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.
Greenhouse Report: More Applications, Fewer Recruiters
Greenhouse’s 2026 Benchmark Report shows a hiring market reshaped by AI, with a 411% jump in annual applications since 2022. At the same time, recruiting teams have contracted by 55%, yet hires per recruiter have risen 122% between 2022 and 2025. Applications per job climbed 111% to an average of 244, while AI‑driven interview tools grew 13 percentage points in the last six months. The report warns that without a human‑centric balance, the surge could erode candidate experience.
Nestlé UK Workers Secure Vital Pay Rise as Sweeping Cuts Loom
Nestlé’s UK workers, represented by Unite, secured a 3.9% pay rise – 0.3% above the Retail Prices Index – with the agreement back‑dated to April 2026. The deal covers more than 1,200 employees across five facilities. At the same time,...
Even AI Giants Still Need Human Writers, Pay Premium
Anthropic (Claude AI) is hiring two writing roles with a starting salary of $255,000: • Copy & Content Lead • Copy Lead And everyone's been asking the same question: "Why does the top AI company in the world need to pay multiple 6-figure salaries...
What It Means to Be a Trauma-Informed Leader
Journalists routinely face direct and indirect trauma that can erode compassion, surge capacity, and mental health. The article urges newsrooms to adopt a proactive, trauma‑informed leadership model that builds relational currency and psychological safety before crises arise. It offers concrete...
Promoted to Fail: The Hidden Trap Behind Every Well-Deserved Promotion (The Peter Principle)
The post warns that well‑intentioned promotions often backfire because they’re based on past performance rather than the skills needed for the new role, a phenomenon known as the Peter Principle. It illustrates the problem with a real‑world example of an...
Name Bias, Build Resilience, Find Mentors to Thrive
In order to thrive as Women in MedTech & STEM you must overcome challenges by: - Naming existing biases in the industry. - Developing resilience and confidence in your skills. - Seeking mentorship and build supportive networks.
AI Promised to Reduce the Load. What Happened?
AI promises of higher productivity are materializing, with Upwork reporting a 40% output boost for AI‑enabled workers. However, the same cohort shows alarming burnout, as 88% feel exhausted and are twice as likely to consider quitting. Studies label this strain...
Why Leaders Should Let Minor Mistakes Slide
Harvard Business School research shows that managers often inflate performance reviews to avoid the hidden costs of employee retaliation. A theoretical model in Management Science finds that the expense of sabotage, quiet quitting or other push‑back can outweigh the benefits...
Internship Stipend Withheld Over Unclear Performance Claims
MBA student worked 10am to 7pm but didn't get stipend. Shruti Jaipur based MBA student who posted on X about her work. She joined an internship after her MBA, worked for 3 months in a company. The company suddenly kept her stipend of...
Rename ‘Soft Skills’ as Structural Skills to Boost Budgets
Stop calling them 'soft skills.' Decision-making, role clarity, conflict mediation, and structural design are the hardest skills in any organization. They're 'soft' only because we've underinvested in teaching them. Rename them: structural skills. Watch the budget appear.
Air India Defers Salary Increments as Rising Costs Pressure Operations
Air India announced it will postpone its annual salary hikes for at least a quarter as rising jet fuel prices, geopolitical tensions, and operational disruptions strain its finances. The decision was communicated by CEO Campbell Wilson, CFO Sanjay Sharma and...
As PNC and Fidelity Double Down on RTO, Cisco Has a Different Answer
PNC Bank and Fidelity have instituted full‑time return‑to‑office (RTO) policies, mandating thousands of employees to work on site five days a week. Cisco’s chief people officer, Kelly Jones, argues that treating AI adoption and RTO as separate issues is a...
Family Firms' “Surname Ceiling” Blocks Top Executive Talent
If you’re an ambitious executive, would you join a family business or family office knowing there’s a "surname ceiling" above you from day one? At the weekend, the FT explored the reality that many family-controlled firms still struggle to attract top...
76% of USDA Researchers Tell Union They Won’t Relocate
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is preparing a second wave of relocations, moving Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture staff from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City. An AFGE Local 3403 survey shows 76% of the researchers...
Google-Backed Adda247 Lays Off over 200 Employees
Google‑backed edtech startup Adda247 announced it has laid off more than 200 employees, roughly 20% of its workforce, as part of a restructuring ahead of a planned IPO. The cuts affect product, design, content, and teaching functions and are expected...
Frustration Mounts Among J&K Medical College Staff over 6-Year Promotion Freeze
Around 3,000 non‑gazetted employees at five newly‑established government medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir have not received a single promotion since their 2019 appointment. The delay stems from the absence of finalized Service Recruitment Rules and unheld Departmental Promotion Committees,...
Report: How ‘Shadow Workloads’ Are Impacting Ireland’s Employees
Robert Walters’ May 2026 report reveals a surge in “shadow workloads” among Irish professionals, where non‑core tasks expand without formal recognition or pay. Six out of ten respondents say their remit has grown, prompting longer hours for 53% and low...
