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.
BioAtla Axes 70% of Staff, Explores Strategic Options
BioAtla announced it is slashing roughly 70% of its staff as it evaluates strategic alternatives, leaving only essential personnel for the review. The move follows a 30% reduction last year and leaves the company with about $7.1 million in cash, down from $8.3 million three months earlier. BioAtla is considering selling its nine pre‑clinical and clinical assets, licensing deals, and strategic partnerships, while its lead candidate ozuriftamab vedotin (Oz‑V) remains in a Phase 3 head‑and‑neck cancer trial. Severance costs are estimated at $0.5‑$0.6 million, payable in Q1.
Modern Approaches to Closing the Skills Gap in Government
New research shows 76% of talent development professionals view a significant skills gap in government, yet 72% of agencies still depend on traditional classroom instruction. The article outlines four modern approaches—mission‑aligned buy‑in, targeted pilot programs, creative cross‑agency resourcing, and training...
413. THE HUMAN RESOURCES (HR) RACKET: HOW EMPLOYMENT LAW BECAME A GROWTH INDUSTRY AT EVERYONE ELSE'S EXPENSE
The episode dissects how U.S. employment law and the HR compliance industry have evolved from civil‑rights legislation into a $250 billion sector that burdens businesses, especially small firms, with costly bureaucracy and litigation risk. It traces the historical buildup of federal...
Free Tool to Identify High-Leverage AI Recruiting Use Cases
Wondering how to approach AI automation in your recruiting efforts? Here's a free tool to help you diagnose some of the most high-leverage use cases. https://redefiningwork.substack.com/p/i-went-down-an-ai-rabbit-hole-and
Illinois Hotel Industry Holds ‘No Room for Trafficking’ Seminar to Help Employees Prevent Human Trafficking
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association convened a “No Room for Trafficking” seminar at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, training more than 100 hotel employees on how to spot and report human trafficking....
Meera Jagadish Elevated to Sr Director & Regional Head-HR, India & APJ, HPE
Hewlett Packard Enterprise has promoted Meera Jagadish to senior director and regional head of Human Resources for India and the Asia‑Pacific‑Japan (APJ) region. In her new role she will oversee more than 28,000 employees across 14 countries, aligning HR strategy...
Leaders Admit AI Layoffs Will Disrupt Jobs
The “vibe shift” on AI is here: As @ChipCutter reports in the @WSJ, now that the long-anticipated AI-driven layoffs are happening, a backlash is brewing. AI messaging from business and tech leaders has been mostly about how beneficial AI will...
Krafton Is Not Planning to Restructure Its Workforce, Despite New Corporate Vision
Krafton announced a refreshed corporate vision on February 26, introducing new core values to guide its long‑term strategy. The Korean game maker emphasized that the vision will not trigger layoffs or additional hiring. By codifying priorities around player experience, technology,...
Why One Iowa-Based Company Opened a Primary Care Clinic Near Its Office
Pella Corporation opened a wellness center five minutes from its Iowa headquarters, offering primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to its 2,500 employees. The clinic was built in partnership with Premise Health, which designed a high‑touch, high‑tech model that...
Shweta Mhatre Is the New Head-HR & Training at Lakmé Lever
Shweta Mhatre has been appointed head of HR and training at Lakmé Lever, bringing over six years of L’Oréal experience. She will steer the people and capability agenda, overseeing HR strategy, talent development, and training programs. Mhatre’s career spans roles...
Backchannel References: Recruiting’s Subtle Tool for Discrimination
For whatever reason, we're having this conversation again so let me be clear: Backchannel references are Recruiting's low-key favorite way to discriminate.
MXR Hospitality Names Dawne Brado VP, Development
MXR Hospitality announced the appointment of Dawne Brado as its first Vice President of Development and Valerie Bolton as its inaugural Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Brado will oversee construction funding management across MXR’s portfolio, drawing on more than...
