Human Resources

The AI Bubble Isn’t Bursting Yet. Here’s What To Watch Using Our Model

Forrester's AI Bubble Model assesses the financial health of AI companies, finding no imminent risk of a market collapse, but builder health is under 80, with top firms borrowing to sustain expansion efforts.

Fractional HR is being built one practitioner at a time

Hong Kong has a record number of companies with foreign parent companies, with 11,070 such firms in 2025, a rise of 11% on the previous year, with a shift towards more Chinese Mainland firms.

AI Agents Need More Than Least Privilege. They Need Least Agency.

Cybersecurity principle of least privilege is insufficient for AI agents, as they can cause harm even with proper permissions due to their autonomous actions and decision-making capabilities. This is because AI agents can still make incorrect decisions, regardless of their access levels. This raises concerns about their potential impact.

SAP TechEd 2026: All In On AI

SAP TechEd 2026 in Berlin focused on AI capabilities with a business context, including tools that understand company operations and processes. The event highlighted SAP's AI offerings. AI is a key area of focus for SAP.

Editor's noteSAP's emphasis on AI with business context is a demonstration of its bet on operational efficiency, not innovation. The tools announced at TechEd 2026 suggest SAP is prioritizing process understanding over disruption. Watch the adoption of these tools in mid-sized enterprises, where AI's value is often most tangible.

Fair Work Commission releases new AI guidance and warns against blind reliance on AI

Fair Work Commission has released new guidance on AI, advising employers to use technology judiciously in employment decisions and not rely solely on it for resolving disputes or making decisions.

Punter Scoffs At RBA's Pathetic Attempt To Send Him Broke, As If He's Not Perfectly Capable Himself

Tony Hampton, a 32-year-old man, has reacted to the RBA's cash rate increase to 4.85% by laughing at the prospect of being bankrupted, saying he can easily afford the increased mortgage repayments.

The Financial Risks of Sharing Raw Workforce Data With AI

HR analysts are sharing workforce data with AI tools, often without considering the financial risks, which can arise from exposing sensitive information such as salaries and manager notes. This can lead to data breaches and potential financial losses. Data protection systems are compromised.

Cresta Fills An Important Gap In Salesforce’s Customer Service AI Story

Salesforce has acquired Cresta, a company that provides voice agents, real-time assistance, and conversation intelligence for customer service interactions. This addition fills a gap in Salesforce's customer service AI capabilities. Cresta's technology will integrate with Salesforce's existing customer service systems.

Jim Chalmers Says C'mon Let's Just Focus On The Melbourne Cup Today Hey

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is at the Melbourne Cup, saying there's no other major news, aside from Tonga versus Samoa and Australia's cricket team in South Africa, which he describes as a 'cruel game'.

SK Telecom moves to scale employee-built AI agents across the organisation

SK Telecom has implemented a new strategy, AX Innovation 2.0, to integrate AI agents across the organisation, following a year of employee-led AI development. Over 7,500 employees use AI agents monthly, with 4,000 having built their own. Data protection is a key challenge.

Editor's noteSK Telecom's AI strategy is a pivot from individual employee innovation to organisational adoption, but it's a trade-off: productivity will dip while employees retrain, and data protection remains a challenge. Watch the AX Enabler Task Force's progress in tackling these issues, as it will determine whether the organisation can successfully integrate AI agents across its operations.

Gambling Addict CEO Suddenly Cares About Equine Welfare If It Means Keeping Workers At Their Desk Today

Willam Henry-Smith, CEO of Henry-Smith & Smiggins-Walsh law firm, has cancelled the Melbourne Cup event, citing it as 'last century' and 'not a good look' for employees to gamble on company time.

Gen-Z Take Advantage Of The Last Halloween To Fall On A Saturday While They Are Still Young And Hot

Gen Z Australians have celebrated Halloween on a Saturday for the last time while still young, with the next occurrence not until 2037 when they will be in their late 30s.

From idea to impact: What it takes for an AI agent to survive the journey to enterprise scale

Providence developed an AI-guided conversation agent over a prolonged period, enabling it to be rapidly adapted and deployed to 1,300 leaders during a workforce transition, illustrating the importance of preparation and flexibility in the face of changing environments.

Shadow AI at work: why bans fail and what people teams can do instead

Microsoft and LinkedIn's 2024 Work Trend Index found 75% of knowledge workers use AI at work, often without organisational approval. Organisations may not be aware of the AI tools their employees are using. AI usage is widespread among knowledge workers.

Chap who coded Google’s Pac-Man clone reveals how the game freaked out Firefox

Google's Pac-Man doodle was designed by Marcin Wichary, who also fixed a bug that caused the game to start automatically in Firefox, making a loud noise, by introducing a mute feature and requiring user interaction.

Editor's noteGoogle's Pac-Man doodle was a design stunt, not a game. The real issue was the auto-play feature, which was a bug waiting to happen, especially with users who had the CoolPreviews extension installed in Firefox. Watch whether Google revises its approach to interactive doodles, given the noise they can make.

Crippling Economic Crisis Sees Poor Bank Only Post A $6.8 Billion Profit

Westpac has reported a $6.8 billion profit for FY26, a $100 million decrease from the previous year, amidst a backdrop of economic crisis and industry-wide job cuts, including 2,500 redundancies at NAB.

Change fatigue and AI: How leaders can keep teams thinking

Dr Ken Hudson suggests leaders use the word 'switch' to encourage teams to think differently in their daily work, rather than framing it as constant change. He argues that employees are already switching between tasks and modes of thinking, and this can be applied to work. This approach can help teams adapt to change and improve their thinking.

Editor's noteChange fatigue is a real problem, but framing it as 'switching' modes of thinking can be a more effective way to adapt. Watch whether leaders adopt this approach and whether it leads to genuine innovation, rather than just a change in terminology.

UPDATED: Turning Sydney's Boring New Driverless Train Line Into A Dangerous, Exciting Pub Crawl

Sydney's new driverless train line has been used for a pub crawl, visiting 22 venues between two major suburbs. The journey starts at Bankstown and ends at The Mean Fiddler in Rouse Hill.

Disney Hopes to Improve Public Image by Switching to Free-Range Child Stars

Disney has announced a shift to raising child actors in natural environments, rather than controlled facilities, in an effort to improve their public image and boost viewership and advertising revenue.

AI Search Is Growing Faster Than Its Business Model

Google's AI Mode is driving record search query growth, but the company's advertising revenue growth has slowed to 12%. This is despite significant investments in conversational search technology. Revenue growth is a major concern for Google.

Five HR functions where AI can create measurable business value

AI can enhance HR functions such as recruitment, talent management, and employee engagement, leading to improved employee outcomes and organisational efficiency. It can also improve workforce agility and service delivery. Benefits are measurable.

One Size Does Not Fit All: How AI Model Training Differs Across Industries

Artificial intelligence model training varies across industries due to differences in data, acceptable error rates, and regulatory requirements. Each industry presents unique challenges and constraints. This affects the design and implementation of AI models.

Editor's noteAI model training is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a bespoke process shaped by industry-specific data, error rates, and regulatory demands. Watch the performance of AI models in high-stakes industries like healthcare and finance, where even small errors can have catastrophic consequences.

Career switch into AI and data: What employers should look for

Career switchers with non-technical backgrounds are being sought by employers to fill AI and data roles, as universities struggle to meet demand for skilled practitioners. Joycelyn Woo's experience shows that a short training period and new qualification can be sufficient for a successful transition.

HR Tech 2026: Ten Observations From the Show Floor

At the 2026 HR Tech show, data analysis emerged as a key focus, while agents became a standard feature, and platforms launched three years ago were seen as legacy systems.

AI Is Thriving at Capital One

Capital One is a leading user of AI, with significant capabilities in data analysis and analytics, and has been at the forefront of innovation in this area since its founding in 1994, according to the Evident AI Index of 2025.

