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.
4th Circuit Decision Highlights WARN Act Risks for Broader Corporate Families
The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a group of five related mining companies acted as a single employer for WARN Act purposes, affirming a jury verdict for a class of terminated workers. The court applied a multifactor test—common ownership, shared officers, joint payroll, and employee exchanges—to determine joint liability. The decision highlights that corporate families can face federal notice obligations even when layoffs are executed by separate legal entities. It also reminds employers that state mini‑WARN statutes may impose additional requirements.
Cemetery Locked Black Employees Out of Restroom Open to White Workers, EEOC Alleges
The EEOC filed a complaint against StoneMor GP, LLC alleging the funeral‑services firm locked a restroom and break room, allowing only White employees to use them while Black staff were forced to use a neighboring gas station’s facilities for ten...
CFOs Are Slowing Headcount Growth, Survey Says
Gartner’s February budget benchmarks, based on a survey of over 300 CFOs, show tech spending staying robust while HR budgets are set to flatten. Average HR budget growth drops from 2.4% in 2025 to just 0.7% in 2026, and only...
Europe's Strict Regulations Push Talent Toward the US
🇪🇺 @steipete on why Europe was unable to retain him as talent: "In the US, most people are enthusiastic. In Europe, I get insulted, people scream REGULATION and RESPONSIBILITY. And if I really build a company here, then I get to struggle...
Redefine Pay Now or Risk "a Much Broader Retention Issue"
HR leaders are being urged to rethink remuneration as a widening pay perception gap emerges. Robert Walters' 2026 Salary Guide shows 81% of employees feel their wages lag behind rising living costs, with 41% believing they are underpaid, while 85%...
Short Takes #17: Time's Unfolding
In Short Takes #17, the host reflects on a personal "functional freeze" triggered by a severe snowstorm and broader societal stressors, linking it to anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, and trauma. The episode highlights two policy issues: the need for a...
New York Enacts Chapter Amendment to “Trapped at Work Act,” Clarifying Scope, Creating Targeted Exceptions, and Delaying Effective Date
Governor Hochul signed a chapter amendment to New York’s Trapped at Work Act, narrowing its coverage to employees and redefining repayment obligations. The amendment postpones the law’s operative provisions to December 19 2026, effectively delaying compliance for a year. It introduces targeted...
Papa John's Franchisee Loses Power to Compel Arbitration After Missing AAA Payment
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that Papa Texas, a Papa John’s franchisee, cannot compel arbitration after it failed to pay its share of the American Arbitration Association fees. The company missed multiple payment deadlines despite settlement...
Seventh Circuit Strikes Down Religious Accommodation Claim Lacking Specific Beliefs
The Seventh Circuit upheld the dismissal of religious‑accommodation claims by three Illinois school employees who refused COVID‑19 vaccination and weekly testing. The court ruled that invoking a vague moral conscience without linking the objection to a specific religious belief does...
TEKsystems Loses Overtime Battle: Court Says Recruiters Are Producers, Not Admins
A Pennsylvania federal judge ruled that TEKsystems misclassified its recruiters as exempt, finding they perform core sales functions and are therefore entitled to overtime. The decision highlights that actual job duties, not titles, determine exemption status under the Fair Labor...
Court Rules Medicare Compliance No Defense Against OSHA Workplace Violence Citations
A Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals decision rejected Cedar Springs Hospital's claim that Medicare compliance shields it from OSHA workplace‑violence citations. The Colorado psychiatric facility was cited for seven safety deficiencies and fined $13,494. The court clarified that CMS regulations...
Law Professors Sue EEOC to Expose Secret BigLaw DEI Settlement Terms
Two law professors have filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking the release of secret settlement agreements the agency reached with several major law firms over their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The settlements, signed between...
Pinterest and Maven Team up to Provide Menopause Support to Employees
Pinterest has partnered with Maven Clinic to launch a unified menopause, fertility and parenting support platform for its workforce. The initiative aims to curb the $1.8 billion productivity loss attributed to menopause‑related disruptions in 2023. By consolidating care into a single...