Measuring AI's Real Impact on Work and the Economy
Stanford economist Nick Bloom presented new empirical evidence on AI adoption and its effect on jobs and productivity. By merging firm‑level surveys, payroll records, and real‑time usage data, his team quantified how generative AI is being deployed across industries. The...
Should You Be Using AI for Performance Reviews?
AI tools are rapidly moving from recruitment to real‑time performance management, with at least 70 % of knowledge‑economy workers already using AI at work. Traditional annual reviews are criticized for subjectivity and inconsistency, prompting organizations to adopt algorithms that analyze workflows,...
Princess Cruises and The Travel Institute Launch Advisor Education Partnership
Princess Cruises has signed a year‑long strategic alliance with The Travel Institute to elevate travel advisor education. The partnership will launch a new Alaska Destination Specialist curriculum timed with the debut of the Star Princess cruise. Princess will fund scholarships...
Why HR and Tech Must Co-Lead AI Transformation
AI is reshaping enterprise priorities, prompting HR and technology leaders to co‑lead digital transformation. In a discussion with Workday CIO Rani Johnson and Box SVP and chief people officer Jessica Swank, the article highlights how AI is as much a people...
Publishers' Dues Belong to Unions, Not Individuals
I wrote all about how I once believed in the power of paying one’s dues. And now I believe that the only dues publishing workers should be paying is for a union. https://lithub.com/a-series-of-unfortunate-salaries-maris-kreizman-on-fighting-the-publishing-industrys-elitism/
Deputy Launches U.S. Payroll with Paycor
Deputy announced the U.S. launch of Deputy Payroll, powered by Paycor, merging its time‑tracking and compliance tools with Paycor’s payroll engine. The partnership gives Deputy instant access to Paycor’s extensive network of small‑ and mid‑size employers, accelerating customer acquisition. Pilot...
Remote PR Jobs: Building a Niche Job Board with Authenticity and Trust
Andrea Holland leveraged two decades of PR experience to launch Remote PR Jobs, a niche job board focused on public‑relations and communications roles. The platform grew organically, emphasizing authenticity, trust, and a bootstrapped marketing strategy rather than heavy ad spend. By targeting...
Clark: Mileage or Home Time? Understanding Driver Retention Trade-Offs in Today’s Trucking
The article compares over‑the‑road (OTR) and regional/local trucking pay models, highlighting that OTR drivers can earn more through mileage‑based rates but face longer time away, while regional drivers enjoy steadier hourly wages and home time. It explains how these compensation...
Hedge Funds Warn UK Non-Compete Ban Could Prompt Talent Exodus
The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) has warned that the UK government’s proposal to restrict or ban non‑compete clauses could erode the country’s competitive edge as hedge funds vie for talent. AIMA’s chief executive Jack Inglis called the plan “radical,”...
The TPA’s Role in Avoiding Unnecessary ERISA Litigation
Third‑party administrators (TPAs) must ensure that a self‑funded health plan’s formal document and its Summary Plan Description (SPD) are perfectly aligned. Gaps or missing clauses—especially around subrogation—can expose both the TPA and plan sponsor to ERISA class‑action lawsuits costing tens...
60 Seconds With … OLGA ROMANOVA
Olga Romanova founded CargoHR, an international recruitment firm focused on aviation, air cargo and logistics. She recalls a pivotal interview with Turkish Cargo in Vienna that launched her career abroad. Romanova highlights how the sector has accelerated, with massive data...
True Leadership Begins with Confronting Your Own Self
We talk a lot about leading others - teams, organizations, movements, nations. But the most complex leadership challenge is far more intimate. It demands character, honest and deep self-reflection, and a willingness to confront who you are before you try to...
Seeking Swedish Game Developer Salary Insight
Can any game developers tell me what a role like this would pay (specifically interested in Sweden)? https://t.co/QqBKb7Gtps
Three Things to Know About Learning by Hiring
Leaders increasingly turn to external hires to inject fresh knowledge, but the effectiveness of that knowledge depends on the organization’s existing knowledge architecture. Tight, highly integrated practices create resistance and can dilute the impact of new hires, especially when multiple...
