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.
Guns at Work: Keeping Employees Safe in Troubling Times
Nearly two million U.S. workers report workplace violence each year, with homicides representing 9% of on‑the‑job fatalities in 2023 and suicides another 5%. Over half of the states have enacted "parking lot" statutes that limit an employer’s ability to restrict lawful firearms stored in vehicles on their premises. These laws create a new protected class for gun owners and impose steep civil penalties for violations. Employers must therefore balance safety initiatives with compliance to avoid liability.
Nurses Aren’t Burned Out, They’re Being Burned by the System
Recent data shows 53% of nurses consider leaving monthly, indicating systemic burnout. The national turnover rate of 16.4% costs about $61,110 per replacement, harming patient care and morale. HR leaders must address root causes—understaffing, erratic schedules, limited autonomy—through workforce planning,...
How AI Could Kill the Return to Office
Executives are pushing return‑to‑office (RTO) mandates even as they pour billions into AI initiatives that automate tasks traditionally done on‑site. Recent research shows RTO does not improve productivity, innovation, or team cohesion, but it does erode morale and increase turnover....
Liberia: Workers Stage Violent Protest in Yekepa
Workers at AFCON, an Indian contractor for ArcelorMittal Liberia, staged a violent protest on Feb 18 at the Yekepa mining camp, leaving a police officer wounded and 27 arrests. The unrest, sparked by stagnant wages and unmet benefits, follows a...
Everyone Has a Side Hustle Now. Not Everyone Has the Same Reason.
The Wage to Wallet Index reveals that roughly 60 million hourly workers earning $50,000 or less are turning to side work, with one in five performing regular gigs. While overall job‑security sentiment is rising, financial confidence is splitting: higher‑income salaried professionals...
Built for Speed, Designed for Scale: 6 Gig Workforce Management Leaders in Singapore and Malaysia 2025
The 2025 HR Vendors of the Year awards highlighted six platforms that are redefining gig workforce management in Singapore and Malaysia. As organisations shift from spreadsheets to purpose‑built solutions, the demand for scalable onboarding, real‑time coordination, and compliance has surged....
Berkelouw Books, Harry Hartog Operators Sued by Union over Employee Contracts
The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) has sued the operators of Berkelouw Books and the Harry Hartog chain, alleging a 13‑year‑old enterprise agreement that denies basic wage loading and penalty rates. Over 100 employees across four Berkelouw and fourteen...
Onboarding in the Metaverse: Does VR Improve Retention?
Companies are replacing static video onboarding with immersive VR experiences to improve new‑hire retention. By building digital twins of offices, adding spatial audio, and gamifying compliance, firms create memorable, interactive training that accelerates cultural integration. Early adopters such as Accenture,...
Wells Fargo Elevates Padmavathi AV to VP-HRBP
Wells Fargo has promoted Padmavathi AV to Vice President‑Human Resource Business Partner, elevating her from senior HR consultant role she assumed in 2023. She brings an MBA in Human Resources and a track record that includes leadership positions at Ashok...
Banking’s Crisis of Meaning: When Purpose Disappears
Dharmesh Mistry warns that AI‑driven automation is stripping banking jobs of their intrinsic purpose, turning roles into mere button‑pressing tasks. He argues that a superficial brand slogan like “better banking” won’t survive when machines already deliver superior products. Instead, banks...
Unfair Dismissal Ruling Stands, Despite "Profoundly Troubling" Evidence
The Fair Work Commission’s full bench refused to overturn an unfair dismissal finding against a University of Melbourne professor, despite evidence of inappropriate conduct with a student. The professor was terminated in December 2024 for alleged “wilful and deliberate contraventions”...
A Better Way to Handle Immigrants’ Occupational Licensing
Universal license recognition (ULR) lets professionals keep their state licenses when they move, eliminating redundant testing and paperwork. The article argues that the same competence‑based model should be extended to foreign‑trained workers, whose credentials are often stalled by rigid “substantial...