Why Inclusion Fails Before Leaders Engage
The episode explores why diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives often collapse before leadership even engages, focusing on three core problems: misaligned incentives, the chicken‑and‑egg dilemma of proving value, and the lack of a commercial business case. It argues that risk‑averse...
Divided FTC Finalizes Rule to Ban Noncompete Agreements
The Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule banning most non‑compete agreements, approved by a 3‑2 vote and set to take effect 120 days after publication. The regulation spares only senior executives earning over $151,164, preserving existing clauses for that group....
The Small Behaviors That Build Trust (and the Common Ones That Destroy It) with Dr. Paul Zak
In this episode, behavioral neuroscientist Dr. Paul Zak explains how trust is rooted in oxytocin and how everyday actions—like granting autonomy, giving fast, personal recognition, and showing vulnerability—can boost it. He shows that moderate stress, the "adjective hack," and the...
Latest Updates on the UK Employment Rights Act 2025: Revised Implementation Timeline and New Consultations
The UK government has revised the Employment Rights Act 2025 rollout, moving six flagship reforms—including doubled redundancy awards, whistleblowing updates and menopause guidance—to 6 April 2026 and establishing the Fair Work Agency on 7 April 2026. Electronic and workplace balloting will now debut in...
Design Hybrid Work Intentionally; Leadership Shapes Future
Last month I had the pleasure of speaking at the Vienna-based International Organizations HR Network (VBIO) at the United Nations in Vienna on rethinking hybrid work. Three reminders: • There’s no one-size-fits-all hybrid model. Design it intentionally. • Hybrid isn’t an HR issue,...
How HR Leaders Can Respond to Traumatic Events in Minneapolis and Beyond
More than 60 Minnesota CEOs issued a statement after two ICE‑related killings, but omitted direct references to ICE and the victims, prompting criticism from business leaders. The muted corporate reaction contrasts with the robust CEO responses seen after George Floyd’s...
Gain Confidence Complying with California HR Laws at HR Boot Camp
California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is hosting a virtual HR Boot Camp on February 26‑27, 2026, offering two half‑day seminars to help employers navigate California’s complex employment laws. The curriculum spans hiring, wage‑and‑hour rules, paid‑time‑off policies, protected leaves, reasonable accommodations, harassment prevention,...
Making the Warehouse a Better Place to Work
Warehouse automation promises easier picking and safer loading, yet it alone cannot solve the talent crunch. Industry leaders argue that career growth, cross‑training, and clear development pathways are essential to retain workers. Honeywell highlights training on new technology as a...
600,000 Black Women Displaced—Community Must Build Solutions
Story: I recently shared that over 600,000 Black women have been pushed out of their roles across multiple sectors. This news is devastating, and it is targeted. Now that we see what’s happening, the real question is: what are we going...
Littler Edge Training - Q1 2026
Littler Mendelson is hosting a live webinar on March 12, 2026 to demonstrate Littler Edge, its new employment‑and‑labor‑law compliance platform. The 45‑minute session, led by Knowledge Management Director Katherine R. Hinde, will walk participants through the tool’s search, guidance, and...
The Guardian Launches Year-Long Reporting Initiative Exploring AI, Work and Power
The Guardian has launched a year‑long reporting series called Reworked that puts workers at the centre of the AI‑driven transformation of workplaces. The initiative will document how AI systems affect scheduling, pay, promotions and creative output across sectors such as...
PE Pay Lessons
Private‑equity (PE) firms lure executives with potentially massive, but highly conditional, equity payouts tied to long‑term value creation and exit events. Public‑company boards are feeling pressure as top talent compares these offers to traditional compensation packages that combine salary, cash...