Two Newsletters Deliver Clear Insight on Labor Market Shifts
Career Intelligence Weekly + The Recruiting Life Two newsletters. Clear thinking for a changing labor market. https://t.co/UGHNPeD6oN
AI Hiring Tools Still Perpetuate Workplace Bias
In the workplace, AI is not levelling the playing field. Despite laws prohibiting discrimination, AI-powered hiring tools have repeatedly caused concerns about bias, fairness, and data privacy. https://t.co/Gyl7PSweRU #AI #Women #Technology #Jobs #ArtificialInteligence
Small Businesses Are Being Regulated Like Corporates. Here’s the Problem.
UK small and medium‑sized enterprises face mounting pressure from new Employment Rights reforms and stricter UK GDPR enforcement, demanding precise contracts, leave records, and audit trails. Most lack dedicated HR teams, relying on informal processes that work for ten‑person outfits...
Future of Work: People, Agents, Robots Collaborate
The future of work isn’t Human vs. Machine. We’re moving toward a "tripartite" workforce: People + Agents + Robots Despite AI’s ability to automate 57% of tasks, the human element remains the competitive edge. See why: https://t.co/akYPtsI3GU @McKinsey_MGI #AI #MWC26 #IoT #5G #FutureOfWork
Build Better Client Relationships and Win a House Deposit, Shoosmiths Tells Lawyers
Shoosmiths has launched a firm‑wide challenge urging lawyers and staff to devise measurable ways to improve client relationships. The top performer will win either a £25,000 house‑deposit contribution or a brand‑new car, with the winner announced in April. Smaller quarterly...
Finding the Operational ‘Sweet Spot’
A joint study by Revenue Management Solutions and Merchant Centric identified an operational "sweet spot" where strategic labor investment, guest sentiment, and unit profitability converge. The research shows that well‑trained, low‑turnover restaurant teams consistently earn higher review scores, Net Promoter...
Is Your Hiring Assessment a Lie Detector in Disguise? It Could Be a Class Action Time Bomb⏰💣
A Massachusetts federal court denied a motion to dismiss a putative class action alleging that a pre‑hire "Workstyle Assessment" functions as an unlawful lie detector. The assessment asked candidates to rate statements on planning, persistence, reliability and emotional awareness, and...
How to Evaluate HR Tech Vendors for Cybersecurity
HR data appears in four out of five cyber breaches, highlighting the sector’s vulnerability. As HR platforms become central to employee information ecosystems, vendor security directly impacts corporate risk. A structured evaluation—starting with data‑flow mapping, compliance verification, and baseline controls—helps...
ABB Gets P Voona as HR Leader (People & Culture BP-ABB Robotics India, MEA)
Praveen Voona, after more than 15 years at Airbus, has joined ABB as the People & Culture Business Partner for ABB Robotics in India and the Middle East‑Africa region. Voona holds a BTech in Electronics and Telecommunications and an MBA in HRM,...
Block’s Layoffs Are an Outlier. Their Influence Might Not Be.
Block announced a 40% workforce reduction, framing the move as an AI‑driven efficiency push. The cut follows high‑profile restructurings by Elon Musk at Twitter and Andy Jassy’s office‑return mandate, which together expanded the range of acceptable corporate actions. Analysts warn...
Why Claims Data Underestimates Mental Health Risk
Employers often rely on isolated claims or EAP call counts, which dramatically understate the true scale of behavioral health issues in the workforce. By aggregating medical, pharmacy, and EAP data—and even website analytics—companies can capture both prevalence and cost, revealing...
Why Security Teams Can No Longer Ignore Recruitment Fraud
Recruitment fraud is emerging as a critical enterprise security threat, driven by AI‑powered social engineering that can convincingly impersonate recruiters and hiring workflows. Labor market volatility, highlighted by 1.17 million U.S. job cuts in 2025, has amplified the urgency and exposure...
