Today's Human Resources Pulse

Lateral Associates Now Dominate Biglaw Hiring
In 2025, lateral‑hired attorneys accounted for roughly 48% of associate hires, overtaking new law‑school graduates for the first time. The shift reflects firms’ growing appetite for experienced talent amid heightened client demand and billing pressures, tightening the market for recent graduates.

The New Reality of Worksite Enforcement: Navigating I-9 and E-Verify Shifts in 2026
Employers face a wave of I‑9 and E‑Verify volatility as ICE worksite enforcement resurged in 2025 and federal programs that stabilized work authorization were dismantled. The termination of humanitarian parole, TPS volatility, and the end of automatic EAD extensions have created new reverification challenges. State governments, notably Iowa and Ohio, are adding targeted E‑Verify mandates with steep penalties, fragmenting the onboarding landscape. HR leaders must shift from routine compliance to continuous audit readiness and coordinated state‑specific verification strategies for 2026.

STAT+: Eli Lilly Launches Program for Employers to Subsidize Cost of Obesity Drug Outside Insurance
Eli Lilly introduced a new employer‑focused program allowing companies to subsidize the cash price of its obesity medication Zepbound. The drug can be purchased directly from LillyDirect for $449 per month, and employers can contribute a fixed amount, such as $50...
Building AI‑Ready Foundations for Modern Business Practice
Foundations for Professional Business Practice in the age of #AI @ABPsychologists https://t.co/wHgU5EuzIz #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #CPO #Hiring #Recruitment #PeopleManagement #Culture #Change #FutureofHR #HRCurator

Why ‘Builder’ Is the Job Title of the Moment
AI coding assistants are reshaping software development, prompting a shift from traditional engineering roles to a hybrid “builder” function. Engineers now spend most of their time prompting AI and reviewing its output, while product managers need deeper technical fluency. Companies...

How Pro Bono Work Can Help Develop Human Skills
Employers are prioritizing human skills such as critical thinking, empathy, and judgment as AI automates routine tasks. Companies are pairing soft‑skill training with AI education, embedding learning in workflows, and using AI coaches for scenario practice. An emerging strategy is...

How Employers Can Drive Year-Round Engagement in Benefits
Open enrollment marks the start, not the finish, of benefits engagement. Studies show up to 80% of employees still misunderstand their plans after enrollment, leading to reactive use and higher costs. Employers are shifting to year‑round strategies—seasonal campaigns, personalized outreach,...

All Lines Insurance Selects EZLynx to Enable Employee Productivity From Day One
All Lines Insurance Associates has selected EZLynx’s integrated agency management platform to replace its fragmented technology stack. The migration consolidates quoting, policy administration, client communications, and renewals into a single cloud‑based system, simplifying new‑hire onboarding and boosting staff productivity. EZLynx’s...

90% of Organisations Are Failing to Get the Most From Independent Talent, New Report Finds
A new Malt Freelance Maturity Report shows only one in ten companies strategically integrate freelancers, classifying them as "Trailblazers" while 56% are "Navigators" and 33% "Explorers." Mature firms report a 62% return on investment versus 36% for less‑mature peers and...
Does Creating Community Feel Impossible In Your Coworking Space? Focus On Building Belonging
Coworking spaces have scaled from intimate hubs to large, corporate‑style offices, making community harder to nurture. The article argues that a sense of belonging, not just community programs, is the essential precursor to genuine member engagement. Without belonging, members remain...

Why Employee Engagement Should Feel ‘Calm and Boring’ and Other Takeaways With McKesson’s Sr. Director of Talent Succession
Jenessa Disler, McKesson’s Senior Director of Talent Succession, argues that effective employee engagement should feel calm and boring, driven by role clarity, two‑way feedback, and cohesive systems. She highlights three themes for HR leaders: AI as an amplifier that frees...

Meta’s New AI Unit Takes Flat Management Structures to the Extreme
Meta has launched a new applied AI unit staffed with a flat 50:1 manager‑to‑engineer ratio. The group, headed by Maher Saba and reporting to CTO Andrew Bosworth, will collaborate with the Superintelligence Lab to build a data engine that accelerates model improvement....