Fewer Meetings, Faster Shipping: Autonomy at Vercel
Our goal is to operate like the world's largest startup. One of our new colleagues told me today that what she loves the most about Vercel is how few meetings we have and how fast she can ship. And that at her...
B Contact Center WFM Maturity Assessment Framework
The B Contact Center WFM Maturity Assessment Framework provides a structured, evidence‑based method to gauge workforce management capabilities across ten weighted domains. It combines a multi‑rater scoring model, configurable domain and assessor weights, and a five‑point rubric to generate a...
Prashant Patankar to Head HR for JioBlackRock
Prashant Patankar has left his role as HR Lead at Colgate‑Palmolive to become head of human resources at JioBlackRock Investment Advisers. Patankar brings more than 15 years of experience across banking, consumer goods, and consulting, most recently overseeing the GCC/GBS...
Employer Liable for Psych Injury Caused by "Misperceived" Work Events
A NSW Personal Injury Commission member ruled that a security guard’s bipolar disorder, worsened by ongoing workplace stress and perceived personal attacks, qualifies for workers' compensation. The employer’s defense—that the employee’s condition stemmed from prior drug use and a non‑work‑related...
The Multifamily Operations Tip of the Day: Why Change Management Is the Real Work
The Multifamily Collective’s daily tip highlights that most operational initiatives falter because employees don’t adopt new tools, not because the tools are flawed. Effective change management begins by clearly communicating the rationale behind each change and involving staff early in...
More Leaders Are Viewing Rest as a Necessity, Not a Luxury
More leaders are recognizing rest as essential, not a luxury. Leadership advisor Tara James observes a shift away from hustle culture, promoting a "switch off to switch on" mindset. New research linking employee wellbeing to performance, combined with a surge...
Department of Labor Issues FLSA Guidance in Recent Opinion Letters
Earlier in 2026 the U.S. Department of Labor released two opinion letters interpreting key Fair Labor Standards Act provisions. The first letter clarified that employers may lawfully reclassify a worker who meets the learned professional exemption as nonexempt, provided overtime...
M&A Monday: Incentivizing Employees After Closing
In M&A deals, retaining staff after closing hinges on well‑designed incentive programs. Sponsors can choose between simple Christmas performance bonuses, phantom equity arrangements, or full equity plans such as stock options, each with distinct tax and legal considerations. The article...
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6.1 Million Workers Have the Most to Lose From AI
A Brookings Institution study finds that 6.1 million U.S. workers occupy jobs highly exposed to AI while possessing low ability to transition to new roles. Customer service representatives top the list of at‑risk occupations, and the cohort is 86 % women in...
Forget B2B—Think P2P (People-to-People), and Other Tips For Genuine Thought Leadership
SupportYourApp’s CEO Daria Leshchenko demonstrates that thought leadership succeeds when it centers on people‑to‑people storytelling rather than pure B2B messaging. By granting her team autonomy, sharing personal successes and failures, and publishing across LinkedIn, Inc. forums, and podcasts, she has...
Govt Reinforces Local Employment Compliance Across Zambia’s Mining Industry
Zambia’s government is tightening enforcement of the Employment Code Act and the Geological and Minerals Development Act, mandating mining firms to give first preference to Zambian workers. Expatriate hires are only permitted when a genuine skills gap exists and must...
Inside the Rolling Layoffs at Jack Dorsey’s Block
Jack Dorsey’s Block announced a rolling layoff that could trim roughly 10% of its 11,000‑person workforce. The cuts are being framed as performance‑based, yet employees report a crumbling culture, heightened anxiety, and a mandatory shift to generative AI tools. Workers...
PSA, Flight Attendants Reach Tentative Labor Agreement
PSA Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants‑CWA have reached a tentative three‑year labor agreement that delivers an immediate 10 % wage increase, retroactive pay and a boarding‑pay premium that can add up to 16 % to earnings. Over the contract term,...