Gousto Worker Sacked for Eating Peanuts on Factory Floor
Gousto dismissed a 65‑year‑old production operative after CCTV showed her eating peanuts on the factory floor, breaching health‑and‑safety rules and the company’s theft policy. The employee claimed disability, harassment, and race discrimination, alleging a lack of interpreter support and unreasonable...
The AI Bill Is Coming Due, and CHROs Need to Be Ready
AI pricing is shifting from bundled seat fees to token‑based consumption, a change sparked by Anthropic and soon to be adopted by OpenAI and Google. This move eliminates the informal AI subsidy, driving enterprise AI budgets from roughly $1.2 million in...
Singapore’s AI Tools Are Ready. Its Workforce Isn’t
Singapore’s enterprises have rapidly adopted AI tools, with nine‑in‑ten moving beyond pilots and many deploying generative and agentic AI. However, Accenture’s report finds only one‑third of firms align talent strategies with AI plans, and half have not redesigned any job...
Beauty’s Highest Paid CEO Salaries Revealed: L’Oréal, Shiseido, Coty and More
The 2025 remuneration packages for top beauty‑industry CEOs have been disclosed, highlighting substantial pay levels and varied structures. L'Oréal’s Nicolas Hieronimus earned €11.3 million (about $12.3 million), a 13% rise from the prior year, while Shiseido’s Kentaro Fujiwara received $2.2 million, with roughly...
Odisha Among Worst States for Minimum Wage Violations: Report
A State Bank of India report released on May 8, 2026, finds that 66% of casual workers in Odisha earn below the legally mandated minimum wage, making the state one of the worst performers in India. The analysis, based on...
The Retirement Savings Crisis Is Getting Worse: What HR Can Do Now
The 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey shows confidence in having enough retirement savings fell to 61%, down from 67% a year earlier. Nearly 60% of workers say healthcare costs and 70% cite rising housing expenses as barriers, while 65% flag debt...
Delhaize Opens Lion Fit Fitness Center at Its Headquarters
Delhaize has launched Lion Fit, a new on‑site fitness center at its Kobbegem headquarters, featuring roughly 25 strength and cardio machines and a dedicated space for group classes. The retailer opened the facility to its 3,000‑strong workforce, and about 700...
How Leaders Can Move Past Personal Obstacles
MIT Sloan experts introduce Internal Family Systems (IFS) as a leadership tool that treats inner conflicts as multiple, well‑intentioned parts guided by a central Self. The article explains how senior executives can access "self‑energy" to harmonize competing drives, using the...
Trump Administration Wants Fed Job Applicants to Disclose Political Affiliations
The Office of Personnel Management’s Merit Hiring Plan now adds optional political‑essay prompts to federal job applications, appearing on roughly 33,000 postings—about a quarter of competitive listings. While the essays are currently optional, the Trump administration has hinted they could...
Former Oracle Employees Raise Concerns over Severance
Oracle announced a global reduction of roughly 20,000 positions across the United States, India and other locations, sparking criticism from former staff over its severance and equity treatment. Laid‑off workers say they received abrupt termination notices, lost access to internal...
Young Drinks Talent Wants Change, Not Escape
A poll at Fero’s inaugural Young Leaders event in London revealed that 89% of young UK drinks‑trade professionals remain committed to long‑term careers, yet 60% have considered leaving the sector. Salary equity, unclear career pathways and perceived gatekeeping were flagged...
DuPont Named Co-Winner of IRI Innovation Culture Award
DuPont was named co‑winner of the 2026 IRI Innovation Excellence Award for Outstanding Innovative Culture, sharing the honor with Qnity Electronics. The award recognizes companies that foster inclusive, psychologically safe workplaces and embed innovation across science, sustainability, digital capabilities, and...
Base Maintenance Malaysia Boosts Local Hiring for Global MRO Surge
Base Maintenance Malaysia Sdn Bhd is ramping up hiring of local talent as Malaysia's deep pool of technical experts and expanding aerospace ecosystem position the country to capture a large share of global maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) demand. https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2026/05/1436787/bmm-builds-talent-pipeline-support-malaysias-push-global-mro
Policy Barriers, Not Greedy Capitalists, Shrink Labor Share
I'm in @PostOpinions today discussing new research on a big driver of the declining "labor share": not greedy capitalists, but healthcare, labor, tax, licensing, & other policies that discourage employers from hiring/firing & workers from quitting: https://t.co/bHjB5uw6cI (🎁) https://t.co/RpU4QmN7iE
The Hidden Risks of Rushing Offer Decisions in Physician Recruitment
Hospital leaders often rush physician offers to plug schedule gaps, but hasty decisions hide blind spots that can lead to costly mismatches. Speedy hires may mask ambiguous contract terms, unclear call responsibilities, and insufficient insight into team dynamics. Over time,...
Rethink Mid‑Career Development for Vanishing Jobs
The mid-career pivot: Are you developing people for a career that no longer exists? @TrainingZone https://t.co/szfMpvyjuF #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #FutureofHR
AI Resumes Same, Bias Treats Women Differently
AI generated identical résumés for a man and a woman. The woman was judged more harshly for using AI, despite the content being the same. The future of AI will not only reveal the power of technology. It will also expose human...