Editor's noteCapital One's AI dominance is a product of its founding strategy, not a recent innovation. The bank's long-term commitment to data analysis and analytics has allowed it to scale AI capabilities, but watch the headcount of AI researchers and engineers, as that will determine whether the bank's AI lead is sustainable as the field continues to evolve.

AI-Designed eLearning Quality: AI Made Your eLearning Cheap, Not Good

Generative AI has accelerated and decreased the cost of eLearning, but may compromise on actual skill development in favour of completion rates. This can have implications for employee capabilities. Organisations should assess AI-assisted training by its practical outcomes.

Report: Still Waiting On That Gas Tax

Australian Prime Minister avoids discussing gas tax, despite widespread calls for its introduction, as the country struggles with cost of living crisis and corporate profiteering exacerbates poverty and economic hardship.

Bloke With Full Sleeve 'Theatre Masks' Tattoo Certainly Doesn't Mind A Bit Of Drama

Knoxlee Lundynn, 29, has a full sleeve tattoo of theatre masks on his left arm, which he believes represents the duality of drama. He has multiple facial piercings and tattoos with subtext, including a dragon on his neck and tribal tattoos on his shin and lower back.

AI Makes The HCM Market Hot Again: Workday, SAP, Oracle, and More.

Workday, SAP, and Oracle are experiencing a resurgence in the HCM market, driven by the integration of AI technology into their foundational platforms, according to recent industry trends and vendor meetings.

Marketers, Stop Random Acts Of AI Investing

Marketers are advised to approach AI investments with caution, rather than treating them as a speculative gamble. Annual marketing budgets should be allocated based on informed decisions, not hype or promises of high returns. This approach can help avoid financial risks.

Looking beyond AI written CVs

AI-generated CVs are becoming more prevalent, but employers are increasingly relying on practical skills tests to evaluate candidates' abilities, rather than just their written applications, to make more informed hiring decisions.

Editor's noteAI-generated CVs are a demonstration of the recruitment process's reliance on superficial metrics, not a solution to hiring challenges. The real test of a candidate's abilities lies in their practical skills, not just their written applications. Watch the adoption of skills tests and their impact on hiring decisions.

Wests Tigers Table A 10-Year, $50 Million Dollar Offer For Sam Walker

Wests Tigers have made a 10-year, $50 million contract offer to young halfback Sam Walker, who was previously courted by the Sydney Roosters, but now appears likely to join the Tigers next season.

AI is making everyone's ideas the same. Here's how to stay creative

AI tools are becoming increasingly prevalent, making it difficult to generate original ideas, and experts are advising on strategies to maintain creativity in a world where AI-generated content is on the rise.

The New Deal at Work: How AI Is Reshaping the Employer–Employee Relationship

AI is changing the employer-employee relationship, with employees expected to adapt quickly and work alongside machines, but leaders must redefine the compact and provide clarity on what employees receive in return.

The Next Fleetwood Mac? These 4 Coked Out Roommates Are Also Sleeping With Each Other

Four individuals, including Sandra Perkins and her partner, live together in a Santa Monica apartment, engaging in cocaine use and intimate relationships, drawing comparisons to Fleetwood Mac's dynamics. They have a history of tumultuous relationships and substance abuse. The group's dynamics have been likened to the legendary band's.

How AI Chatbots Are Changing Employee Support Without Replacing HR

AI chatbots are being used to answer routine employee queries, freeing up HR time for more complex issues. Common questions such as leave policies and benefits enrollment are being automated.

Editor's noteHR teams are being freed from routine queries, but this shift is not a replacement of HR, rather a redefinition of their role. The real test is whether HR can adapt to focus on more complex, high-touch issues. Watch the metrics on employee satisfaction and productivity, as they will reveal the true impact of this change.

Local Rugby League Fan Still Buzzing After Absolutely Thrilling Weekend Of International Fixtures

Harry Winks, a 31-year-old from Betoota Ponds, is still enthusiastic after the Rugby League World Cup's Round 2, which featured several high-scoring matches, including a 40-0 lead by Fetu Samoa and a 36-0 victory by Tonga over Lebanon.

Opinion: It’s Actually Punk as Shit To Sob While Watching ‘Over the Garden Wall’ Episode 9

The author argues that crying while watching the 'Over the Garden Wall' series finale is a punk value, citing emotional expression and empathy as key aspects of punk culture, rather than stoicism.

Anthropic’s people products head on the recruiter’s evolving role and how Claude can help

Anthropic's Head of People Products, Mike Boufford, discussed how AI can help recruiters design interviews and automate administrative tasks, freeing up time for meaningful interactions with candidates and improving hiring decisions.

Editor's noteThe recruiter's role is being redefined by automation, not replaced. The real test of AI's value lies in its ability to augment human judgment, not simply free up time for more interviews. Watch whether the tools being developed can accurately capture the nuances of a role and the skills required to fill it.

Waymo Informs Woman’s Friends She Talked Shit About Them During Ride

A Waymo car recorded a woman's conversation and sent it to her friends, who were critical of her comments. The incident highlights concerns about privacy and the use of autonomous vehicles to monitor passengers.

Editor's noteWaymo's decision to record and report passengers' conversations is a privacy invasion, not a helpful tool for accountability. The cost is a chilling effect on free speech, as people will now self-censor in the presence of autonomous vehicles. Watch the number of Waymo users who start using voice changers or encrypted phone apps to avoid being recorded.

Probe finds KPMG Australia 'mishandled' whistleblower disclosure

KPMG Australia's handling of whistleblower disclosures has been deemed inadequate, prompting the federal government to extend its suspension on new contracts with the firm until February 2027. The government initially suspended new contracts in 2020. The suspension was set to end in 2025.

Microsoft's new AI has just out-diagnosed generalist doctors. Whose job is next?

A diagnostic AI has outperformed general practitioners and internists in a study, published in Science, on tough medical cases. The AI's accuracy raises questions about the future of human medical professionals. The study's findings have sparked concerns about job security.

Former Tesla HR leader: ‘AI is our moment’

Valerie Capers Workman, former Tesla HR leader, says AI has thrust HR back into a strategic role, requiring them to own areas such as AI fluency, performance management, ethics, and tech stack evaluation.

Helping AI Understand The Business: A Data Leader’s Guide To Technology & Innovation Forum East

Data leaders can attend Technology & Innovation Forum East to learn about AI readiness, knowledge graphs, and platform strategy in seven sessions. The forum focuses on business impact and scaling AI successfully. Sessions cover key foundations for AI adoption.

Predictions 2027: New Products Will Fill Gaps As AI Reshapes Insurance

New insurance products will emerge in 2027 to address changing customer needs and emerging risks, driven by AI and parametric coverage. Longevity-focused policies will also become more prominent. Emerging technologies will reshape the industry.

Linux Foundation Analyst Summit: “Total Cost Of AI” Is The New Economics Of AI

The Linux Foundation's analyst summit discussed the 'Total Cost Of AI', examining how enterprises can link AI costs to business value. Seven key themes emerged from the discussion, focusing on AI economics.

How AI Contract Data Extraction Helps HR Manage Employment Contracts

HR teams struggle to locate specific clauses in large numbers of employment contracts stored in PDFs, leading to wasted time and resources, according to research from World Commerce & Contracting.

Beyond personalized learning: Capability development requires more than AI recommendations

Learning technology has focused on personalizing content, but organizations need evidence of learners' ability to apply skills in real situations, beyond just completing a course. This requires a shift from just knowledge and content pathways to also considering practice and performance. AI can facilitate this shift.

Editor's notePersonalized learning has become a proxy for capability development, but it's a flawed metric. The real test of readiness lies in performance, not just completing a course or practicing in a safe environment. Watch whether organizations start measuring the impact of their learning programs on actual job performance metrics, such as project completion rates or customer satisfaction scores.

Australia Sends 100 Million Le Snaks In Foreign Aid To France

Australia has sent 100 million Le Snaks to France as foreign aid, in a move aimed at repairing the country's relationship with the French government, following recent tensions over submarine contracts.

