEO requests. In a recent experiment, a CHRO used Claude Cowork, an Anthropic AI assistant, to organize 20 disordered HR documents, generate a...
UBTech Offers $18 M Chief Scientist Salary, Defying Chinese AI Norms
Chinese Humanoid Robot Maker UBTech Offers $18 Million to Hire Chief Scientist The advertised salary is unusual for a Chinese AI industry that’s eschewed the mega pay packages that the likes of Meta Platforms Inc. have put together for elite...
Senators Push to Grill Health Insurance CEOs over Record Profits and Denials
Senators Ron Wyden and Bernie Sanders have asked the Senate Finance and HELP committees to hold hearings with CEOs of major health insurers, citing record profits, high premiums, coverage denials, and excessive executive pay. They point to UnitedHealth’s sprawling network...
How One Restaurant Tackles the Pay Gap Between Front- and Back-of-House Workers
Lita, a 70‑seat Spanish‑Portuguese restaurant in New Jersey, has built a chef‑only staff model that rotates employees between kitchen and front‑of‑house duties. Workers earn a $17 hourly base wage during back‑of‑house weeks and the tipped minimum plus pooled tips during...
Human Connection Is an Urgent Business Investment in the AI Era
The rise of AI-driven convenience has accelerated a societal shift toward digital interactions, contributing to record levels of loneliness and anxiety. With over 800 million weekly ChatGPT users, the technology risks replacing face‑to‑face dialogue, posing a hidden business risk. Workday Foundation...
CEO Seeks FCC Meeting After $83M Acquisition, Announces Lay
D.C. Memo: Circle City's McCoy Requests @AGomezFCC Meeting to Discuss @wrtv Growth Plan; McCoy, president and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting, initiated a round of layoffs after paying $83 million to acquire ABC affiliate WRTV in Indianapolis with an...
Why the CPO-CFO Partnership Will Define the AI Era
The article argues that the partnership between the chief people officer (CPO) and chief financial officer (CFO) will become a defining leadership relationship in the AI era. AI is automating routine tasks that have traditionally occupied both functions, such as...
Why the CPO-CFO Partnership Will Define the AI Era
The article argues that the partnership between chief people officers (CPOs) and chief financial officers (CFOs) will become a decisive factor in the AI era. As AI eliminates routine tasks like resume screening and variance analysis, the remaining decisions—what to...
Employment Rate Masks Hidden Shifts; 1990s Workers Untroubled
What the employment rate doesn’t show: full-time vs part-time/gig, hours worked, income inequality, geographic shifts. Based on this chart, 1990s factory workers had nothing to worry about China & automation either.
Why Worker Focus Time Is at Three-Year Low
ActivTrak’s Productivity Lab analyzed 443 million hours of digital activity from 1,111 companies and 163,638 employees over three years, revealing that worker focus time has fallen to its lowest point in that period. The data shows AI‑driven tools have not yet...
Transferring the Leadership Mantle to a Successor
Leadership transitions are inherently fragile, often exposing gaps between a departing leader’s identity and the team’s expectations. When predecessors linger, they can unintentionally undermine the successor’s authority, creating confusion and slowing momentum. Effective hand‑offs require the outgoing leader to withdraw...
Why Leaders Matter for a Strong Organisational Culture
Leaders are the primary architects of organisational culture, setting values that cascade through hiring, development, and daily interactions. By articulating clear principles—such as PatSnap’s six core values—executives embed a shared mindset that guides behavior across global teams. Trust, open communication,...
WNBA Agreement Puts New Spotlight on Pay Disparity: 8 Takeaways for HR
The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement raises the salary floor to $270,000 and the ceiling to $1.4 million, a 364% increase and the largest jump in U.S. professional sports. Players will now receive a 20% share of league revenues, while the...
Why Remote Work Productivity Is Falling — And What It’s Costing Companies
Remote work was expected to boost productivity, yet recent data shows a quiet decline. Employees face interruptions every two minutes, leading to fragmented work, slower decision‑making and weaker accountability despite higher communication levels. This inefficiency translates into higher labor cost...
66% of Leaders Distrust Productivity Data, Triggering $438 Billion Losses
Time Doctor’s 2026 Productivity & Engagement Benchmarks Report reveals that 66% of senior leaders distrust the data they use to gauge employee output. The mistrust is linked to $438 billion in annual productivity loss, prompting calls for role‑specific metrics and transparent...
Workable Launches Built‑In I‑9 and E‑Verify to Streamline U.S. Hiring Compliance
Workable announced integrated Form I‑9 and E‑Verify capabilities for U.S. customers, embedding federal hiring verification into its onboarding workflow. The move eliminates separate PDFs and manual steps, aiming to cut compliance risk and accelerate new‑hire processing.
Dubai RTA Unveils Technical & Future Competency Framework to Upskill Workforce
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the launch of a Technical and Future Competency Framework designed to align employee skills with rapid technological change. The initiative targets AI, digital transformation, sustainability and innovation, positioning RTA as a benchmark for...