News•Feb 20, 2026
Appian's 'AI Needs Process' Thesis Goes Mainstream - Now It Has to Prove the Math Works
Appian’s CEO Matt Calkins says AI must be paired with deterministic process governance, a thesis now echoed across the industry. The company reported Q4 cloud subscription revenue of $117 million, up 18% YoY, and total revenue of $202.9 million, a 22% increase, while adjusted EBITDA margin swung to 11% from a -8% loss two years earlier. A $500 million enterprise license with the U.S. Army and a 14‑fold rise in AI usage highlight growing government and AI traction. Appian is leveraging proof‑of‑concept wins like its Doc Center product to upsell customers onto a higher‑priced advanced AI tier.
By Diginomica
News•Feb 20, 2026
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...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 20, 2026
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...
By Fintech Futures
News•Feb 20, 2026
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...
By HR Daily (Australia)
News•Feb 20, 2026
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...
By HR Daily (Australia)
News•Feb 19, 2026
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...
By HRTechFeed
News•Feb 18, 2026
AI Connected to Slightly More Hiring, but Growth Favors Older Workers with Less Exposure
Payroll data from Gusto shows that small businesses that increase AI‑exposed work see modest revenue gains and a slight rise in hiring. For every 10‑point boost in AI exposure, monthly revenue climbs about 2.2% after six months, while headcount grows...
By Accounting Today
News•Feb 18, 2026
Last Payment for Production Employees in the Motion Picture Industry
California’s Labor Code section 201.5 creates a tailored final‑pay regime for workers engaged in motion‑picture production and broadcasting. The statute requires that terminated employees receive all earned wages by the next regular payday, with payment permissible by mail or at a...
By National Law Review – Employment Law
News•Feb 18, 2026
Employers Push Critical Illness Plans Amid Health Risks
Employers are increasingly adding critical‑illness insurance to their benefits portfolios to offset gaps left by high‑deductible health plans. A recent Equitable survey shows 31% of American workers filed a critical‑illness claim in the past year, yet only 49% feel confident...
By Employee Benefit News
News•Feb 18, 2026
AI in Healthcare Starts Long Before the Exam Room
AI-driven clinical tools are rapidly improving diagnosis and treatment, but they leave patients exposed to hidden financial risks. A case of an autonomous AI ER physician resulted in a $37,000 out‑of‑network bill, highlighting systemic navigation failures. While clinical AI promises...
By Employee Benefit News
News•Feb 18, 2026
Think RTO Is Harmless? Top Talent Disagrees
Top talent is pushing back against strict return‑to‑office (RTO) mandates, as highlighted by JPMorgan Chase employees fearing career repercussions for opposing the policy. Research from Gartner shows high‑performers, women and millennials are most likely to leave firms with rigid RTO,...
By Human Resource Executive
News•Feb 18, 2026
The Murky Waters of Healthcare Cost Transparency: What Plan Sponsors Can Control
The 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act introduced mandatory broker compensation disclosures and broader pricing data for health plans, pushing plan sponsors to adopt fiduciary rigor similar to retirement plans. Yet, translating transparency into cost control remains difficult as procedure prices can...
By Human Resource Executive
News•Feb 18, 2026
The $2 Trillion Blind Spot in Modern Rewards
Most organizations still tie rewards to individual output despite vocal support for collaboration. Gallup reports U.S. employee engagement at a 10‑year low of 31% in 2024, translating to roughly $2 trillion in lost productivity. Studies show high‑quality recognition can reduce turnover...
By Human Resource Executive
News•Feb 18, 2026
AI Threatens Staffing Industry as Companies Bring Recruitment In-House
Artificial intelligence is rapidly automating core recruitment tasks, enabling employers to screen resumes, rank candidates, and conduct initial interviews without external recruiters. This technological shift allows companies to bring talent acquisition in‑house, diminishing reliance on traditional staffing firms such as...
By Bloomberg – Technology (sitewide)
News•Feb 18, 2026
When I Selected, 'Rather Not Say', Gemini Said, 'I'll Decide for You'. In Case It's Not Obvious, Here's Why that...
Enterprise AI is being deployed as core infrastructure that routinely infers personal identity attributes such as gender, voice, and facial characteristics. In Google Gemini Meet Notes, a non‑binary user who selected "Rather not say" was mis‑gendered as "she," illustrating how...
By Diginomica