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.
The Networking Blueprint: 5 Tips to Build Connections for Long-Term Success
Professional networking is essential for career growth across industries. The article outlines why connections matter, from uncovering job opportunities to gaining strategic advice, and lists typical network constituents such as former classmates, colleagues, and mentors. It then provides five actionable tips: find shared interests, connect with goal‑aligned people, give back, stay learning‑focused, and maintain balanced contact. Following this blueprint helps professionals build lasting relationships that support long‑term success.
The Inbox Vs. The Pocket: Why ATS Vendors Need to Embrace Text for Hourly & Skilled-Trade Hiring
Applicant tracking systems still mandate email addresses, creating a major barrier for hourly and skilled‑trade workers who prefer mobile communication. Mobile ownership is near‑universal, with text messages delivering roughly 98% open rates and 30‑45% response rates, far outpacing email. The...
E.ON Backs Call for Fairer Fertility Rights at Work and Signs the Fertility Support Pledge
E.ON has signed the national Fertility Support Pledge, aligning its policy with the proposed Fertility Treatment (Right to Time Off) Bill that seeks statutory paid leave for fertility appointments. The energy group already offers unlimited paid fertility leave, flexible working,...
7 Strategies to Smartly Set and Achieve Career Goals in Today’s Workplace
In today’s dynamic workplace, deliberate career planning is essential. A new guide outlines seven actionable strategies—from defining a personal vision to celebrating milestones—to help professionals set realistic, attainable goals. It emphasizes the SMART framework, breaking objectives into bite‑size tasks, and...
The New Wage Rule and the $100K Proclamation Will Shape the 2026 H‑1B Cap Season
USCIS opened the FY 2027 H‑1B cap registration window for March 4‑19, 2026, requiring online registration and a $215 fee per entry. The season will be dominated by a new wage‑weighted lottery that assigns multiple entries to higher wage levels (Level II‑IV) versus a...
DOL Poised to Move Faster than Congress on Retirement Reform
The U.S. Department of Labor is poised to issue regulations expanding 401(k) access to alternative investments, meeting a February 3 deadline set by a Trump‑era executive order. A final rule could be adopted by year‑end with implementation slated for 2027,...
Payroll Errors Keep Repeating: How HR Can Catch Issues Earlier
Payroll errors keep surfacing after payday because manual spot checks can’t keep up with frequent rule changes. The article proposes automated workforce management testing, which runs real‑world pay scenarios against current overtime, differential and accrual rules before payroll closes. By...
21 Gemini Prompts HR Can Copy and Paste (with Step-by-Step Prompts)
The article introduces 21 ready‑to‑use Gemini prompts designed to streamline repetitive HR tasks such as job postings, interview guides, onboarding docs, and policy updates. It outlines a seven‑step prompt framework—persona, task, context, format, constraints, clarifying questions, and quality check—to produce...
Why This ATS Is Making Job Seekers Part of Its Mission
In this episode, Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait discusses a strategic shift to prioritize job seekers alongside employers, addressing the "AI Doom Loop" where AI-driven mass applications and filtering exacerbate hiring inefficiencies. He introduces new candidate‑focused features such as My Dream...
Included Health's New Plan Design Improves Employees' Access to Quality Care
Included Health unveiled an alternative health‑plan design that blends guided care, AI tools, and a copay‑first pricing model to give employees faster, more affordable access to primary care. The plan replaces traditional PPO/HMO choices with a hybrid that offers broader...
How Voice-First AI Can Fix Restaurant Schedule Headaches
Restaurant managers view scheduling as a constant, high‑pressure burden rather than a routine task. Traditional scheduling platforms assume desk‑bound, uninterrupted work, forcing managers to juggle complex dashboards while the floor is active. This mismatch creates mental overload, delayed adjustments, and...
Bowl Games & Beyond: 6 Ways To Beat Distractions That Kill Productivity
The article highlights how pop‑culture events and everyday interruptions erode employee focus, citing a 45% spike in sick‑day requests after the Super Bowl and that 80% of workers can’t work an uninterrupted hour. It presents six practical tactics—identifying top distractions,...