Hackajob Hits $1M in ARR, New CEO at Employ
The episode covers four major HR tech developments: Employ Inc. appoints serial entrepreneur Jerry Jao as CEO, emphasizing a people‑first approach while accelerating AI innovation; hackajob’s AI recruiting agent Archer hits $1 M ARR in just 90 days by pre‑qualifying candidates...
Will My Angry Work Friend Harm My Reputation?
A worker worries that a close colleague’s increasingly hostile behavior at work could tarnish his own reputation. The advice recommends a candid, private conversation with the colleague rather than involving the manager, unless clear reputational damage emerges. Maintaining a distinct...
Supreme Court Clarifies Rules Around Illegible Arbitration Agreements
California’s Supreme Court in Fuentes v. Empire Nissan clarified that a barely readable arbitration clause creates procedural unconscionability, but enforceability still hinges on substantive fairness. The court found the arbitration terms themselves were not inherently one‑sided, yet it sent the...
CoStar Confirms Layoffs Following Investor Criticism, AI Push
CoStar Group confirmed a new round of layoffs while unveiling its Homes AI feature, a tool that blends Microsoft Azure models with the company’s property data. The cuts, reported to affect photo, video, and content teams tied to Homes.com, come...
Labour Codes: Nearly Two Dozen Employer Compliances Listed
India’s labour and employment ministry has issued a handbook detailing nearly two dozen compliance obligations for employers under the four newly‑enforced labour codes. The codes—covering wages, social security, industrial relations, and occupational safety—replaced 29 legacy statutes on 21 November 2025. Obligations are...
Job Searching in 2026 Is Tough. Here’s How to Cut Through the Noise.
In 2026, supply chain leaders are scrambling to fill niche, tech‑driven roles as digitalization accelerates. AI‑powered job‑search tools have become indispensable, offering resume optimization and targeted outreach, but misuse can hurt candidacy. The article advises job seekers on leveraging AI...
Contact Centre Strategies Summit Toronto 2026
The Contact Centre Strategies Summit Toronto 2026 will take place February 24‑25 at the Old Mill Toronto Hotel, offering both in‑person and virtual attendance. Organized by Strategy Institute, the two‑day event targets leaders from financial services, retail, telecom, healthcare, public...
Ubisoft Confirms Layoffs at Toronto Studio, but Insists Splinter Cell’s Remake Is Still Coming
Ubisoft confirmed it is laying off roughly 40 employees, about 8% of its Toronto studio, one of the company’s largest development hubs. The cuts come as part of a broader restructuring that introduces autonomous "creative houses" and aims to trim...
Caregivers Find Much-Needed Relief with This Unique Eldercare Solution
CareYaya, a student‑matching platform, connects college students with seniors and disabled adults to provide non‑medical in‑home assistance. By paying students directly at about $20 an hour, the service reduces care costs roughly 50 % compared with traditional agencies. The app’s algorithm...
How to Drive Change Management During M&A Integration
Mergers and acquisitions are fundamentally change initiatives, yet many firms neglect dedicated change management. Appointing a specialized change manager transforms integration from ad‑hoc tasks into a value‑creation engine, especially after the deal closes. A proven methodology—interviews, surveys, reporting, action plans,...
New HR Tech: Workleap, Stratas
Workleap unveiled a Human Capital agent integrated with Slack, leveraging the Real‑Time Search API and Model Context Protocol to deliver live performance, engagement, and coaching insights. The AI analyzes Slack conversations anonymously, surfacing team signals alongside existing goal and historical...
AI You Can Trust, Insights You Can Use: Lever’s Latest Innovations, Built for Confident Hiring
Lever unveiled a suite of AI‑driven hiring tools designed around trust and actionable insight. The platform now leverages IBM’s watsonx for built‑in governance, offering transparent recommendations and bias monitoring. New features like the AI Screening Companion and automated early assessments...
