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.
Shared Services Canada Drops Desk ‘Hoteling’ Amid Tightening RTO Rules
Shared Services Canada is ending its desk‑hoteling system and will move Ottawa‑Gatineau staff to a neighbourhood‑based seating arrangement effective Sept. 8. The change follows a federal mandate that most public servants work on‑site four days a week, with executives required to be in the office full‑time. The agency will also retire the Archibus desk‑booking software, ending a system that supported shared workstations for the 92% of its workforce without assigned desks. The shift comes amid employee pushback and warnings that more than 1,000 positions are at risk.
On Capitol Hill, a Debate over Who AI at Work Is Really Working For
The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee held its sixth hearing on AI in the workplace, pitting employer advocates who want a federal override of state AI‑employment laws against worker groups demanding state‑level protections. Witnesses from the CHRO Association, Ogletree Deakins,...
On Capitol Hill, a Debate over Who AI at Work Is Really Working For
The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee held its sixth hearing on artificial intelligence in the workplace, chaired by Rep. Ryan McKenzie. Titled “Building an AI‑Ready America,” the session examined AI’s economic impact on both workers and employers. Lawmakers heard from CEOs,...
Women’s Status in Economics: Evidence From Africa, Asia, and Latin America
The International Economic Association’s Women in Leadership in Economics initiative released the first comparable, country‑level evidence on women’s representation in economics across Argentina, Colombia, Ghana, India, Mexico and South Africa. The study finds stark variation in where women drop out...
How to Turn Everyday Employees Into Your Most Confident Leaders
Jotform chose to promote a junior employee rather than hire an external superstar for a senior product role, demonstrating the power of internal talent development. The article argues that hiring for long‑term potential, offering transparent career pathways, and delegating responsibilities...
Apple CEO Shake-Up: 3 Succession Lessons
Tim Cook announced he will step down as Apple’s chief executive on September 1, handing the reins to John Ternus, the senior vice president of hardware engineering who has spent 25 years at the company. Cook will transition to an executive‑chairman role, pledging...
What Cisco Is Doing to Avoid ‘Compliance Theater’
Cisco’s Chief People Officer Kelly Jones says the company’s AI rollout is driven by continuous employee sentiment measurement and leadership modeling. Over 18 months of surveys and focus groups revealed that AI‑using staff are more engaged, confident, and likely to...
What Cisco Is Doing to Avoid ‘Compliance Theater’
Cisco is shifting from superficial compliance checks to a robust AI governance framework that embeds risk assessment, transparency, and continuous monitoring across its HR and product teams. The company has launched an AI Ethics Council, mandatory model‑impact reviews, and a...
Acquisitions with Double‑Digit Attrition Need Extra Approval
Former head of M&A at $CSU on attrition "On average, for Constellation's wider portfolio, I would say that gross attrition lies under 10%. If you're looking at an acquisition and that acquisition has attrition of low double digit percentages, there's a...
Air France-KLM CEO Schools Lufthansa Group CEO On Labor Relations
Air France‑KLM CEO Ben Smith is using his carrier’s eight‑year record of labor peace to differentiate the group from Lufthansa, which has endured back‑to‑back pilot and cabin‑crew strikes and even shut down a subsidiary to pressure staff. The contrast comes...
Rule #9: Be Ruthless About Who You Listen To
The post warns that today’s flood of advice—from AI tools to social‑media influencers—often lacks real‑world credibility. It urges leaders to vet sources by checking proximity to the work, proven outcomes, and whether the advisor has skin in the game. Using...
Bupa CEO Calls Work‑Life Balance Obsession a Red Flag for Leaders
Bupa’s chief executive Iñaki Ereño told Fortune that obsessing over work‑life balance is a warning sign for leaders. Running a £16.9 billion ($23 billion) health‑care firm with over 100,000 staff, he argues true passion, not a strict 5 p.m. cutoff, drives effectiveness. The...