Workplace Romance: 3 Keys to Handling Love in the Office
Workplace romances remain common, with Monster’s 2026 report showing 27% of employees have dated a coworker and 6% have been involved with a manager. California law prohibits employers from banning consensual off‑duty relationships, forcing HR to focus on risk mitigation...
New California Paid Sick Leave Settlement – Notices and Accruals Trigger $6.2M Hit
California’s Labor Commissioner secured a $6.2 million settlement with Alco Harvesting LLC to resolve paid‑sick‑leave and wage‑and‑hour violations affecting more than 10,000 farmworkers, including H‑2A laborers. The agreement allocates $4.2 million in back wages directly to workers and $1.5 million for sick‑leave and...
What HR Needs to Know About Pen Testing
Penetration testing is no longer an IT‑only exercise; HR departments must partner with security teams to expose human‑centric vulnerabilities. Ethical hackers simulate phishing, pretexting, and physical breaches, delivering reports that show how many employees were duped and which policies failed....
Boss Quiet Quitting? Here’s Your 4-Step Survival Plan (with Video)
The article addresses employees whose managers appear to be "quiet quitting" and offers a four‑step plan to stay productive. It advises workers to step into a leadership role, communicate directly instead of venting, keep managers informed with concise updates, and...
HRDA Frankly Speaking: ‘AI Isn’t the Answer to Every Problem’
Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, told HR Daily Advisor that while AI is reshaping HR, it is not a universal solution. He emphasized distinguishing tasks where AI adds value—such as automating repetitive processes—from those that...
Manager's Toolkit #10: Stop Avoiding That Conversation: The COIN Method for Managers Who Hate Confrontation
In this episode the host introduces the COIN method—a four‑step framework (Context, Observation, Impact, Next steps) for handling tough managerial conversations. Each step is broken down with concrete phrasing examples, showing how to set the stage, stick to facts, explain...
AI Skepticism Is a Quiet Career Killer
Since ChatGPT’s public launch, tech leaders have pushed AI adoption while many engineers remain cautious. Data shows AI‑related job postings jumped 84% in a year and AI‑skilled workers command a 56% wage premium, creating pressure to appear AI‑enthusiastic. Employees who...
769: How to Connect Better with Remote Colleagues, with Charles Duhigg
In this episode, Pulitzer‑winning journalist Charles Duhigg explores how to communicate effectively in a remote‑first world. He explains that all conversations fall into three categories—practical decisions, emotions, and identity—and that digital interactions often default to the practical, missing the emotional...
Short Takes #16: The Walking Wounded
Short Takes #16 explores the growing sense of societal unease, highlighting stark data on declining belief in the American Dream and a labor market that’s losing momentum. It examines gender gaps in AI adoption, noting women are 13% less likely...
Employees in Singapore Still Believe in Workplace Happiness, but Burnout and Stalled Growth Persist
Jobstreet by SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index surveyed 1,000 Singapore workers, finding that while eight‑in‑ten believe happiness at work is possible, only 56% actually feel happy, placing the city‑state near the bottom of the Asia‑Pacific rankings. Burnout is pervasive, with 45%...
674: PJ Fleck - Building Elite Culture, Nekton Mindset, Selecting >Recruiting, Intrinsic Motivation, Row The Boat, and Transformational Coaching
In this episode, University of Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck shares how he builds an elite, culture‑driven football program by "selecting" over traditional recruiting, emphasizing fit, internal drive, and a relentless practice intensity. He explains his 32‑second play‑clock, 95‑minute practice...
Important Questions To Ask Your New Hires
Paul Falcone’s book outlines a three‑stage one‑on‑one cadence for new hires, delivering targeted questions at 30, 60 and 90 days. The early check‑ins explore why the employee joined, initial impressions, resource adequacy, and alignment with company mission. By the third...
Office Buzz: UK Employers Turn to Beehives to Boost Workplace Wellbeing
UK firms from Manchester to London are installing rooftop beehives as a wellbeing perk, partnering with specialist beekeepers to offer employees hands‑on nature experiences. Companies claim the hives reduce stress, foster teamwork and provide a tangible sustainability story beyond typical...