Bookipi Survey Shows Small Businesses Embracing AI BUT, Complexity, Not Cost, Slows Workflow Adoption
The 2026 Bookipi Small Business AI Adoption Report, based on 2,121 owners across four regions, shows nearly half of small firms (48%) will raise AI budgets while only 2% plan cuts. Companies are comfortable using AI for customer‑facing tasks such...
Textio Launches Lavalier to Raise the Hiring Bar With Interview Intelligence
Textio unveiled Lavalier, an AI‑powered interview‑intelligence platform designed to make hiring more structured and evidence‑based. The tool automatically generates interview guides, offers real‑time prompts, and synthesizes interview data into actionable insights. Lavalier launches with a free‑to‑start model and transparent pricing,...
Semos Cloud Adds AI Intelligence Layer to SAP SuccessFactors
Semos Cloud has launched an AI‑powered intelligence layer that sits inside SAP SuccessFactors, allowing organizations to quantify the business impact of total rewards and employee recognition programs. The solution converts everyday HR interactions into actionable workforce intelligence and is certified...
Rivermate Empowers Businesses to Scale Globally with EOR Services
Rivermate announced an expansion of its multi‑country Employer of Record (EOR) services, enabling firms to hire employees across numerous international markets without setting up local legal entities. The platform now offers a unified interface for compliant employment contracts, payroll, tax...
O.C. Tanner Recognized Among G2’s Top Software Companies for 2026
O.C. Tanner has been named one of G2’s Top Software Companies for 2026, earning a No. 16 ranking in the Best HR Software category. The company also appears on G2’s Best Enterprise Software and Best Software Companies lists, reflecting strong customer...
HR Acuity Joins the Workday Innovation Partner Program
HR Acuity has joined the Workday Innovation Partner Program, integrating its employee relations case management platform with Workday Help. The bi‑directional sync links routine HR inquiries to complex investigations, delivering unified visibility and compliance across both systems. This partnership expands...
Keeping the Door Open: Many Would Return to Companies That Laid Them Off
A BioSpace LinkedIn poll of 1,267 biopharma professionals revealed that 51% would consider returning to the employer that laid them off. Tight labor markets, limited local opportunities, and the appeal of consulting contracts drive this willingness. Respondents cite generous severance...

Health Insurance Spikes Stall Wage Growth Amid Inflation
Companies Report Raging Inflation, Except in Wages & Rents. Double-digit increases in employee health insurance costs hold down wage increases https://t.co/hhJssjhbRm https://t.co/MchphaLdWf

Call for Stronger Professional Standards to Rebuild Trust in Jobs
Employers are being urged to tighten professional standards as the Chartered Week Alliance, a coalition of over 40 bodies, writes to the government for stronger backing of Chartered status and professional registration. The alliance argues that clear competence, ethics and...

Cyient Picks Prabhakar Atla for COO, Shrinivas Kulkarni for CFO
Cyient announced that long‑time CFO Prabhakar Atla will become chief operating officer on 1 April 2026, while Shrinivas Kulkarni, previously CFO of Cyient DLM, steps into the group CFO role. Atla, a 12‑year Cyient veteran, will drive next‑generation delivery models, talent development and...

Case-in-Point: Confidentiality vs Duty of Care
Apex Financial Services is evaluating VP Vikram Mehta for a Managing Director role while a psychologist’s confidential assessment report disclosed his managed depression to HR. The firm now faces a dilemma: whether to factor this health information into the promotion...
Expert Evidence Helps Employer Defend Policy Breach Sacking
A safety‑critical employee at Cement Australia’s Railton plant was summarily dismissed after a random drug test detected amphetamines and methamphetamines. The employee appealed to the Fair Work Commission, arguing the breach of the company’s drug‑and‑alcohol policy was an isolated, inadvertent...