South Africa’s Move to Greener Energy Is Creating New Jobs, but Benefits Aren’t Evenly Spread
South Africa’s green transition is boosting employment, with green jobs rising from 12.4% of the labour force in 2022 to 14.8% in 2024. Growth is concentrated in utilities, mining, construction and finance, driven by government procurement and sustainable‑finance policies. However,...
41 Layoffs at Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride Maker Halfbrick
Australian game developer Halfbrick, known for Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, announced it is cutting 41 jobs. The layoffs include redundancies in its Australian operations and the termination of several international engagements. The cuts come as the studio navigates a...
SAP Faces Employee Uproar over Bonus Overhaul
SAP announced a new global bonus structure that ties rewards to performance, but senior managers can still receive stock‑based incentives even when targets are missed. Junior and mid‑level employees face higher thresholds, prompting widespread dissatisfaction. The company has set aside...
Vocalbeats.AI Announces Scholarship with National University of Singapore to Accelerate AI-Native Talent Development
Vocalbeats.AI, a Singapore‑based AI audio firm, launched the Vocalbeats.AI Scholarship at the National University of Singapore for students in the School of Computing and the College of Design and Engineering starting in 2026. Recipients will receive priority access to internships,...
NJIT to Launch Expanded AI and Cybersecurity Workforce Training in Partnership with Verizon
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) announced an expanded workforce development program in partnership with Verizon, launching in early April. The grant‑backed initiative offers no‑cost training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and core IT skills to eligible New Jersey residents. Participants...
How L&D Leaders Can Build AI Literacy to Stay Competitive in the Future of Work
Learning and Development leaders must acquire AI literacy to remain competitive as artificial intelligence reshapes how work is performed. Over half of L&D professionals already view AI as a strategic advantage, but the goal is to enhance learning effectiveness, not...
POV: Should Companies Track Employee Productivity Metrics, or Does Surveillance Erode Trust?
The shift to remote and hybrid work has turned employee productivity tracking into a high‑tech practice, ranging from keystroke logging to AI‑driven analytics. Leaders argue that transparent, outcome‑focused metrics can enhance accountability, while critics warn that covert surveillance erodes morale...
How CISOs Can Build a Resilient Workforce
Cybersecurity leaders face mounting workforce challenges as skill gaps, burnout, and unpredictable threat spikes strain limited budgets. CISOs like Stephen Ford and Jon France emphasize data‑driven staffing, AI‑augmented workflows, and early‑career pipelines to sustain teams. The 2025 ISC2 study shows...
Food Workforce Crisis Deepens as Labour Shortages Threaten Supply and Service
The Institute of Grocery Distribution warns that the UK food sector’s workforce crisis is deepening, with 4.1 million employees facing mounting labour shortages and skill gaps. Unemployment has risen by over 650 000 since 2022, while nearly one million young people remain...
Smart Spending: Inexpensive Strategies for IT Professional Development in Higher Education
Higher‑education IT leaders can sustain staff growth despite tight budgets by adopting low‑cost professional‑development tactics. Strategies include carving out dedicated learning time, crafting individual development plans, and leveraging free online courses, vendor training, and internal mentoring circles. Emphasizing a culture...
Employee Forced to Express in Storeroom Wins $200k in Compensation, Penalties
The Federal Circuit Court awarded a former UAE consulate employee more than $203,000 after finding the Melbourne office forced her to express breastmilk in a storeroom and treated her poorly. The court upheld her claims of discrimination, adverse action, and...
772: How to Measure Your Meeting’s Success, with Rebecca Hinds
In this episode, host Dave Stachowiak talks with Rebecca Hinds, an expert on organizational behavior and author of *Your Best Meeting Ever*, about how to measure meeting effectiveness. They explore why meetings are often sabotaged, the pitfalls of relying solely...