Echo360 Partners with Exxat to Advance Skills-Based Learning
Echo360 announced a partnership with Exxat to extend its AI‑powered video assessment tool, GoReact, into experiential education programs worldwide. The collaboration leverages an LTI integration that lets institutions blend skill practice, observation, and feedback across healthcare and human services curricula....
Fiverr Shifts Focus to High-End Work as AI Transforms the Gig Economy: 2025 Results and 2026 Outlook
Fiverr reported a 10% revenue increase to $430.9 million in 2025 and achieved a record adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.3%, underscoring strong profitability. The company deliberately shed 14% of its active buyers while average spend per buyer rose 13.3% to $342,...
Brian Platz – The Future of AI in HR: Privacy, Security, and Transformation Opportunities
The latest HRtech podcast episode examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping human resources, emphasizing the need for robust data privacy and security frameworks. It outlines practical steps HR leaders can take to protect employee information while leveraging AI-driven insights. The...
Turn a Quitter Into an Upgrade with a 3‑Week System
Someone on your team will quit this year. You may not need to replace them. Most of what they do daily is repeatable process. Not magic. Not instinct. Process. Here's a 3-week system that turns a departure into an upgrade: 🧵
TELUS Health Benefits Administration Profile Receives In‑Depth Review
.@DeeAnnaW_NH's @NHInsight #BenefitsAdministration profile on TELUS Health is a comprehensive assessment of the company’s offerings and capabilities: https://t.co/QTZQPc1ueC #BenefitsAdmin #Benefits #HR #Digital #Wellbeing #AI https://t.co/BDtr4NOZQd
Are Target’s Store Investments Enough to Turn Its Experience Around?
Target’s new CEO Michael Fiddelke is prioritizing customer experience by adding store labor hours and launching a universal training program, while cutting about 500 district and supply‑chain roles. The initiative aims to fix in‑store pain points such as low in‑stock...
Hiring Process Demands Absurdly Many Manual Steps
company: upload your resume, re-enter everything manually, complete this 120-question personality test, record a fun 2-minute video about yourself, and provide 7 references applicant: https://t.co/OdaxWQ6T1p
#317 Nicole Antonio-Gadsdon Founder at Banana Pepper HR - Hiring for Human Magic and Hospitality Alchemists
In this episode, host Michael welcomes Nicole Antonio‑Gadsdon, founder of Banana Pepper HR, to discuss her new book *Help Wanted*, which reframes hiring as a form of hospitality that seeks "human magic" rather than just technical competence. Nicole argues that...
HR Must Balance Human and Machine Intelligence
Human and machine intelligence: what #HR must govern @TPShub https://t.co/1lGyQbILYf #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #CPO #Hiring #Recruitment #PeopleManagement #Culture #Change #FutureofHR #HRCurator
Giggle Raises Funding to Expand Flexible Staffing Platform
Budapest‑based Giggle, a mobile‑first staffing platform for blue‑collar shift work, has closed an undisclosed funding round led by OXO Labs and Catalyst NXT Ventures. The capital will fund Giggle’s entry into Romania and accelerate growth across its existing Central and...
Accenture Ties Promotions to AI Tool Usage While some Employees Call the Tools "Broken Slop Generators"
Accenture has begun monitoring weekly logins to its generative AI tools and tying usage data to promotion decisions for senior staff. Employees must demonstrate regular AI adoption to be considered for leadership roles, while staff in 12 European countries and...
When Talent Development Becomes an Investment Imperative
Companies worldwide are struggling to hire professionals who can make independent, judgment‑based decisions, a gap highlighted by ManpowerGroup’s 2025 Talent Shortage report showing 75 % of firms lack such talent. Investors now view this shortage as a strategic constraint, prompting funds...
Keltbray Targets AI and Data Skills with Multiverse
Keltbray has partnered with upskilling platform Multiverse to enroll 25 employees in Level 3 AI‑Powered Productivity and Data & Insights courses. The training focuses on generative AI tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot and on turning raw data into actionable business insights. Keltbray...