Collective Agreement: Town of Pincher Creek
The Town of Pincher Creek and CUPE Local 927 signed a four‑year collective agreement covering April 1 2026 through March 31 2030. The contract guarantees a uniform 3% wage increase each year and adds a comprehensive slate of 12 paid holidays, including the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Vacation entitlement rises to six weeks after 15 years of service, while shift premiums of roughly $1.30 USD per hour apply to night work. Enhanced benefits include a $740 USD health spending account and expanded bereavement leave.
Tips HR Teams Need To Better Support Neurodiversity Accommodation Requests During Return-To-Office Transitions
As companies push employees back to the office, HR leaders must redesign return‑to‑office (RTO) policies to address neurodiversity accommodation requests. The article outlines practical steps for creating transparent request processes, training managers, and adapting physical workspaces. It emphasizes the need...
Building a Mothership Platform, One Location at a Time
Littler Mendelson’s senior partner Stephan Swinkels outlines the firm’s "mothership" platform, a strategy that layers regional hubs into a unified global employment law practice. The model centralizes expertise, technology and client services while allowing each location to retain local market...
AI Mandates May Stir up Religious Objections. HR Should Prepare Now.
Employers are encountering an uptick in religious objections to corporate AI mandates, ranging from generative‑text tools to automated monitoring. HR leaders are being urged to treat accommodation requests for AI‑related concerns with the same rigor as medical or disability accommodations....
How US In-House Teams Can Stop ADA Risk Before It Starts
U.S. employers are facing a rise in ADA accommodation disputes, prompting in‑house teams to rethink their compliance approach. Jeff Nowak advises that legal counsel need not be involved in every request; instead, companies should establish clear escalation points within the...
Path Looks Narrow for Bill To Speed First Union Contracts
The Faster Labor Contracts Act, introduced to accelerate the negotiation of first contracts after a union election, is encountering significant legislative resistance. Proponents argue the bill would reduce prolonged bargaining periods and lower litigation risk for employers. Critics, including major...
Collective Agreement: Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women
Unifor Local 240 ratified a three‑year collective agreement for Windsor’s women‑focused immigrant workforce, effective April 1 2026 through March 31 2029. The contract delivers a 5% wage increase in 2026 followed by 2% annual raises, and expands vacation to five weeks after ten years...
EAT Rules Rail Worker’s Drug Test Result Was Disability Discrimination
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) overturned an employment tribunal ruling that dismissed a disability discrimination claim by rail worker Mr. Truman, who was denied a safety‑critical role after a drug test flagged his prescribed medical cannabis. The EAT held that...
Wakefern Restructures Its Sales and Marketing Operations, Impacting 79 Jobs
Wakefern Food Corp. announced a sweeping restructuring of its sales and marketing organization, replacing 79 existing positions with 73 newly created roles split between the cooperative and external media agency Quad. The redesign introduces four banner‑focused teams, brand managers for...
The Pendulum May Be Swinging Back in Favor of the Trades: JLL
JLL’s new skilled‑trades talent report warns that demand for electricians, HVAC technicians and other trades will outpace supply through 2034, driven by complex building systems, AI infrastructure growth and a looming retirement wave. Annual trade job postings have doubled in...
Call My Agents: Snapshots From the Future of Work
The FT’s "Call my agents" piece explores how AI‑driven digital assistants are reshaping the workplace, accelerating automation of routine tasks and enabling more fluid collaboration. It highlights the growing adoption of hybrid work models that blend office presence with remote...
Is Personal Security the New Must-Have Benefit?
Employers are adding 24/7 personal‑security platforms such as Our Bond as voluntary benefits to address a three‑decade high in U.S. safety fears. The mobile app connects employees to live agents, shares location, dispatches emergency assistance and can add services like bodyguards...
Upskilling, Digital Infra Investments to Sustain IT-BPM Growth – ADB
The Asian Development Bank’s 2026 Development Policy Report urges the Philippines to keep investing in digital infrastructure and upskilling to sustain its IT‑BPM sector. The report highlights that broadband costs and talent shortages threaten competitiveness, even as the industry accounts...