SHRM: Year-Round Upskilling Opportunities Tied to ‘Significantly’ Higher Engagement
SHRM’s latest survey of over 1,500 employees finds that organizations that promote upskilling opportunities year‑round see engagement rates of 59%, compared with 31% at firms that do not. Respondents also reported higher job satisfaction and stronger commitment when access to...
BioWare Continues Mass Effect 5 Development With New Senior Hire
BioWare has posted a senior‑level opening, confirming that Mass Effect 5 has moved beyond pre‑production. The studio is re‑uniting original trilogy talent, including Dusty Everman and Parrish Ley, and has chosen Unreal Engine 5 over the troubled Frostbite platform. With Dragon Age...
A Concise Summary Transforms Generic Resumes Into Impact
Something small we worked on recently that made a big difference: the summary section. A lot of resumes I review are well-written… but too broad. They sound strong. They just don’t say enough.
Revamping High Volume Hiring Strategies
High‑volume hiring, often overlooked, is essential for maintaining business continuity. Companies struggle with a pronounced supply‑demand mismatch, especially for frontline positions. The article argues that future talent acquisition must balance operational efficiency with strategic use of technology. Emphasizing technology as...
Black Women Employment Sees One of Its Sharpest Annual Declines in Past 25 Years
New Economic Policy Institute analysis shows Black women’s employment rate fell to 55.7% in 2025, a 1.4‑point drop and one of the steepest annual declines in the past 25 years. The decline was most pronounced among college‑educated Black women, whose...
Leading With Grounded Confidence
Wharton Executive Education and its Center for Leadership and Change Management have launched Nano Tools for Leaders, a set of bite‑size practices inspired by Brené Brown’s *Strong Ground* and Adam Grant’s research. The tools teach leaders to anchor decisions in two core...
The New Talent Architecture: Building Organizations for the AI Era
The article argues that traditional, role‑centric talent models are obsolete in the AI era and proposes a new talent architecture built on five pillars. It emphasizes shifting to skills‑based inventories, designing explicit human‑AI collaboration layers, embedding continuous learning into daily...
Upcoming Webinar | Confidently Navigate the EU Pay Transparency Directive
The EU Pay Transparency Directive, one of the most comprehensive pay‑equity laws, will take effect in 2026 across all member states. It requires employers to publish gender‑pay gap data and detailed compensation breakdowns. To help organizations prepare, HRtechBot is hosting...
Concord Hospitality Promotes Three Executives to Senior Roles
Concord Hospitality announced the promotion of three senior executives: Joe Trumfio to senior vice president of investment operations, compliance and reporting; Cathryn Andrews to senior vice president of hotel accounting; and Alex Langston to senior director of risk management. Trumfio’s newly...
NHS Workers Hounded by Bailiffs over Payroll Errors
A Freedom of Information review of 142 NHS trusts reveals a sharp rise in staff referrals to bailiffs over payroll overpayments, climbing from 1,807 cases in 2020‑21 to 2,683 in 2024‑25. Since 2020, trusts have made an average of 50,770...
Endless Meetings and Apps Leave Employees Struggling to Focus
Employees are now averaging only two to three hours of uninterrupted focus each day as meeting density and app overload surge. Hubstaff’s 2026 Global Benchmarks Report shows meeting frequency has doubled and organizations run six times more meetings than two...
How Inclusive Leadership Can Shape the Next Generation of Games
At Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026, Aurora UK Awards highlighted women and non‑binary leaders, featuring an interview with former Monument Valley director Jennifer Estaris. Estaris emphasizes designing inclusion into hiring, mentorship, and leadership culture, arguing it drives creative and commercial...
Hackajob Announces Its AI Recruiting Agent Has Surpassed $1 Million in ARR
Hackajob announced that its AI recruiting agent, Archer, generated $1 million in annual recurring revenue within just 90 days of launch, making it the fastest‑growing AI‑native recruiting product. The platform qualified 35,000 double‑opt‑in introductions, achieved a 20:1 candidate‑to‑hire ratio and blocked...