The Cost of High Sales Turnover and How to Avoid It
In a recent Sales Hunter Podcast episode, Alice Heiman warned that most companies still hire salespeople using outdated 1980s‑era criteria, creating a mismatch with today’s buyer journey. She argues that this misalignment drives high turnover, low productivity, and missed revenue...

Karnataka HC Upholds Child Care Leave for Exam Prep
The Karnataka High Court ruled that Child Care Leave (CCL) can extend beyond exam dates, covering the preparation period essential for a child’s success. The judgment arose from Kavita V’s case, where she sought leave from December 2025 to May...
"Terrible" Bully Sentenced; Why Behaviour Training Fails; and More
A workplace bully was sentenced after a court found his conduct “terrible,” underscoring growing legal scrutiny of harassment. At the same time, experts warned that many organisations rely on superficial behaviour‑training programmes that rarely change outcomes. Policy makers are also...

Push to Attract More Women Into Queensland Manufacturing Careers
Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) has launched a new campaign to draw more women into the state’s $28.9 billion manufacturing sector, which faces acute skills shortages. The initiative centers on the Manufacturing Industry Influencer Program, featuring female professionals from boilermaking to rocket...
Busting Age-Related Myths Can Unleash a Suite of "Superpowers"
Career coach Robyn Greaves argues that age‑related myths about declining productivity are false, highlighting that workers over 50 bring heightened empathy, creativity, systems thinking and wisdom. She cites a longitudinal study linking optimism in later life to longer longevity, suggesting...

AI‑driven Layoffs Demand Generous Severance Packages
If there is a layoff then what will your severance package be? If you are at a large company then it might look something like the below, which is pretty generous. And if AI is used as the layoff excuse….they better be...

Eight Forces Shaping Staffing in 2026: AI, Trust and the Future of Frontline Work
The staffing landscape in 2026 is being reshaped by eight inter‑linked forces, from a 16% YoY drop in UK vacancies to heightened competition for the remaining roles. Artificial intelligence has moved from experimental pilots to core infrastructure, yet many firms...

Automation Is Real—Mass Layoffs Aren’t #152b
The anticipated AI‑driven job apocalypse has not materialized. Vanguard’s analysis of roughly 140 occupations highly exposed to AI shows those roles grew 1.7% annually from 2023 to 2025, outpacing the 0.8% growth of other jobs, while wages rose 3.8% versus...
Grove Collaborative Holdings Inc (GROV) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Grove Collaborative reported Q3 2025 revenue of $43.7 million, a 9.4% year‑over‑year decline—the smallest drop since 2021, while active customers fell 7% to 660,000 and orders slipped 12.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was a negative $1.2 million, but management expects a positive...
Why Workday Implementations Fail to Deliver ROI — and How to Fix It
Workday implementations often fall short of ROI because organizations neglect data integrity, fail to redesign processes, and underutilize standard configurations and pre‑built connectors. Poor data quality can trigger compliance issues, while custom integrations inflate development time and cost. Leveraging Workday’s...

Ontario Labour Arbitration Decision Shows Proving Cannabis Impairment Is Key to Upholding Termination
Ontario’s labour arbitrator upheld a three‑month unpaid suspension rather than termination after an employee was found to have smoked cannabis during a lunch break. While the arbitrator accepted eyewitness testimony—specifically the distinct odor of marijuana—as clear evidence of use, the...

Arbitrability Ruling: Key Lessons From Texas Business Court’s BNSF V. Level 3 Decision
The Texas Business Court affirmed an arbitration award in BNSF Railway Co. v. Level 3 Communications, holding that the arbitrators, not the court, decide arbitrability when the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association are incorporated. The court rejected BNSF’s motion...
NASA Initiates New Program to Grab Talent From the Private Sector
NASA has launched the NASA Force program, in partnership with the Office of Personnel Management, to recruit high‑impact technical talent from the private sector for two‑year federal assignments. The initiative mirrors OPM’s Tech Force effort and offers participants a pathway...

B-1 Visa Updates: New Specialized Trainers Category for Foreign Nationals
The U.S. Department of State revised the Foreign Affairs Manual to create a distinct “Specialized Trainers” category under the B‑1 visa, expanding eligibility for foreign experts who provide proprietary technical training on imported industrial equipment. The change separates training from...