7 Steps for Selecting a Training Icebreaker
Training icebreakers are meant to ease participants into sessions, yet many designers misuse them, compromising learning goals. The article outlines seven critical questions to evaluate an icebreaker, covering time allocation, manageability, agenda fit, trust building, fun balance, participant comfort, and...
Fourth Circuit Allows Implementation of DEI Executive Orders to Proceed
The Fourth Circuit vacated a district court injunction, allowing President Trump’s Executive Orders 14151 and 14173 on DEI to remain in effect for federal contractors and grant recipients. The court held that plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the Enforcement Threat Provision, but recognized...
California High Court Limits Use of Formatting and “Fine Print” Arguments to Defeat Arbitration
The California Supreme Court ruled that the visual presentation of an arbitration agreement—such as tiny, dense font—does not by itself render the clause substantively unconscionable. While procedural defects may raise a court's scrutiny, substantive unfairness must still be shown. The...
Policy Week in Review – February 6, 2026
The Department of Labor raised the minimum wage for federal contractors to $13.65 per hour, with tipped workers covered at $9.55, effective 90 days after publication. The DHS and DOL issued a temporary rule adding up to 64,716 supplemental H‑2B...
Ep. 3 - Appropriations Bill, FTC Settlement and TrumpRx Updates: What We Know So Far
In this 17‑minute episode, Mike and Madison break down three hot federal health‑care topics: the upcoming appropriations bill and its potential impact on pharmacy‑benefit funding, the recent FTC settlement affecting pharmacy benefit managers, and the latest developments surrounding TrumpRx. They...
DOL Notice Indicates Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Does Not Apply to Contracts Entered Into or Renewed After January 29, 2022
The U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice raising the federal contractor minimum wage to $13.65 per hour (and $9.55 cash wage for tipped workers), effective 90 days after its Feb. 9, 2026 publication. Crucially, the notice states that Executive Order 13658...
Untangling the Varying Requirements of State and Local Fair Workweek Laws
Predictable‑scheduling (fair workweek) laws now cover major U.S. cities and states, mandating 14‑day advance posting, employee consent for changes, and premium pay for late‑notice shifts. Employers must provide good‑faith schedule estimates, offer open hours to current staff before hiring, and...
Voluntary Disclosure by Applicant of Criminal Conviction History Triggers Protections Under State Ban-the-Box Law (US)
A Pennsylvania truck driver voluntarily disclosed a 15‑year‑old armed‑robbery conviction during a job interview, prompting an immediate rejection. The employer argued the ban‑the‑box law didn’t apply because the information wasn’t obtained from a state agency. The Third Circuit reversed, holding...
What to Expect From the SAG-AFTRA 2026 Contract Negotiations: AI, Residuals, Health and Pension Plans, and When to Expect a...
SAG‑AFTRA will reopen contract talks with the AMPTP on February 9, 2026, a month ahead of the current agreement’s June 30 expiration. The negotiations, now led by new union president Sean Astin and AMPTP chief Greg Hessinger, will focus on three hot‑button...
India’s New Labor Codes: What Global Leaders Managing Indian Teams Need to Know - Session 2
India has rolled out four unified labor codes that replace decades of fragmented employment legislation, fundamentally changing hiring, compensation, and workforce management. The codes aim to simplify compliance, boost ease of doing business, and align with international standards. A webinar...
Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: February 6, 2025
GE Aerospace’s Q4 2025 report credits its lean management system with double‑digit revenue and profit growth, highlighting an employee‑led innovation called the “Gerald” tape dispenser as proof of measurable value. The article argues that most continuous‑improvement programs fail because they...
The Secret to Managing Change Without Burning Out Your Employees
In this five‑minute episode, the host uses a pickleball ball‑feeding machine as a metaphor to illustrate the need for a steady cadence when implementing organizational change. He explains that bombarding teams with rapid, unpredictable shifts—like the machine’s erratic, high‑speed balls—leads...