Nearly 90% of the Largest U.S. Healthcare Systems Use UKG
UKG announced its presence at ViVE 2026 and HIMSS 2026, showcasing its Workforce Operating Platform tailored for healthcare. The platform, already used by nearly 90% of the largest U.S. health systems, combines HR, payroll and AI‑driven workforce management to boost productivity and...
Eight Essential AI Agents Shaping HR by 2026
8 AI Agents Every HR Leader Needs to Know in 2026 AI agents are becoming essential in HR — here are eight that HR leaders should understand and consider by 2026. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eck4Ey4x #AI #HRTech #FutureOfWork #BernardMarr
WGA Staff Strike Ahead of AMPTP Negotiations
WGA will need to negotiate with WGA first --> WGA Staff Go on Strike Weeks Ahead of AMPTP Negotiations https://t.co/6a3cYzRhff via @variety
URecruits’ Agentic AI Helps Recruiters Cut Admin Tasks and Reduce Candidate Ghosting
uRecruits has launched an Agentic AI platform that automates core recruiting tasks such as job creation, resume parsing, candidate ranking, and interview scheduling. The autonomous agents cut administrative work by up to 60 % and reduce candidate ghosting by 50 %, while...
Human Judgment Essential Amid Algorithmic Authority
Beware #Algorithmic Authority: Why #Ethics, #Fairness, and #Accountability Still Require Human Judgement @ABPsychologists https://t.co/OLLiMUIGOx #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #CPO #Hiring #Recruitment #PeopleManagement #Culture #Change #FutureofHR #HRCurator
Amy Armitage Explores Future of Work & Human Capital
Directionally Correct Podcast #158 - Amy Armitage - The #FutureofWork, #HumanCapital, & The Conference Board https://t.co/OV3Xj5RfMu #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #CPO #Hiring #Recruitment #PeopleManagement #Culture #Change #FutureofHR #HRCurator
UK Employees Are Absorbing the Hidden Costs of Modern Work, New Data Reveals
Capture Expense’s analysis of 371,000 UK expense claims shows employees are shouldering hidden costs of modern work. Only 7% of firms reimburse home‑office setups, leaving staff to fund equipment and utilities. Claims reveal significant micro‑spends on coffee, meals and entertainment,...
Future Success: Reward Choosing the Right Problems
RT "In the last generation, we rewarded people who knew how to solve problems. In the next generation, we'll have to reward people for knowing what problems to solve." #AI #TalentDevelopment #FutureOfWork #CHRO #CIO @Star_CIO https://t.co/RMed8Fg4kv
Mediazoo Group Launches Unified Vision Designed to Give Organisations a Competitive Edge
Mediazoo Group has officially launched, consolidating its three specialist firms—Mediazoo, Finer Vision, and Uncertainty Experts—under a single vision to boost human performance. The combined offering blends purpose‑driven storytelling, AI‑enabled training, and neuroscience‑based behavioural science. Recent accolades, including the LPI Learning...
Top 9 Future‑of‑Work Trends Shaping 2026
9 #FutureofWork Trends for 2026 @Gartner_inc https://t.co/HdHjM5oK4t #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #CPO #Hiring #Recruitment #PeopleManagement #Culture #Change #FutureofHR #HRCurator
HireClix Introduces ‘Welcome Back’ Functionality to Improve Candidate Engagement and Enhance Personalization
HireClix has launched a new "Welcome Back" feature for its HireClix‑powered career sites, using secure local storage to recall a returning candidate’s recent search terms and last‑viewed job. The functionality automatically restores the user’s previous activity, letting candidates resume their...
How Curiosity Shaped a Career in TA: Carmen Hudson’s Career Crossroads
Carmen Hudson, a seasoned talent acquisition leader, credits curiosity as the engine behind her varied career moves. She recounts how each transition—from agency recruiting to corporate TA leadership—was driven by a desire to explore new challenges and learn emerging hiring...