Cloudera EVOLVE26: The Case For AI Anywhere

Cloudera announced its 'Anywhere Cloud' at EVOLVE26 in Singapore, outlining a strategy for enterprise AI that prioritises data accessibility and secure operation at scale, with a focus on flexible deployment options.

How AI-powered legal intake can improve performance of your front desk

AI systems can answer incoming calls, freeing up staff to handle follow-up tasks and urgent cases. This can improve front desk performance by increasing efficiency and productivity. Staff can then focus on more complex tasks.

We Sat Down With Batman, Who Opened Up About His Rabies Diagnosis

Batman has spoken out about his rabies diagnosis, revealing he contracted the disease from his adoptive bat mother. He is currently experiencing symptoms and is seeking a cure for the condition.

Is it time to rethink how L&D measures AI success?

AI transforming workplace productivity may lead to a shortage of relevant skills. Dr Gleb Tsipursky suggests using time to proficiency as a key metric for L&D to measure success effectively.

Editor's noteMeasuring AI success by time to proficiency is a hedge against a skills gap, not a solution to it. The metric assumes that proficiency is the goal, but what if the real challenge is adapting to a changing job market? Watch whether L&D teams start tracking job displacement rates alongside time to proficiency.

AI Has Entered the Workplace. Has Anyone Redesigned the Work?

South African organisations are adopting AI in workplaces designed for traditional methods. Existing work processes may limit AI's effectiveness. Organisations need to redesign work to fully utilise AI's potential and achieve value.

Help! My Coworker Asked for Horror Movie Recs, and Now I Have To Speak to HR

A worker has been asked by a colleague for horror movie recommendations, leading to a meeting with HR, where they expect to discuss a potential new role recommending films to the entire store.

Heartbreaking: There’s Not A Single Outfit This Man Can Pull Off

Lyonel Brinks, a 42-year-old Subaru salesman, has difficulty finding a suitable outfit, with every attempt resulting in an unflattering appearance. He has tried various styles, including casual and dressy looks, without success. His struggles have been documented in a humorous article.

Editor's noteLyonel Brinks' struggles with fashion are a demonstration of the limits of self-expression, not a personal failing. The problem lies in his odd proportions and awkward neck angle, which no outfit can fully conceal. Watch whether his upcoming tattoo appointment becomes a desperate attempt to distract from his sartorial shortcomings.

AI can improve performance, but did anyone learn?

Generative AI improves performance, but raises questions about employee learning and development. A study found productivity benefits, but L&D leaders must consider whether employees are developing skills independently and proportionally.

Editor's noteGenerative AI's productivity gains come at a risk of skill stagnation. The real question is whether employees are developing the ability to think critically, not just execute tasks efficiently. Watch the proportion of employees who can replicate results without AI assistance, as that will reveal the true impact on learning and development.

Nation Sighs As NewsCorp Kicks Off This Anthem Shit Again

NewsCorp has sparked controversy with online articles criticizing the Kangaroos and Jillaroos for not singing the national anthem, with some calling for player bans or suggesting they move to another country.

What Is Task or Work Intelligence And Can We Decompose Every Job For AI?

Job-Task Analysis involves breaking down jobs into tasks, categorizing and inventorying them, to enable AI automation. Data providers are using this method to build AI agents. Several companies are involved in this process.

The leadership relationship HR can’t afford to ignore

HR directors face challenges in addressing leadership relationships, particularly when CEOs and chairs disagree on decision-making responsibilities, leading to uncertainty and confusion among colleagues and staff. This can be exacerbated by CEOs and chairs having different ideas about their roles and responsibilities.

Editor's noteThe leadership relationship HR can't afford to ignore is a symptom of a deeper issue: unclear roles and responsibilities. Watch whether the organisation adopts a clear decision-making protocol, and whether HR is empowered to enforce it, because that will determine whether the relationship becomes a source of clarity or confusion.

Are your workers actively sabotaging your AI rollout?

Experts warn that organizations are neglecting crucial steps in AI rollout, leading to sabotage, skill-faking, and silent resistance from workers. This can have significant consequences for the success of AI projects. Effective communication and change management are key to mitigating these risks.

For Service Providers, AI Giveth And AI Taketh Away

Service provider revenues rose slightly in Q2 2026, but bookings remained flat, while revenue per employee increased nominally. AI has accelerated service delivery, impacting growth based on headcount and billable hours.

Portfolio Marketing’s AI Honeymoon Is Over. Now The Real Work Begins.

Portfolio marketers have initially benefited from AI, automating tasks and producing content faster, but now face the challenge of determining how to effectively use AI to achieve strategic goals. They must move beyond initial successes to integrate AI into overall marketing strategies. Effective use of AI is still a work in progress.

So You Think You Have A Marketing AI Agent?

Marketing AI agents are being developed at a rapid pace, with many vendors offering AI-powered tools, but there is a lack of clarity on what constitutes a true AI agent.

The Defining Challenge of Responsible AI Is Designing Systems That Preserve Human Judgment When and Where It Counts

A panel of AI experts agree that preserving human judgment is crucial in the face of increasingly capable machines, with 65% agreeing or strongly agreeing that human judgment should be preserved.

Why MuleSoft, Not Agentforce, Is Salesforce’s Most Strategic AI Asset

MuleSoft's Agent Fabric was not mentioned during the Dreamforce keynote, instead 'Agent Fabric' was shown with Salesforce branding, suggesting a potential shift in strategic focus towards this AI control plane.

From Learning Outcomes to Business Outcomes: How AI Is Transforming Enterprise Learning

Organisations are seeking to link learning investments to workforce capabilities and business outcomes, with an upcoming executive roundtable in Hong Kong exploring AI-enabled learning and its impact on workforce transformation and business performance.

TJ Newsflash 14 October – Managers’ time, training trends, workplace thinking and AI’s billion-dollar opportunity

Communication problems are affecting managers' time, while LinkedIn research highlights factors that increase employee engagement. Meanwhile, AI is viewed as a billion-dollar opportunity, with potential applications in various industries and sectors.

Editor's noteManagers' time being eaten up by communication problems is a symptom, not the disease. The real issue is that training is still seen as a bolt-on, not a core part of the job. Watch whether AI's billion-dollar opportunity is spent on automating tasks or actually redefining work.

Why Equipment Design, Ergonomics and Safety Matter for Warehouse Employee Retention

Warehouse employee retention is influenced by factors including equipment design, physical comfort, and workplace safety, alongside compensation, scheduling, and career development for employees operating heavy machinery. Poor equipment design can lead to physical strain and injury. Ergonomic considerations are crucial for employee well-being.

Time Tracking App Features for Contractors, Explained

Time tracking apps for contractors offer features such as job site tracking, setup options, and cost estimates for whole crews, as well as questions to consider before implementation and setup costs.

Openly-Homophobic Boomer's Weakness For A Bloke Dressed Up As A Woman On Display At Local Production Of Hairspray

A 72-year-old man, Bruce Taylor, attended a local production of Hairspray and unexpectedly enjoyed it, particularly a scene with a male actor dressed as a woman, which left him laughing and in tears.

Normal And Well Adjusted Young Man Brags About Desire To Live Stream Someone Get Executed

Brent Daniels, a young man with known social issues, has expressed enthusiasm for live-streaming a US prisoner's execution, stating he is 'very invested' in the event and criticising government censorship measures.

Editor's noteBrent Daniels' desire to live-stream an execution is a symptom of a broader issue: the blurring of lines between online and offline worlds. Watch whether his family's efforts to intervene have any lasting impact on his behavior, as that would indicate whether the problem is with his environment or his own values.

CHRO Singapore 2026: Time saved, skills at risk, trust on the line

Research suggests AI saves employees time, but this time is often absorbed by organisational work or used for low-value tasks, potentially hindering skill development and expertise. Some studies indicate AI may also lead to longer workdays and intensified workloads. This raises concerns about the impact on employee skills and productivity.