PayPal Is Slashing 20% of Its Workforce as New CEO Unveils Turnaround Plan
PayPal announced a restructuring that will eliminate roughly 20% of its workforce, about 4,760 jobs, over the next two to three years. The cuts are part of a $1.5 billion run‑rate savings program unveiled by new CEO Alex Lores, who took...
New Jersey Department of Labor Publishes Final ABC Rule
After a year‑long delay, New Jersey’s Department of Labor issued a final rule implementing the state’s ABC test for worker classification. The final rule scales back the controversial provisions of the earlier proposal, eliminating industry‑specific examples, the treatment of software...
HR Salaries in Charity Sector on the Rise
HR salaries in the charity sector jumped 11% year‑on‑year, lifting the median pay to £36,000 (≈ $45,700). Finance roles fell 4% and CEOs saw a 2% dip, highlighting divergent compensation trends. The CharityJob data, covering 55,000 listings, also recorded an 18%...
Employment Law Reform Is Redesigning Operating Models for Operations Leaders
UK employment law reforms are reshaping operating models for operations leaders, beyond simple compliance. New day‑one rights, expanded statutory sick pay, stronger redundancy and whistleblowing protections, and the Fair Work Agency collectively increase workforce variability and reduce the margin for...
Southern Cities Capture Six of Top 10 Spots for Graduate Hiring
Graduate hiring has migrated to the South, with Birmingham topping the WSJ‑ADP ranking at the 96th percentile for entry‑level hires, 88th for affordability and 85th for wages. Tampa surged to second place, posting perfect 100th‑percentile scores in hiring and affordability...
Branch Launches TipCalc to Automate Tip Pooling and Cashless Payouts for Restaurants and Reduce Errors at Close
Branch, a workforce‑financial platform, launched TipCalc, an automated tip‑pooling and cashless payout tool for restaurants. The solution pulls real‑time data from point‑of‑sale systems, applies custom sharing rules, and distributes tips nightly to workers’ Branch accounts. By replacing manual spreadsheets, TipCalc...
‘Your Craft Is Obsolete’: WiseTech Staff in Limbo as AI Touted as Better than Humans
WiseTech, the Australian logistics‑software firm listed on the ASX, announced a plan to cut roughly 30% of its global workforce – about 2,000 of its 7,000 employees – over the next 18 months as it pivots to an AI‑led model....
The Great AI Upskilling of the Travel Workforce
Travel companies are beginning a wave of AI upskilling, but only a handful—Airbnb, Amadeus, SNCF, Expedia and Booking.com—have formal programs that target both engineers and non‑technical staff. Airbnb’s internal “AI for Non‑Developers” workstream and a dedicated Staff AI Innovation Engineer...
How Are Employers Using AI Agents in Canada?
Canadian executives see AI agents as central to future work, with 77% already deploying them for tasks like knowledge sharing and 66% planning fully integrated AI‑human workforces. The technology is reshaping hiring and performance management, as 59% report changes in...
Unions Are Having a Moment in Publishing. Here’s Why.
Workers at the University of Chicago Press announced a plan to unionize, creating the first union in the nonprofit publisher’s 130‑year history. The move follows similar union drives at Hachette Book Group, Catapult Books and the American Library Association, all...
Rajeev Singh Rejoins Yokohama ATG as CHRO
Yokohama ATG announced the appointment of Rajeev Singh as its chief human resources officer, effective April 20, 2026. Based in Mumbai, Singh will head the company’s global HR function across India, the United States and Europe. He returns to the...
Companies Are Increasingly Favoring Temporary Staff Over Permanent Hires
Employers in the U.S. and Europe are turning to temporary staff as economic uncertainty and AI disruptions make permanent hiring riskier. Staffing firms such as Randstad, Robert Half and PageGroup report that contract‑work revenue is holding up better than permanent‑placement...