HRDA Frankly Speaking: Stop Leading on Autopilot
Sarah Devereaux, former Google executive and HCI leadership coach, warned HR leaders that the “laser‑focus” mindset—illustrated with a blindfolded racehorse—can blind them to broader organizational signals. She argued that fragmented payroll, benefits, time‑tracking, and compliance tools create hidden complexity and...
Meta to Cut 8,000 Jobs, AI Worker Replaces Dozens
Meta disclosed plans to eliminate roughly 8,000 positions in May, arguing that a single AI‑powered system can now perform tasks that previously required dozens of engineers. The move ties the layoff to a $145 billion AI spending plan and signals a...
Why “Build Your Own Benefits” Is Reshaping Total Rewards Strategies
Employers are moving from static, one‑size‑fits‑all benefit packages to a "build‑your‑own" model that lets workers allocate a defined allowance toward the perks they value most. The shift addresses rising employee dissatisfaction—over half say current benefits miss the mark—while giving HR...
Burger King Pilots AI Assistant “Patty” To Monitor Inventory and Staff in Drive‑thrus
Burger King has begun testing an AI assistant called “Patty” that listens to drive‑thru conversations, flags inventory gaps and suggests managerial actions. Executives say the tool will free managers for customer‑facing work, while employees worry it adds a layer of...
Designboom Job Position Available: Junior Social Media Specialist
Designboom, the globally recognized design, architecture and art publication, is hiring a remote junior social media specialist. The role reports to the Senior Social Media Manager and focuses on daily publishing, short‑form video creation, and real‑time event coverage. Candidates must...
BPL Medical Technologies Appoints Rupini Raman as Head–Human Capital
BPL Medical Technologies has named Rupini Raman as its new head of human capital, bolstering the firm’s leadership as it scales in the fast‑growing MedTech arena. Raman arrives with more than 18 years of experience in organisational transformation, talent strategy,...
Executive Search Veteran Nicole Kamaleson Honored for Global Social Impact
Nicole Kamaleson, managing director of social impact at DSG Global, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who, highlighting her two‑decade career in executive search and her focus on placing leaders in mission‑driven firms across four continents. The honor underscores...
Canadian Retailers Keep Expanding, So Why Are Jobs Disappearing?
Statistics Canada reported a net loss of 27,000 retail and wholesale jobs in April, marking a second consecutive month of decline despite a wave of store openings and mall redevelopments across Canada. Industry observers, including Best Retail Careers Canada founder...
New Jersey’s Independent Contractor Rules Are Now Official — And the Burden Is All Yours
On May 5, 2026 New Jersey’s Department of Labor filed N.J.A.C. 12:11, turning the long‑standing ABC test for independent‑contractor classification into binding regulation across six state labor statutes. The rules take effect on October 1, 2026 and place the entire burden on employers to prove...
Harriet Harman to Help 'Drive Culture Shift' In Civil Service Through New Women-Focused Role
Veteran politician Harriet Harman has been appointed as the prime minister’s special adviser on women and girls, tasked with driving a cultural shift in the civil service to boost opportunities for women. The move was announced by Prime Minister Keir...
Weber Shandwick's Yoder Moves to Ruder Finn
Kelly Yoder, former North America health lead at Weber Shandwick, joins Ruder Finn as managing director and head of health & life sciences. She brings over 20 years of communications and product‑marketing experience across pharma, biotech, medical‑devices and diagnostics. Yoder will...
Futures School: Leadership Journey: Call for Applications Now Open
Philea’s Futures School: Leadership Journey launches its second edition after a successful pilot, targeting senior philanthropy leaders. The nine‑month program runs until April 2027 and includes immersive residencies in Tunisia and Denmark, plus online and peer‑led sessions. Applications close on...
I Tested Every AI Apply Tool so You Don't Have to (Here's What Happened)
The author audited a range of AI‑driven job‑application services and found they fall short of delivering rapid hires. Most platforms limit users to roughly 250 applications per month, while modern remote roles attract 300‑800 candidates and yield only about a...
LIA Creative LIAisons Virtual Coaching Program Kicks Off by Pairing 250 Emerging Talents with Global Industry Luminaries
LIA’s Creative LIAisons Virtual Coaching program launched its 2026 cohort, matching 250 emerging creatives with three senior industry coaches each, totaling 750 mentor slots. Since its 2021 inception, the initiative has paired over 1,500 mentees with an equal number of...
Employee Experience #5: First Impressions Go Mobile
In 2026, onboarding must start before day one and be mobile‑first, letting new hires complete paperwork and receive welcome materials on their phones. Personalized messages from managers, a proactive buddy system, and paced learning replace the old information dump. AI...
‘Boys’ Club’: Former Woolworths Executive Sues over Alleged Bullying
Former Woolworths senior facilities executive Jane Frewen has filed a Federal Court lawsuit alleging severe bullying, gender‑based pay disparity and forced overtime. She claims she worked 60‑90 hours weekly, was required to work through holidays, and was paid roughly one‑third...