Army Overhauls Direct Commissioning Process to Bring in Civilian Tech Experts Faster
The U.S. Army is revamping its direct‑commissioning program to accelerate the entry of civilian technologists into officer roles. By moving oversight to the Army Recruiting Command and streamlining medical, security, and training steps, the accession timeline has dropped from roughly...

Report: ABC $1000 Sweetener to Avoid Strike
ABC announced a $1,000 per‑head bonus and a revised pay package for roughly 4,500 staff in a bid to avert a strike. The offer includes annual wage increases of 3.5%, 3.25% and 3.25% over three years, progression to band six,...
Takeda Slashes 400 US Jobs in Restructuring
Takeda to Cut 400 US Jobs as Part of Overhaul, Nikkei Says @business cc @dailyjobcuts @MacroEdgeRes

Four Decision Gates Before Renewing Your LMS
NEW: Do you use an #LMS for #training? Eventually, you'll face contract renewal. But what should you do before you re-up? Take a beat. Here's my renewal advice as a longtime consultant: "Should You Renew Your LMS? Navigating 4 Decision Gates"➡️https://t.co/DQ4MXQo5oG #B2B #ATD...

Build a Rocket Boy Confirms More Layoffs Amid Further Claims of "Organized Espionage and Corporate Sabotage"
Build a Rocket Boy announced another round of layoffs, citing organized espionage and corporate sabotage that hampered the launch of its latest title, MindsEye. CEO Mark Gerhard said an investigation with external partners has produced overwhelming evidence and is moving...

Job Board: March 4th
The March 4th Job Board post curates a fresh set of internship and early‑career openings across fashion‑tech, product development, and digital media. Roles range from full‑stack and backend development to marketing analytics, sustainability analysis, and community management, with locations spanning remote,...

Court Rules Inova Not Joint Employer of Nurses Fired over Vaccine Refusal
A Fourth Circuit appeals court ruled that Inova Health Care Services is not a joint employer of two nurse anesthetists who were terminated after refusing a COVID‑19 vaccine. The nurses, employed by NAPA’s subsidiary, argued Inova’s oversight made it a...

Overeducated, Underutilized: Why Credential-Based Hiring Is Failing Canadian Employers
Canadian employers have long used university degrees as a quick filter for candidates, but this practice is increasingly misaligned with the available talent pool. Lightcast’s “Fault Lines” report reveals that 66 % of job postings worldwide require a degree while only...

Missed ERISA Deadline Strips Disability Insurer of over $233,000
A federal appeals court ruled that Reliance Standard Life missed the ERISA‑mandated 45‑day deadline to decide a long‑term disability appeal, forcing the insurer to forfeit deference and pay $210,769.49 in past‑due benefits plus $22,544.95 in interest, totaling over $233,000. The...
How to Lead When You Can’t See the Way
Harvard Business School professor Linda A. Hill hosted an Executive Masterclass on March 4, 2026, addressing how senior leaders can navigate persistent uncertainty. The session framed today’s “fog” of geopolitics, rapid technology change, and evolving stakeholder expectations as a structural condition rather...
Three Tectonic Forces Reshaping Organizations by 2026
The State of #Organizations 2026: Three tectonic forces that are reshaping organizations @McKinsey https://t.co/nmj7SFLZLE #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #CPO #Hiring #Recruitment #PeopleManagement #Culture #Change #FutureofHR #HRCurator
SAP Integrates SmartRecruiters with SuccessFactors
SAP has integrated the SmartRecruiters hiring platform, acquired last September, into its SuccessFactors HCM suite, creating a unified talent architecture. The integration provides end‑to‑end hiring with embedded AI, bidirectional data flow, single sign‑on, and combined AI assistants Joule and Winston....

The Labor Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight
A new NBER study of 6,000 C‑suite executives across the U.S., EU, Japan and China finds AI has delivered only a 0.29% productivity lift in the past three years and virtually no impact on employment. The report debunks the hype...