HR Tech 2026 Q1 Funding Review
The HR‑tech sector entered a subdued Q1 2026 after a record‑breaking finish to 2025. While the number of deals stayed roughly flat, total capital deployed dropped noticeably, reflecting tighter investor appetites. Large late‑stage rounds slowed, but early‑stage activity held steady....
Freshworks Is Cutting 500 Jobs as AI Writes More than Half Its Code
Freshworks announced it will eliminate roughly 500 positions, about 11% of its global staff, as AI now generates more than half of the company’s code. The restructuring carries a one‑time charge of approximately $8 million and will funnel savings into its...
Want to Show Your Nurses Appreciation? Fix Your Hospital Communications
Hospitals will celebrate nurses during National Nurses Week, yet chronic communication breakdowns threaten morale and patient safety. A recent survey shows one in nine nurses learn policy changes after they’re already in effect, and more than 80% link missed messages...
How SMEs Can Become Learning Organisations, without the Corporate Bureaucracy
Small and medium‑size enterprises (SMEs) often overlook knowledge management, assuming it belongs to large corporations. In reality, their informal processes cause frequent knowledge leakage whenever staff leave or projects end, leading to hidden costs and slower growth. The article argues...
Are Your Disciplinary Processes up to Code?
The updated Code of Good Practice: Dismissals (Schedule 8), gazetted on 4 September 2025, forces South African employers to overhaul disciplinary policies. It requires written notice, language‑appropriate hearings, and a genuine opportunity for employees to respond. Non‑compliance can lead the CCMA to deem...
Intuit Unveils QuickBooks Workforce, Radically Transforming Human Capital Management for Small and Mid-Market Businesses
Intuit announced QuickBooks Workforce, an AI‑native human capital management suite that sits inside QuickBooks Online, Online Advanced and Intuit Enterprise Suite. The platform unifies payroll, time tracking, benefits, recruiting, performance and compliance, replacing the 7‑25 disparate tools many small and...
Why 'Insurance for Living' Can't Wait
The World Life Insurance Report 2026 reveals a stark mismatch between younger workers’ expectations and what insurers deliver in group life coverage. Only 19% of carriers provide portable policies, while 44% of under‑40 employees want coverage that follows them across jobs....
King’s Award for Wrexham Construction Firm Who Transforms Lives by Building Opportunity
Wrexham‑based construction firm Pave‑Aways has been awarded its first King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its ‘Looking After Our Workforce’ programme. Launched in 2020, the initiative has supported nearly 500 individuals, including 288 from disadvantaged backgrounds, creating 70 new...
When Reputation Becomes Operational: Lessons From the Mandelson Vetting Scandal
The Peter Mandelson vetting controversy illustrates how reputational risk has become an operational imperative. Rapid public scrutiny led to the dismissal of a senior civil servant and forced urgent reviews of the appointment process. The episode shows that traditional, siloed...
Global Benefits | Developing a Data-Driven Benefits Strategy
Generali Employee Benefits highlights the growing complexity of managing multinational employee health plans, where divergent public and private healthcare systems, shifting disease trends, geopolitical instability, and accelerating medical inflation create unique risk profiles in each market. The article argues that...
Why Your LMS Dashboards Are Lying To You: Completion Rates ≠ Skill Growth
L&D dashboards still lean on course completion rates, treating them as proof of learning. The article argues that completion, time‑on‑task, and satisfaction are vanity metrics that don’t reveal skill growth. It proposes a shift to skills‑mapped learning: define a taxonomy,...
10 Remote Onboarding Best Practices to Skyrocket Productivity and Retention
The article outlines ten best‑practice steps for remote onboarding, emphasizing a structured checklist, early pre‑boarding, clear expectations, and continuous manager involvement. It highlights how a repeatable workflow—supported by onboarding software like Process Street—reduces delays, improves new‑hire productivity, and boosts retention....