Editor's noteAI's productivity gains are a treadmill, not a boost, if they just shift workloads and don't free up time for learning. Watch whether CHRO Singapore 2026's focus on AI's benefits leads to a renewed emphasis on upskilling and reskilling, or just more organisational work.

BambooHR Launches Connector for Claude

BambooHR has launched a connector for Claude, allowing team members to handle HR tasks in plain language within conversations without leaving the platform. The connector is built on BambooHR's new connection layer, the MCP. It simplifies everyday HR work for teams.

Editor's noteBambooHR's connector for Claude is a hedge, not a rule, because it requires teams to adopt a new platform and language to handle HR tasks. The cost is in the time and effort to learn and adapt. Watch whether the connector's adoption rate matches BambooHR's existing user base.

One Nation Experiences Sudden Drop In Online Support After Ukraine Strikes Russian Bot Farm

One Nation's online support has dropped after Ukraine struck a Russian bot farm, but the party's Indonesian Bot factories are now compensating, with coordinated bot accounts re-emerging on social media.

10 Coursera Free Courses For L&D And EdTech Professionals In 2026

Coursera provides 10 free courses for learning and development specialists and education technology experts, covering topics such as instructional design, AI, and digital learning. These courses are available on various subjects, including learning experience design and assessment. They are accessible to professionals in the field.

Why AI-Enabled Workplaces Need to Double Down on Trust: 4 Capabilities to Build Now

Organisations with AI-enabled workplaces need to focus on building trust through observable, learnable, and repeatable behaviours. This requires managers to develop trust-building skills and teams to codify these practices. Four key capabilities can help achieve this.

Opinion: If You Want to Fuck My Daughter, You’re Gonna Have to Fuck Me First

A father outlines his conditions for a man to date his daughter, including intimate and invasive demands, such as sex, a home visit, and a test of the man's character through his treatment of him.

Ageing Local Man Just Seems To Get Really Bad Hangovers From Ethanol And Sugar Nowadays

A 36-year-old man from Betoota Heights reported experiencing severe hangovers after consuming large amounts of ethanol and sugar, suggesting his body may be more sensitive to these substances with age.

Proving It Worked: How to Measure the Real ROI of Enterprise AI Adoption

Measuring the impact of enterprise AI adoption involves tracking metrics such as time saved, tasks automated, and revenue generated to determine its financial benefits. This helps businesses understand the real return on investment. Data is used to make informed decisions.

Jeep Owner With ‘Not All Who Wander Are Lost’ Tire Cover Proudly Hasn’t Left Home State in 30 Years

Joel Lafleur, a 48-year-old data analyst, has never left Connecticut despite owning a Jeep with a 'Not All Who Wander Are Lost' tire cover, citing fuel efficiency and gas prices as reasons.

FDA Bans Use of Mambo No. 5

The US FDA has banned the song 'Mambo No. 5' due to concerns over its impact on youth, with Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas citing the song's potential to cause 'serious addiction' and 'brain cell destruction'.

Pentagon to Livestream Firing Squad Execution Exclusively on somethingrotten.com

Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the public live-streaming of Nidal Hasan's firing squad execution on somethingrotten.com, with plans to simulcast on other websites, costing $6 million. The execution is scheduled for December 3rd. The Pentagon has revived the website somethingrotten.com for this purpose.

AI CV screening is grading AI tools, not your candidates

Contact centres use AI CV screening tools to shortlist candidates, but often struggle to understand the selection process, highlighting potential flaws in the AI tools themselves. This issue is not necessarily due to the candidates' qualifications. The AI tools may be the problem.

A new way to measure digital wellbeing, and a warning about measuring it alone

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a new measure of digital wellbeing, the Digital Mindfulness Scale, which assesses how employees use technology at work and its impact on their mental health.

Editor's noteMeasuring digital wellbeing by device time alone is a flawed proxy, because it ignores how employees engage with technology. The Digital Mindfulness Scale shows that mindful use, not just time, is what protects wellbeing. Watch the correlation between scale scores and reported technostress, as that will reveal whether digital mindfulness is a genuine wellbeing resource.

Can an employee refuse a polygraph? Why contracts and genuine consent matter

South African employers can discipline employees who refuse polygraph tests, but refusal does not automatically imply misconduct. Contracts and genuine consent are key factors in determining disciplinary action and evidence required.

UiPath Fusion 2026: Why Adaptive Process Orchestration And Autonomous Testing Matter For Enterprise AI

UiPath Fusion 2026 highlighted adaptive process orchestration and autonomous testing as key elements. The firm focused on trust, governance, and integrating AI with current automation systems. This strategy supports wider enterprise AI adoption plans.

Editor's noteUiPath's emphasis on integration with existing automation systems is a hedge against AI-first visions, proving itself in the firm's roadmap discussions that focus on trust and governance rather than replacing current investments. Watch whether the number of enterprises integrating UiPath with legacy systems matches the number of those adopting standalone AI solutions.

The capability risk of agentic AI

Organizations are focusing on employee skills due to AI adoption. Agentic AI presents a capability risk as it removes crucial learning stages through automation. Singapore’s governance framework highlights the potential for skill degradation and business continuity issues if training is insufficient.

Unemployment rate to peak at 4.9% in 2027-28 - Deloitte

Deloitte’s latest forecast predicts a peak unemployment rate of 4.9% between 2027 and 2028. This projection aligns with concerns voiced by businesses and trade groups regarding continued interest rate increases.

Knights' Fans To Soothe The Pain By Descending On Bathurst For Therapeutic Weekend Of Roaring V8s

Following a recent defeat, Knights supporters are travelling to Bathurst to experience the Supercars racing. Many fans seek relaxation and distraction from the loss, citing the powerful V8 engines as a therapeutic outlet. The event offers a chance to momentarily shift focus and enjoy intense sound and speed.

An Excerpt from Jessica M. Goldstein’s Novel, Retro

Jessica M. Goldstein’s novel, Retro, centres on Ash, a struggling actress who becomes a Time Travel Agent. The agency offers trips to the past, including destinations like the Wild West and Prohibition-era speakeasies. The book received positive reviews and was longlisted for a first novel prize.

Why HR Should Care About Google Reviews as Much as Glassdoor Ratings

Google reviews offer a valuable insight for HR. Many prospective employees and clients initially consult a firm’s online business listing. This profile provides a real-time view of customer experiences and opinions.

Editor's noteGoogle reviews are a blind spot for HR. They're often the first thing potential employees and clients see, yet they're rarely monitored. Watch whether HR teams start tracking Google reviews as closely as Glassdoor ratings, and whether this changes recruitment and reputation management strategies.

Digital talent platforms promise access to skills. Who owns the quality of the work?

Digital platforms facilitate searching for freelancers, including designers and analysts, bypassing traditional recruitment. HR must assess how platform choices, evaluation methods, and accountability impact both individuals and resulting work outcomes.

Local Man Remembers What He’s Been Missing Out On After Firing Up The VPN

Dale Thomson, a local resident, experienced a return to travel following the use of a VPN subscription. He visited New Zealand and Albania, facilitated by a Voodoo Ranger giveaway. Thomson enjoyed a period of relaxation and leisure activities.

“Apparently There Was A Football Match On The Weekend” Says Inner City Leftie Who Wonders Why The Greens Struggle With Middle Australia

Alistair Huxley, a Newtown resident, expressed surprise at the NRL Grand Final’s popularity. He attributed the Greens’ difficulties connecting with middle Australia to a perceived lack of engagement with sporting interests. Huxley suggested replicating successful campaigns featuring figures like Abdul El-Sayed.

Editor's noteMiddle Australia's sporting interests are a proxy for something deeper: a distrust of the Greens' detachment from everyday life. Watch whether Huxley's party starts fielding candidates with sporting credentials, because that would be a tacit admission that policy isn't enough.

Why Remote Work Helps More South African Women Access Employment

Remote work in South Africa is increasingly aiding women's employment by providing flexibility and convenience, which helps address the high unemployment rates that disproportionately affect women, as noted by SouthAfricanTalent.com.