RECLAIM Part III: Equity and Clarity Are the Foundation of a High-Performing Law Firm
The third installment of the RECLAIM model spotlights equity and clarity as twin pillars of high‑performing law firms. It argues that clear expectations, transparent processes, and consistent feedback reduce guesswork and boost productivity, while fair hiring, work allocation, and compensation...
Telangana Opens One-Month Window for Employee Transfers Across Departments
The Telangana government has opened a one‑month window, May 1‑31 2026, for inter‑departmental employee transfers. Employees who have completed three years in a posting as of Jan 1 2026 are eligible, except when the request is based on a spouse’s posting, and no staff...
The Post Tries to Regroup
In February the Washington Post cut roughly 350 newsroom jobs, offering severance to those laid off. By March, editors began contacting a subset of the displaced staff with a "delayed layoff" proposal, allowing them to return temporarily through July while...
How to Recognize Workplace Bullying in the Legal Profession and What Your Law Firm Can Do to Stop It
Attorney Andy Regal warns that ending workplace bullying in law requires accountability, not perfection. A recent International Bar Association survey shows 57% of bullying incidents go unreported, and over 60% of victims leave firms lacking support. Legislative efforts such as...
SKY Breath Breathwork Program Rolls Out to Corporations to Tackle Workplace Stress
The Art of Living Foundation has launched its SKY Breath breathwork program across corporate workplaces, targeting the mental‑health crisis that afflicts roughly 35% of U.S. employees. The initiative promises a science‑backed, low‑cost tool to reduce anxiety and improve performance, marking...
Employers Face ‘Patchwork’ of Heat Regulations for Workers
Virginia has become the latest state to mandate heat‑illness prevention rules, directing its Safety and Health Codes Board to finalize regulations by May 1, 2028. The new law requires water, rest breaks, training and emergency protocols for indoor and outdoor...
Which Tech Startups Have the Best Perks?
European tech startups are turning perks into a competitive talent weapon, with fintech leaders Wise, Revolut and Bunq topping the list. Companies range from offering unlimited paid time off (Veed, Mews, Rohlik) to generous sabbaticals—Wise adds six weeks plus £1,000...
Redwood Materials Lays Off 10% of Staff to Speed Energy‑Storage Development
Redwood Materials announced it is cutting roughly 135 employees – about 10% of its workforce – as part of a restructuring aimed at accelerating its energy‑storage product line. The move follows a $425 million financing round that lifted the company’s valuation...
One-Third of Managers Unsure About Neurodiversity Adjustments
A VinciWorks survey of 495 HR, L&D and compliance professionals found that 35% of managers lack confidence when discussing reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent staff, with 30% “not very confident” and 5% “not confident at all.” Tribunal data from Irwin Mitchell shows...
McDonald's Boss on Abuse Claims: 'I Don't Want to Talk About the Past'
Lauren Schultz, the new chief executive of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, told the BBC she will not discuss the chain’s past abuse allegations, calling the incidents “unacceptable” and emphasizing a forward‑looking agenda. The company has already agreed with the UK...
Raymond Appoints Sarita Tripathi as CHRO for Aerospace & Precision Engineering Business
Raymond has appointed Sarita Tripathi as chief human resources officer for its aerospace and precision engineering business. Tripathi brings more than 25 years of HR leadership across manufacturing, telecom, consulting and global industrial firms. She most recently served as CHRO and president...
ADP Posts $20.6 B Revenue, 7% Growth and Highlights AI‑Driven Payroll Trends
ADP announced total revenue of $20.6 B for Q4 2025, a 7% year‑over‑year rise and an 8% quarterly increase. The earnings call highlighted strong employer‑services bookings, record‑high client retention and expanding AI‑driven payroll interactions, while projecting 5‑6% revenue growth for fiscal 2026.
Expanded HSA Eligibility Creates Need for Employee Education: 4 Critical Tips
Recent legislation expands Health Savings Account eligibility to bronze and silver Affordable Care Act plans, opening HSA participation to a broader employee base. Employers can now tap this tax‑advantaged tool to help workers manage current medical costs and build retirement...