The “Call Five People” Rule
The article introduces the “Call Five People” rule, a ten‑minute practice where leaders discuss a problem with five diverse contacts to break isolation. It outlines specific questions to surface blind spots and lists scenarios—stalled decisions, crossroads, high‑stakes moments—where the rule...
Pay Is the Pressure Point as Clinical Labs Compete for Scarce Talent
Clinical laboratories are confronting a severe talent shortage, with salary now the single most influential factor for prospective hires, according to LinkedIn data. While pay remains critical, labs are increasingly forced to market flexibility, work‑life balance, and career‑growth pathways to...
EEOC Rescinds Harassment Guidance
On Jan. 22, 2026, the EEOC voted 2‑to‑1 to rescind the 2024 harassment guidance that expanded protections for LGBTQ+ employees, especially transgender individuals. The rescission was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget without public notice, following a Texas...
Ohio’s E-Verify Law for Nonresidential Construction Contractors Takes Effect Soon
Effective March 19, 2026, Ohio’s Workforce Integrity Act mandates that all non‑residential construction contractors, subcontractors and labor brokers verify employee eligibility through E‑Verify. The law defines non‑residential projects broadly, covering buildings, highways, bridges and utilities, while exempting residential and agricultural...
Prevailing Wage Compliance Workshop: NJ Edition - Short Hills
On April 2, 2026, Littler will host a full‑day Prevailing Wage Compliance Workshop for New Jersey public‑works contractors at the Hilton Short Hills. Led by leading practitioner Russell McEwan, the program covers registration, apprentice rules, certified payroll, audit procedures and subcontractor liability under recent...
Dear Littler: Are There Any Concerns About Letting Our Employees Post Videos About Our Products?
A retailer’s marketing manager asks if an employee‑influencer can post a product video on social media. The FTC mandates a clear disclosure of any material connection between the employee and the company, and violations can result in fines. The company...
Seventh Circuit Holds Asset Sale Does Not Require Exclusion of Contributions From Withdrawal Liability Calculation
The Seventh Circuit ruled that ERISA §4204 does not require excluding contributions tied to assets sold when calculating the maximum annual payment for withdrawal liability. In SuperValu Inc. v. United Food and Commercial Workers, the court affirmed the plan could...
Puerto Rico Supreme Court Enforces Private Employment Arbitration Clauses Under Act 100 Discrimination Claims
The Puerto Rico Supreme Court ruled that mandatory arbitration clauses in private employment contracts are enforceable for discrimination claims under Act 100, provided the agreement impacts interstate commerce and thus falls under the Federal Arbitration Act. The decision expressly limits its...
IRS Issues Updated Safe Harbor Rollover Notices
The IRS released Notice 2026-13 on January 15, 2026, updating the safe‑harbor rollover notices that plan administrators must provide under section 402(f) of the Internal Revenue Code. The new notice replaces the 2020-62 version and incorporates SECURE 2.0 provisions affecting in‑service distributions,...
Milan–Cortina 2026: The Employment Law Behind the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games
Italy will host the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games starting February 6, 2026, spotlighting the nation’s capacity for large‑scale event delivery. The Games emphasize gender balance, projecting the highest female athlete participation in Winter Olympic history and increased...
Why Inclusion Efforts Fail Without Belonging And How Leaders Can Bridge The Gap
The article argues that most inclusion programs focus on representation metrics, which leaves employees feeling disconnected. Guest expert Priya Nalkur emphasizes that true belonging requires self‑awareness, uncomfortable conversations, and a culture of grace. Leaders must move beyond policies to foster...
HREX v 1.07 George Larocque
John Sumser and George LaRocque discuss the rapid evolution of HR technology, emphasizing how market sizing, capital flow, and data-driven decision‑making are reshaping the industry. They highlight recruiting’s lack of accountability, the re‑evaluation of education’s value, and the disruptive impact...
ISS and Glass Lewis Release Compensation-Related Updates For 2026 Proxy Season
ISS and Glass Lewis have unveiled new compensation‑related voting policies for the 2026 proxy season. ISS extends its pay‑for‑performance quantitative analysis to a five‑year look‑back, gives a favorable view to long‑term time‑based equity awards, adds flexibility for companies receiving less...