Editor's noteRemote work is a Trojan horse for South African women's employment. The real issue is not the work itself, but the childcare and domestic responsibilities that keep them out of the workforce. Watch the number of women in the formal sector, not the number of remote jobs advertised.

Meta, Amazon, And The Real Question About Agentic Commerce

Amazon blocks Meta's Muse AI from shopping on its platform. Muse, an AI agent, researches and shops for consumers. Amazon aims to keep direct control over customer interactions and checkout.

Editor's noteAmazon's move to block Meta's Muse AI is a hedge against losing control of customer interactions and checkout. The real question is whether Amazon's control is a necessary condition for trust, or a trade-off for convenience. Watch whether Amazon's customers start to abandon their accounts if they can't use AI shopping assistants.

Ideas and Books in London

In London, participation in two Forrester events led to engagement with clients and attendees, where discussions centered on innovative concepts like Minimum Viable Sovereignty, AEGIS, and strategies for B2B market entry, enhancing visibility.

State of Consumer Africa 2026: Meeting the pragmatic shopper

Africa's household budgets are constrained, leading to fragmented shopping channels. Four emerging trends are altering consumer discovery, decision-making, and spending habits, presenting opportunities for companies to adapt their consumer engagement strategies.

Six sickening anniversaries sickening new couples celebrate

Satirical piece mocks new couples who mark minor relationship milestones as anniversaries, from first glance and first date to first kiss, sleepless conversations and becoming official, with jokes about social media posts and friends' tolerance.

Six relationships you’ll be shipping in Celebrity Traitors

Satirical listicle speculates about imaginary romances among Celebrity Traitors contestants, pairing celebrities such as Jerry Hall, Ross Kemp and Richard E Grant, with jokes about age gaps, comic personas and on-screen chemistry.

Esther Rantzen hard to explain to young people

Satirical report claims parents are struggling to explain Esther Rantzen's television legacy to children, contrasting her Childline founding and charity campaigns with the odd novelties of That's Life!, as imagined by a fictional viewer recalling 1970s television.

Seven surprising benefits of rejoining the EU for Brexiters

A satirical list imagines upsides for Brexit supporters if Britain rejoined the EU, including renewed underdog status, recycled jokes about regulations, familiar political figures returning to prominence, fresh grievances to air, and the chance to criticise younger people again.

Why redesigning a job takes more than the equipment that prompted it

ICFM's operations head argues facilities-management automation should begin with the operating model: robots handle strenuous cleaning, while staff shift to inspection, defect reporting and cross-skilled work, set against Singapore's slower labour-force growth.

Editor's noteRedesigning a job to accommodate automation is not just about replacing equipment, but about redefining the role of staff. Watch whether ICFM's operating model, which shifts staff from manual tasks to inspection and defect reporting, becomes a template for the industry, and whether it can be scaled to meet Singapore's productivity demands.

The Handbook Says One Thing. The Manager Does Another: Where Employment Disputes Actually Begin

An analysis argues that employment disputes typically stem from gaps between written handbook policy and actual managerial decisions, including inconsistent discipline, undocumented exceptions, and mishandled leave or accommodation requests. It recommends real-time documentation, manager training, and consistent escalation practices under California and federal employment law.

Learning isn’t the constraint—capacity is

Writing for Chief Learning Officer, Sandra Mohr argues organizations face a capacity crisis rather than a learning-content shortage, citing Deloitte data showing workers now manage ten major enterprise changes yearly, up from two in 2016. She proposes a "Workforce Capacity Loop" prioritizing coaching and workflow conditions over course completion.

Editor's noteOrganizations' capacity to absorb change is the real constraint, not learning content. Watch the proportion of employees who report being overwhelmed by work changes, as that's the metric that will reveal whether the Workforce Capacity Loop can deliver sustained performance.

Full training attendance, clean audit, and still exposed

A panel including Rita Tsui, Tim Toa, and Alfred Leung argued that full training completion and clean audits don't guarantee organizational safety, citing Boeing's 2018-2019 crashes as a case of institutional drift. Panelists said over 80% of security incidents trace to human error and recommended sentiment tracking over checkbox compliance.

Five steps: How HR can pass the ‘Octopus Test’ before agentic AI gets its tentacles into everything

An opinion piece urges HR teams to apply an 'Octopus Test' before deploying agentic AI like Claude Cowork or ChatGPT Work, by registering connected systems, retrievable data, read versus write permissions, and revocation of access, so poor data governance is not accelerated.

Editor's noteHR's 'Octopus Test' is a necessary check, not a ban, on agentic AI. The real risk is poor data governance, not the tech itself. Watch whether HR teams can actually revoke access to connected systems and data when the tool is no longer needed, not just in theory.

Alibaba’s Next Chapter: From AI-Native To Agent-Native

Forrester analysts detailed how Alibaba Cloud rebranded its cloud roadmap around autonomous software agents, unveiled at Apsara Conference 2026, adding new agent-management infrastructure and previewing a next-generation Qwen 4 foundation model for enterprise deployment.

Bill Gates calls for government safeguards on AI development

Bill Gates urged US lawmakers to pass AI safeguard legislation during an NBC interview, distinguishing risks from malicious human misuse of AI tools, such as fraud, from concerns about autonomous systems escaping human control, which he called less imminent.

Taiwan’s minimum wage to cross NT$30,000 as AI boom lifts growth

Taiwan's government approved an 11th consecutive annual minimum wage increase, raising monthly pay to NT$30,900 from January 2027, a 4.7% rise affecting 2.6 million workers. Officials cited GDP growth exceeding 11% this year, driven partly by AI-related technology exports.

Editor's noteA minimum wage increase driven by AI exports is a hedge against job displacement, not a solution. The 11% GDP growth rate hides the trade-off: a narrow boom that may not create sustainable jobs for the 2.6 million workers affected. Watch the job market, not the GDP figures, to see if this boom translates to employment security.

Access to global talent has improved, but hiring remains an operational problem

Hiring has slowed since 2025 even though demand for talent persists, and the piece argues teams should rework outdated job briefs, test skills early, rely less on extra interview rounds, and use retention results to refine selection criteria.

Editor's noteHiring slowdowns are a symptom, not the problem. The real issue is that outdated job briefs are still being used to screen candidates, rather than testing skills early on. Watch whether hiring teams start to use skills-based assessments as a primary filter, rather than relying on resumes and job titles.

Six bribes from world leaders to Trump now the bar’s been set at ‘two pandas’

World leaders escalate their gifts to Trump after China's panda diplomacy, reportedly offering exotic animals and land concessions to win the president's favor.

UK to swap Chagos Islands for Piddington

Britain floats swapping a small English village for the Chagos Islands instead, satirizing the real territorial deal and the politicians squabbling over sovereignty.

Ant International’s AI Strategy: Fixing Payments Today, Building for Agents Tomorrow

Ant International is automating merchant payments with its Autopilot AI, handling most tasks itself, while building separate infrastructure for currency forecasting and blockchain-verified agent transactions.

Editor's noteTwo different AI bets inside one company -- automate the routine work, build separate rails for what a machine agent will need later -- is a sensible hedge only if the second bet gets funded as seriously as the first. Watch the headcount, not the press release.

Meta Connect 2026: Does Pleasure Beat Privacy? Meta Bets It Does

Meta launched camera-free wearables and its Muse AI agent, betting on convenience even as users continue to raise surveillance and privacy concerns.

Editor's noteCamera-free hardware is Meta's answer to the backlash its glasses drew, and the trade is real: convenience for users, an assistant that still listens. Watch adoption among people who already declined the camera version, because that is the actual test of the argument.

Elite B2C Marketing Processes Operate Like Spain’s National Soccer (Football) Teams

Forrester analyst Jessica Liu argues B2C marketing excellence requires disciplined, standardized processes before technology adoption, comparing high-performing marketing organizations to Spain's coordinated, continuously adjusting World Cup-winning soccer teams.