Why the Mission Matters for Engineers at This Top Workplace
Alexandria Insights, a Service‑Disabled Veteran‑Owned Small Business, earned a spot on Engineering.com’s Top Workplaces for Engineers 2026. The firm highlights its mission‑driven focus on national‑security systems, offering engineers end‑to‑end project ownership from concept through sustainment. Robust back‑office support and multidisciplinary...
Delhi HC Upholds Compulsory Retirement of IAF Civilian Employee in Forgery Case
The Delhi High Court upheld the compulsory retirement of a civilian carpenter employed by the Indian Air Force after he was found guilty of forging union receipt books and collecting subscription fees without authorization. The bench rejected the employee’s claim...
Humility, Agility—Keys to Unlocking HR Greatness in the Age of AI
MetLife’s CHRO Shurawl Sibblies argues that HR greatness in the AI era hinges on humility, active listening, and transparent communication. She stresses that employees’ fear of AI‑driven layoffs can be mitigated by openly sharing what is known—and unknown—about AI’s impact....
The Trust Gap: Redefining the Relationship Between Benefits Advisors and HR
A panel at the BenefitsPRO Broker Expo highlighted a deep trust gap between benefits advisors and HR departments. Advisors often bypass HR to sell directly to CFOs, while HR perceives advisors as product‑focused brokers. Panelists urged a shift toward strategic...
SBI Staff Federation Intensifies Protest over Outsourcing
The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation has called a two‑day strike, now backed by multiple bank unions and pensioner groups, over alleged outsourcing of permanent roles, a freeze on messenger recruitment, and safety concerns. The union argues...
Research: Why You Shouldn’t Treat AI Agents Like Employees
A new randomized study of 1,261 managers shows that treating AI systems as employees rather than tools harms accountability, error detection and professional identity. When AI is framed as an employee, personal accountability drops 9 points, escalation requests rise 44%,...
Marriott CHROs Answer 7 Questions Every HR Leader Is Asking
At HR Tech Europe 2026, Marriott International’s CHROs Francisca Martinez and Kris Dunn fielded seven pressing HR questions, revealing a hybrid approach to technology that blends global suite platforms with best‑of‑breed solutions. They stressed that AI agents will only deliver...
Care Quality Commission Offers £220k Salary for Next Chief Exec
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has opened a recruitment drive for a new chief executive, offering a salary of £220,000 (about $280,000). The regulator, a non‑departmental public body with a £300 million (≈$381 million) budget and roughly 3,300 staff, has lost two...
Using AI to Mask Accents of Call Centre Agents 'Misleading,' Says Union
Canadian telecom unions warned Ottawa to curb AI use after uncovering real‑time accent‑masking AI in call centres, notably at TELUS. They cited 20,000 jobs lost over the past decade‑plus and said AI‑driven surveillance and offshoring threaten remaining roles. The alliance...
AI ‘Losers’ Should Be Compensated Through Retraining, Says Ex-Cabinet Secretary
Former UK cabinet secretary argues that workers displaced by artificial intelligence should receive compensation in the form of retraining. He warns that AI could eliminate millions of jobs across sectors such as manufacturing, retail and finance by the early 2030s....
New National Origin Discrimination Settlement: $1.25M Payout Linked to Ugly Email
The EEOC secured a $1.25 million settlement from R&R Janitorial, a federal contractor, after finding that Hispanic workers were terminated because of their Central American national origin. The case stemmed from derogatory remarks and an email likening immigrants to raccoons, which...
Exclusive: Pocket FM Lets Go of over 100 Employees; More Job Cuts May Follow
Pocket FM announced a fresh round of layoffs affecting roughly 100‑130 employees, about 10% of its staff, as it seeks to improve efficiency and raise revenue per employee. The cuts may be followed by a second wave that could reach...
Building Ethical Benefits that Work for Everyone
The Retail Solutions UK article highlights a widening gap between employer perception and employee satisfaction with benefits, noting that two‑thirds of firms think staff value perks while only one‑fifth of employees agree. Generational data shows 64% of Gen Z feel their...