New Employee Benefits Developments for New York Employers
New York’s Secure Choice Savings Program, launched Oct. 8, 2025, obliges private‑sector employers with 10 or more NY employees to either register for a Roth‑IRA‑based retirement offering or certify exemption by mid‑2026, with staggered deadlines based on workforce size. The federal...
The Biggest Announcement of My Life
After five months of development, the founder announced Custard, a professional‑grade AI platform designed to transform managers into high‑impact leaders. The tool gathers anonymous weekly pulse surveys in under 30 seconds, then delivers personalized dashboards with actionable recommendations drawn from...
‘Get Back to Work’: Amazon Faces Fresh Scrutiny over Workplace Safety Record
Amazon’s workplace safety record is again under fire after a recent fatality in Oregon and a lawsuit alleging a back injury and subsequent termination at its San Bernardino sortation center. Internal documents reveal pressure to keep AmCare utilization high and to...
Meta Deploys Employee Mouse‑Tracking Tool to Train AI Agents, Sparking Privacy Outcry
Meta Platforms has begun installing a Model Capability Initiative (MCI) on U.S. employee computers to capture mouse movements, clicks and keystrokes for AI training. The move, aimed at building autonomous AI agents, has ignited privacy concerns among staff and watchdog...
Workers Protest at Carl's Jr. In North Hollywood for Protection From Violent Customers
On Tuesday, about 30 members of the California Fast Food Workers Union and two Carl’s Jr. employees walked out of a North Hollywood location to protest unsafe conditions, including violent customer attacks and lack of paid sick leave. Workers cited multiple...
“Lincoln May Have Freed the Slaves, But I’m Keeping You” — and the Case Still Got Dismissed
A Black legal assistant sued a law firm partner and the firm for a hostile work environment after the partner told her, “Lincoln may have freed the slaves, but I’m keeping you.” The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal,...
SME Names CoorsTek Training Award Recipient
SME has awarded CoorsTek the 2026 Excellence in Manufacturing Training Award, recognizing its robust workforce development program. The company’s CoorsTek Academy delivers structured onboarding, technical training, and career pathways for new hires. A Train‑the‑Trainer model certifies employees as on‑site instructors,...
Google Research Shows Building a Great Team Requires Focusing on How, Not Who
Google’s People Operations analyzed 180 cross‑functional teams and discovered that who sits on a team matters far less than how the team operates together. The study examined variables such as personality mix, tenure, and background diversity, finding no consistent link...
Paper Maternity Leave Certificates to Be Replaced with Electronic Versions From 24 April 2026 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority will replace paper maternity‑leave certificates with digitally signed electronic versions starting 24 April 2026. The new certificates, issued by doctors and midwives, will be stored automatically in the HA Go mobile app and feature an encrypted QR code for...
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Plans Gradual Workforce Reduction by 2030
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a phased workforce reduction of up to 20 percent, affecting roughly 500 roles by 2030. The plan stems from its 2026 financial planning process and aims to align staffing with long‑term program and funding priorities....
Recfindr Has Rebranded to Rylo - and the Product Has Grown to Match the Name
Rylo, formerly Recfindr, launches as a dedicated digital deal‑room platform for recruitment agencies handling retained and executive searches. The solution consolidates candidate shortlists, proposals, and progress updates into a single, shareable client workspace, replacing disjointed email chains and calls. Integrated...
Redesign Work Using Job Enrichment and Job Enlargement
Organizations facing new technology or shifting priorities are turning to job redesign to keep work flowing without layoffs. Two primary tactics—job enlargement, which adds similar tasks, and job enrichment, which adds responsibility—help mitigate boredom and build employee skills. By assigning...
QUBA Solutions: UK Recruitment Market Snapshot - April 2026
QUBA Solutions’ April 2026 snapshot shows the UK recruitment market entering a slow‑stabilisation phase. Permanent placements index slipped to 49.2 and temporary billings to 48.4, marking the mildest declines in three years and month‑on‑month respectively. Candidate availability rose at the...