Apple's storeroom toilet costs tech giant $18,000 in discrimination case

The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal ordered Apple to pay $18,000 after ruling it indirectly discriminated against a Canberra store employee with a bowel condition by letting an accessible toilet be used for storage.

Editor's noteEighteen thousand dollars is not the story; the storeroom is. Indirect discrimination rarely arrives as a decision anyone made. It accumulates as a facility quietly repurposed because nobody was tracking who depended on it. Worth auditing what your own accessible spaces are currently being used for.

Gen Z career struggles are exposing the divide at the heart of The Future Of Work

Stanford and Burning Glass Institute research finds AI-exposed occupations show a 19% employment gap for workers aged 22-25, while job-switching among Gen Z now outpaces older generations amid scarce entry-level roles.

AI is turning grievances into legal-grade filings

Australian employees are using generative AI to draft workplace grievances with legal citations, prompting the Fair Work Commission to mandate AI-use disclosure in tribunal filings from October 2026.

The authenticity revolution: Why showing the real you is now a superpower at work

Opinion piece argues that workplaces increasingly reward genuine self-presentation over polished personas, urging L&D leaders to redesign leadership training to encourage authenticity rather than image management.

Editor's noteThe claim that authenticity beats polish is easy to state and hard to operationalise: L&D leaders still need to decide what "authentic" means when it collides with professionalism norms, conflict, or simple bad judgement voiced aloud. Redesigning leadership training around this idea is a bigger structural bet than the framing suggests.

The QSR Training Problem: 200% Turnover And A 3-Day Window To Make Someone Productive

An analysis argues quick-service restaurants need onboarding built for constant turnover, citing roughly 200% annual turnover and a three-day window to reach productivity, unlike quarterly classroom training.

AI-Based eLearning Platform: The Complete Guide For 2026

A guide to how AI-based eLearning platforms personalise learning paths, adapt assessments and measure return, naming Impelsys, TalentLMS and iSpring Suite as worked examples.

Editor's noteVendor guides rarely lead, but this one is the clearest statement yet of what buyers are now being asked to evaluate: adaptive assessment and measured return, not content libraries. That is a different purchasing conversation, and most learning teams have not yet rebuilt their criteria around it.

Indonesia sets out four principles for human-centred AI adoption at work

Indonesia's Manpower Ministry issued four principles for workplace AI adoption, emphasising human oversight, worker participation and upskilling, citing research showing redesigned workflows outperform technology-only implementation.

Editor's noteMost national AI guidance addresses developers. This addresses employers, and it puts worker participation alongside oversight and training rather than treating consultation as optional. For multinationals with operations in the region it is a rare document that says plainly what adoption is expected to look like.

Best Workplace Culture Survey Tools for Benchmarking Against Your Industry in 2026

HR Future compares eight workplace-culture benchmarking platforms, evaluating dataset size, regional coverage and comparability for benchmarking an employer against its own industry.

Why HR Should Care About Google Reviews as Much as Glassdoor Ratings

An HR Future column argues companies should monitor Google Reviews alongside Glassdoor, since customers' public feedback shapes candidate perceptions of workplace culture before applicants reach career pages.

What Too Much Screen Time Is Doing to Your Peace of Mind

Constant digital stimulation and notifications increase hyper-vigilance, fracture attention and disrupt sleep, the piece argues, recommending screen-free zones, micro-detoxes and tracking tools to protect employee wellbeing.

Editor's noteWellbeing coverage tends to arrive as advice. This one is worth leading on because it names a mechanism rather than a mood: constant notification keeps people in a vigilance state that costs attention during the day and sleep at night, which makes it an operational problem, not a perk.

Takeaways from The Forrester Wave™: Customer Feedback Management and Analytics Solutions, Q3 2026

Forrester's Q3 2026 Wave evaluates customer feedback management vendors amid consolidation, naming Medallia, Qualtrics, PG Forsta and InMoment, and urges pairing generative AI with human oversight.

The hidden cost of hybrid work: Rebuilding informal learning for early-career employees

Citing PwC's 2026 AI Jobs Barometer, OpenSesame chief executive Don Spear argues hybrid work has eroded informal learning for early-career staff as AI-exposed entry roles demand senior-level judgment.

25 Employee Performance Metrics Every HR Leader Should Track

Only 45% of organizations use consistent performance-management tools, creating inconsistent raise, promotion and termination decisions; the piece sets out standardized metrics for defensible evaluation.

Editor's noteFewer than half of organisations measure performance the same way twice, and the same organisations still hand out raises, promotions and terminations on those measurements. That gap is the whole story: the decisions are consequential and legally exposed, and the instrument producing them is inconsistent by the employer's own admission.

Why “ChatGPT recommended it” won’t cut it for HR software decisions

HR leaders increasingly rely on ChatGPT recommendations when choosing software vendors, but AI outputs are inconsistent, favour visibility over fit, and lack accountability compared with human-driven decisions.

The Philippines to reskill 1.3 million IT-BPM employees under US$34.4 billion AI infrastructure plan

The Philippines launched a 34.4 billion dollar AI infrastructure masterplan through 2033, aiming to reskill 1.3 million IT-BPM workers and create over 500,000 AI-related jobs.

Editor's noteOne point three million workers is not a pilot. The Philippines is reskilling the workforce whose jobs automation threatens first, and doing it as national infrastructure policy rather than employer training, which makes this the clearest test yet of whether that approach can outrun displacement.

The P11D Is Disappearing. Is Your Payroll Team Ready for Real-Time Benefits Reporting?

UK employers must report certain benefits such as company cars and fuel in real time via payroll from April 2027, replacing the annual P11D form under new HMRC rules.

Indonesia targets up to 3.5 million jobs in 2027, but businesses warn of hurdles

Indonesia's finance ministry targets 2.57 to 3.49 million new jobs for 2027, but economists and business leaders question feasibility given high costs, capital-intensive industries and past shortfalls.

Editor's noteA jobs target is a forecast until someone checks the arithmetic. Employers and economists are doing that publicly here, pointing at capital-intensive growth and previous shortfalls, which makes this less a government announcement than an argument about whether the economy can produce the jobs at all.

AI is changing work. Is L&D changing fast enough?

L&D teams must move beyond basic AI training and redesign workforce capabilities around human judgment, validation, oversight, and real-world task augmentation as generative AI reshapes knowledge work.

Workers trust judgment over tools, new AI adoption survey finds

A Pipedrive survey finds most workers trust personal judgment over AI tools, with only 32 percent reporting AI makes them faster and better, while over half credit experience for success.

Editor's noteAdoption surveys usually measure installs. This one measured belief, and found most workers still rate their own judgment above the tool on their desk. Only a third say it makes them both faster and better, which is the number any rollout business case should be tested against.

From cost centre to growth engine: Enter the Chief Revenue Officer of Talent

Hiring, internal mobility and learning run as separate functions in most organisations. The argument here is to join them into one engine and hold it to a revenue number.

Editor's noteRenaming a function is easy and attaching it to a revenue number is not, which is where this argument will be tested. Plenty of organisations have merged hiring and learning on a slide without changing who reports to whom, and the part worth watching is whether anyone is genuinely held to the figure.

GS Caltex’s Saehong Hur: Leading from the top; moving forward—together

An executive at a South Korean energy group makes the case for constant communication and a single joined-up mindset as the way to keep pace with shifting markets.

Winners of the 2026 HR Awards revealed

Twenty people took home recognition at this year's human resources awards, singled out for work their peers judged to stand above the field.

How To Design Better Branching Scenarios: Start With The Decision

Guidance on building branching scenarios that actually teach: start from a real decision, offer choices a learner might plausibly make, let consequences follow, and add no complexity the lesson does not need.

Editor's noteThe framework here shifts branching-scenario budgets away from narrative production toward locating genuine judgment calls first. For L&D teams burned by expensive multi-path builds that taught nothing new, the practical test becomes whether a decision point could genuinely divide competent staff, not whether it makes a better story.

5 myths about being a genius

A neurologist argues that genius is trained rather than issued at birth, and picks apart five assumptions about talent that keep capable people from attempting difficult work.

The most powerful network is a diverse one

Professional networks tend to fill up with people much like their owner. The argument here is that deliberate variety in who you know is what makes a network worth having.

Editor's noteThe research behind this argument comes from network science, not career-coaching anecdote, and it cuts against a common mentorship-program default of pairing people with similar backgrounds. For HR leaders building internal mobility or sponsorship programs, the finding argues for deliberately engineering variety into pairings rather than optimizing for comfort.

Why We Must Return to the Office to Use AI in Person

A satirical memo argues staff must return to the office because artificial intelligence works better in person, skewering return-to-office mandates and the vocabulary invented to justify them.

Editor's noteDaily use of AI and Return to Office (RTO) protocol is akin to us humans teaming-up against the great machine of our times. It helps us laugh at the absurdity that is RTO for professions that do not need regular human contact to flourish.

Office NPC Punches Monitor After Failing To Secure Bruno Mars Tickets

An office worker takes a failed ticket queue out on a company monitor, satirising concert-scarcity meltdowns and the explanations that reach IT afterwards.

Word Of The Week: Fredagsbar (A Popular Danish Tradition Of Friday Drinks And Socialising)

A mock dictionary entry defines fredagsbar, the Danish Friday-drinks ritual, and quietly mocks offices that import a foreign custom and call it team culture.

Uber cuts 10% of workforce, tightens return-to-office rules

Uber cut about 3,300 jobs, roughly 10% of staff, while flattening management layers and tightening its hybrid policy to three in-office days, its third workforce reduction disclosed in 2026.

DOL warns employers of tobacco wellness program rule conflict

The Labor Department flagged conflicting 2013 and 2014 guidance on timing tobacco-surcharge cessation awards under ACA wellness rules, urging employers to review compliance while it prepares clarification.

CHROs are increasingly external hires at large companies, index shows

Russell Reynolds' latest index shows global CHRO appointments rose in 2025, with S&P 500 boards increasingly choosing experienced external hires over first-time internal promotions to the top HR seat.

The expectation trap

A study across North America, the UAE and India finds recognition programs succeed less on budget than on managers activating them consistently, arguing recognition should be systematized.

Editor's noteThe finding inverts how recognition is usually bought. Budget is the lever most organisations pull and the study says it is the wrong one: consistent manager activation decides whether a programme works, which makes this a management-systems problem with a procurement-shaped answer attached.

Welcome to Career Day

A working mother explains her job to a classroom: inbox dread, meetings that decide nothing, and the chatbot she is training to replace herself. Shouts and Murmurs.

What is helping or holding back your L&D impact?

Training Journal argues L&D impact depends less on measurement skill than on structural conditions: access to decision-makers, usable data, time to experiment, and support to implement findings at scale.

Nearly 3 in 4 HR job seekers are looking for roles below their career level

JobLeads analysis found 74.4% of HR job seekers pursue roles below their career level, the highest of any tracked industry, with potential salary losses near $51,000 annually.

How to: Build an HR function that drives enterprise performance

Author Sonia Mooney outlines a four-stage method for HR functions to drive enterprise performance: clarifying business strategy, creating conducive conditions, distributing responsibility and measuring impact.

Editor's noteFrameworks are cheap and this one earns the slot on its fourth stage. Clarifying strategy and distributing responsibility are familiar; committing to measure the impact is the step most HR operating models leave out, and the one that makes the other three checkable.

TJ Newsflash 2 September – Compliance, managers, cyber risk and AI performance

Training Journal's roundup covers a Go1 study finding only 38% of HR leaders test compliance-training comprehension, plus reports on shifting manager duties, cyber risks for new hires and AI skills gaps.

TJ podcast: L&D needs to stop talking about learning, with Cathy Hoy – episode 332

Training Journal's podcast features Cathy Hoy, founder of CLO100, urging learning leaders to build commercial fluency and replace ROI metrics with cost-of-inaction framing to earn a seat in decisions.

Seven Steps to Financial Success, According to a Guy Who Won a Multimillion-Dollar Lawsuit Against the Circus

Mock self-help from a man whose fortune arrived when an acrobat landed on him, satirising success literature that reclassifies luck as method.

The future of work isn’t a younger workforce. It’s more flexibility

Sara Daw, CEO of The CFO Centre, argues organizations should prioritize flexible, fractional, and multigenerational work models over youth-focused hiring as workers stay employed into their eighties.

The AI fire hydrant: L&D’s new job is to redesign the pipework

Quantum Rise co-founder Erica Farmer argues AI-driven individual productivity gains stall without redesigned workflows, urging leaders to map processes, set team AI norms, and measure decision speed.

Editor's noteThe productivity gain is real and it evaporates at the team boundary. That is the argument worth leading on: individual speed means nothing if the process downstream still runs at its old pace, which makes this a workflow design problem rather than a training one.

Read Tim Cook’s full memo to Apple employees on his last day as CEO

On his final day as Apple CEO, Tim Cook thanked employees, praised Apple’s culture and mission, and expressed confidence in successor John Ternus while confirming he will remain involved with the company.

Editor's noteA departing chief executive’s memo led Human Resources because of what it leaves out: no legacy paragraph, no list of numbers. It thanks the people, names John Ternus, promises to stay involved, and stops. Leaving well is harder than arriving well. Anyone planning a succession should read it as the template: name the successor, thank the people, stop talking.

When does quiet firing after CFRA leave become retaliation in California?

California employment law analysis explains when reduced duties after CFRA leave constitute retaliation, emphasising that courts compare actual job substance, pay and authority rather than titles.

Claude Code Job Search: 69 Applications, 20 Interviews, 1 Offer

A geophysicist automated much of a job hunt using a Claude Code-based framework, generating tailored applications, interview preparation, and tracking workflows that ultimately produced 20 interviews and one job offer.

Should we all be taking low doses of lithium to prevent Alzheimer’s?

New research is exploring whether low-dose lithium, particularly lithium orotate, could help prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease. Promising animal studies have led to an upcoming human clinical trial, but effectiveness remains unproven.

The Global Benefits Consistency Trap for International HR Teams

An HR analysis argues international teams should benchmark comparable employee value rather than identical benefit names across countries, since local statutory protections shape how benefits land.

I turned to AI when my doctor couldn’t fix my back pain. It actually helped

A Fast Company columnist used Google Gemini to supplement treatment for persistent back pain, finding value in personalized guidance and symptom management. The article explores the promise and limitations of AI as a healthcare companion.

Editor's noteA columnist’s back pain and a chatbot that helped between appointments is an anecdote, and it led Human Resources anyway, because your employees are already doing this: symptom tracking, questions at two in the morning. The question for HR is whether benefits design knows, and whether the health plan has a view before an employee acts on one.

AI resume screening is creating a ‘visibility gap’ for recruiters

A growing paradox in AI recruiting: automation helps recruiters process overwhelming application volumes, yet many fear qualified candidates are being filtered out before a human ever reviews them, creating a troubling “visibility gap.”

Tying bonuses to badge swipes is how you teach people to game you

Linking compensation to office badge swipes is a classic management mistake: employees optimize for the measured activity rather than the desired outcome. When attendance becomes the target, people learn to game attendance.

Editor's noteTie bonuses to badge swipes and you get exactly what you measured: swipes. Coffee badging is the workforce doing the maths it was asked to do. It led Human Resources because attendance is this year’s most visible case of a metric becoming a target and ceasing to measure anything. Before rewarding a number, ask what behaviour that number cannot see.

Abstinence is not an AI strategy

Banning or avoiding AI in the workplace is not a viable strategy. Learning leaders should focus on responsible experimentation, AI literacy, governance, and workforce adaptation rather than attempting to prevent employees from using AI.

OpenAI loses a top data center exec, as stream of high-profile departures continues

OpenAI's head of data centers, Chris Malone, has departed amid a broader wave of senior leadership exits. His departure comes during major AI infrastructure expansion efforts, raising attention on leadership restructuring, and data-center execution plans.