Women in Construction Apprenticeships Have Tripled Since 2018: Now We Need to Retain Them, Says CITB
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) reports that women starting construction apprenticeships have risen from 1,450 in 2018 to 2,410 in 2025, effectively tripling the entry pipeline. Completion rates also grew, with female graduates increasing from 340 to 910 over...
Payroll Data Gaps Exposed Ahead of JSL, with 60% of Professionals Demanding Greater HMRC Data Visibility
Finity’s latest research of 342 payroll professionals shows unanimous confidence that organisations are ready for HMRC’s Joint and Several Liability (JSL) reforms, yet 60% flag insufficient visibility of payroll data from HMRC as a critical gap. Larger firms (250‑1,000 staff)...
Snapshot: Cathay United Bank’s Quek Li Ling on Why Culture Isn’t Built by HR Alone
Cathay United Bank Singapore’s Quek Li Ling, who heads Human Resources, General Affairs and Marketing Communications, argues that culture cannot be built by HR alone. By overseeing three distinct portfolios, she connects policy, branding and workplace experience into a holistic...
UK Employment Market Grinds to Near-Halt as Labour Costs and Regulatory Fears Mount
New CIPD research shows UK hiring intentions have fallen to their lowest level since the pandemic, with the net employment balance slipping to just +7. Around 74% of employers anticipate the Employment Rights Act will significantly increase operational costs, prompting...
Hong Kong Expands Financial Talent Pipeline Through Training, Migration and Sector Programmes
Hong Kong is bolstering its financial services workforce through overseas recruitment, local training, and sector‑specific programmes. The accounting profession was added to the Talent List in March 2025, resulting in 63 approved applications by March 2026. Parallel initiatives target green...
US Business Group Warns ‘Anti-Endo’ Law Could Hurt Philippine Jobs
The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) cautioned that the Senate’s proposed Anti‑Endo and Magna Carta for Workers in the Informal Economy bills could unintentionally curb foreign investment and erode the country’s competitive edge in Southeast Asia. While...
10 Phrases That Kill Leadership Progress
The article lists ten common phrases that silently sabotage leadership effectiveness, from “We’ve always done it that way” to “I already know that.” Each expression reinforces rigidity, hierarchy, or disengagement, eroding trust and stifling continuous improvement. By spotlighting what not...
Confronting Implicit Biases That Hinder Diversity and Inclusion
Harvard’s Program on Negotiation interviewed authors of *Race, Work & Leadership* about the covert biases that keep Black professionals out of senior roles. Research cited shows Black‑sounding names, ethnic hairstyles, and performance evaluations systematically disadvantage Black candidates. The experts propose...
What Does It Mean to Work Under Algorithmic Eyes?
Algorithmic surveillance tools, dubbed “bossware,” are rapidly infiltrating offices, gig platforms, and call centers, tracking everything from keystrokes to facial expressions. The technology creates opaque performance scores that can misclassify workers—especially women, older employees, neurodiverse and people of color—leading to...
Employees Affected by WRP Asia Pacific's Closure to Receive Claims and Job Support: KESUMA
The Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources announced coordinated support for 1,426 employees displaced by the abrupt shutdown of glove manufacturer WRP Asia Pacific in Sepang, Selangor. A meeting with the liquidator, JTKSM, SOCSO and PDRM resulted in a pledge to...
Stop Hiring for Confidence, Start Hiring for Capability
Michelle Carson argues that construction firms still prioritize confidence and polished presentation over genuine leadership capability. While on‑site talent is quickly recognized for diagnosing issues and adapting in real time, promotion decisions often shift to superficial proxies such as linear...
Prodoscore Launches ProdoAI Chat, Redefining How Companies Access Productivity Insights
Prodoscore unveiled ProdoAI Chat, a conversational AI embedded in its productivity platform that lets managers and executives query workforce data in plain English and receive instant, actionable answers. The tool covers performance metrics, burnout signals, technology adoption and industry benchmarks...