Editor's noteOne departure is a personnel note. This one ran in Human Resources because it is the latest in a run of senior exits at the company that most needs to hold a leadership team together through a build-out of unprecedented scale. Retention at that altitude is an execution risk, not an HR footnote.

The media Industry needs to open doors, not just talk about inspiring talent

CEO Amrit Baidwan argues that improving diversity and talent pipelines in the media industry requires more than inspirational messaging. Companies must actively create access, mentorship, and career opportunities for people from underrepresented backgrounds.

Editor's noteAmrit Baidwan’s argument that “inspiring talent” is not a diversity strategy led Human Resources because it names the substitution the industry keeps making: messaging in place of entry routes, mentorship and real roles. The diversity problem was never a shortage of inspiration. The test for any talent initiative is whether it changes who gets hired or who gets a poster.

Starbucks and Bank of America: two different paths on GLP-1 coverage

Employers are taking divergent approaches to GLP-1 obesity medications, with Starbucks ending weight-loss coverage to manage healthcare costs while Bank of America continues substantial spending, viewing the drugs as a long-term workforce health investment.

The four-day week myth: Why AI won’t reduce workloads

AI-driven efficiency is unlikely to automatically shorten working weeks, as organizations typically reinvest productivity gains into additional output, raising expectations and workloads unless leaders deliberately redesign how work capacity is used.

Editor's noteAI will not deliver a four-day week; it will deliver a five-day week with more in it, because every efficiency gain before this one was reinvested in output, not returned as time. Adeline Segaux says it before the pitch decks catch up, which is why it led Human Resources. Hours come down only when a leader decides they will.

Say Please! Or Not, It Could Be Causing Workplace Productivity to Slow Down

A workplace communication study found that requests framed with excessive politeness or urgency were more likely to be completed late, while clear ownership, explicit deadlines, and direct task assignment improved on-time delivery rates.

ICIMS Announces Virtual Talent Acquisition Conference for October

ICIMS announced its annual iCIMS NEXT virtual conference for October 8, 2026, focused on helping recruiters and HR leaders optimize talent acquisition strategies through AI, recruitment marketing, and automation tools.

Why hiring numbers hide the real workforce story

July employment data showed payroll declines despite reduced layoff announcements and increased hiring intentions, suggesting traditional metrics fail to capture workforce transformation complexity.

Form I-9 Section 2 and Section 3 Delegation: Keep Employment Verification Moving

Company extends Delegate Task feature to Form I-9 Section 2 and Supplement B to streamline employment verification processes. Feature rollout planned for second half 2026.

Your Questions Answered: How Talent Acquisition Teams Are Navigating the AI Era

Appcast held a webinar addressing talent acquisition leader questions about artificial intelligence adoption in recruiting, candidate evaluation methods, and strategies for improving hiring outcomes in current labor markets.

Editor's noteA webinar write-up leads here only because of what the questions reveal. Talent acquisition leaders are not asking whether to adopt AI any more; they are asking how to evaluate candidates once it is in the process, which is a much later-stage problem than the vendor pitches assume.

Your best federal career investment might not require your manager’s permission

Federal employees can advance their careers through personal development initiatives that don't require managerial approval, such as professional certifications, networking, and skill-building outside formal channels.

OpenAI employees can apparently complain directly to Sam Altman

OpenAI operates a friction@openai.com email address allowing employees to report workplace issues directly to leadership. The system was formalized by former CEO of Applications Fidji Simo and remains in place for addressing company problems.

Editor's noteAn email address for complaining directly to leadership, set up under Fidji Simo, led Human Resources because every company says it wants to hear about problems and very few give the problems an address. The mechanism is trivial; the permission is not. Ask whether anyone in your organisation could send that email without going through a manager first.

Careerminds Acquires Jobrapido

Careerminds has acquired Jobrapido, integrating its outplacement and career services with Jobrapido's job aggregation platform to form a major independent job marketplace.

Why Online Freelance Marketplaces are Stagnating and How They Can Pivot

Digital talent platforms like Upwork and Fiverr face stagnation from macroeconomic pressures and slow employer adoption, requiring strategic pivots to sustain growth and market relevance.

Editor's noteFreelance marketplaces were supposed to be counter-cyclical, absorbing work when hiring froze. They are not, and that is the finding worth leading on: if the platforms stall in exactly the conditions they were built for, the constraint is employer behaviour rather than the economy.

AI Candidate Fraud: How Applicants Use AI to Game Interviews (and How HR Tech Fights Back)

Candidates increasingly use generative AI to cheat during remote job interviews, with nearly 38% reportedly employing such tactics. HR technology companies are developing detection and verification tools to combat sophisticated interview fraud schemes.

Don’t let your org chart dictate your AI strategy

Organizations should develop AI strategies independent of existing organizational structures to avoid outdated reporting relationships limiting technological adoption and innovation capabilities.

Fortitude Re’s AI hiring playbook: Faster hires, fewer exits

Fortitude Re's chief people officer and SVP of talent acquisition will present their AI-first talent acquisition redesign at HR Tech 2026, demonstrating how the reinsurer accelerated hiring and reduced employee turnover.

AI isn’t the problem with your hiring process. Your silence is.

TMP Worldwide and PeopleScout surveyed 500+ European job seekers and audited hiring processes across 20+ industries. Most candidates suspect AI screening but employers rarely communicate about it, causing distrust and ghosting rates exceeding 60%.

Editor's noteThe finding that earns this the section is not that employers use AI, but that they will not say so. Candidates already assume screening is automated; the silence converts a process question into a trust problem, and a ghosting rate above sixty percent is what that costs.

Who's Hiring? - Not-A-Coder Edition - Aug 2026

New monthly job posting series for non-engineering roles including customer support, data entry, field technician, technical writer, marketer, and sales positions. Posts follow standardized template.

Editor's noteA recurring listings post is not news, and it leads this section for a reason worth stating: the roles collected here are the ones hiring data usually omits, and a standardised monthly template is the closest thing to a time series anyone has for non-engineering demand.

Metaview Acquires Reval to Accelerate the Shift From AI Assistants to AI Coworkers

Metaview acquired AI recruiting firm Reval to expand Fillmore, its autonomous AI coworker that manages recruiting sourcing and screening processes for over 5,000 companies.

This $240 office chair is supremely light and packs a boing

Sihoo's M59AS office chair features springy construction designed to adapt to user bodies while maintaining affordability and delivering adequate comfort for budget-conscious buyers.

Lean Team, Big Leadership Bench

Grace Niwa of Vertex Pharmaceuticals discusses how a small recruiting team manages to place 40 vice president-level executives annually using a portfolio strategy approach.

HubSpot VP: AI’s next big question isn’t adoption, it’s accountability

HubSpot's VP of learning and talent development expressed skepticism about organizations claiming to have figured out AI implementation, suggesting accountability remains a key challenge beyond adoption.

Why Is Everyone In Tech So Sad?

The article explores widespread unhappiness and dissatisfaction among technology industry workers, examining burnout, workplace stress, and factors contributing to emotional distress in tech careers.

International Youth Day: How HR Can Invest in the Next Generation

International Youth Day highlights HR's role in developing younger workers through mentorship, skill development, and inclusive workplace practices that prepare them for future careers.

AI didn’t invent hiring fraud. It made it harder to see.

AI has made existing hiring fraud more convincing and harder to detect. Employment and education verification uncover more discrepancies than database checks. Organizations should move credential verification earlier in hiring and conduct post-hire screening.

Employees in Hong Kong are among the world’s heaviest users of AI. Most have never been trained to use it.

Hong Kong workers use AI weekly at high rates, with 72.7% adopting it daily or weekly. However, nearly 60% have never received formal AI training despite wanting to develop these capabilities.

Editor's noteSeventy-three percent using AI weekly and sixty percent never trained is not an adoption story; it is a governance gap wearing an adoption story’s clothes. We led Human Resources with it because the same numbers almost certainly hold in Mumbai and Manchester. The question for an HR head is who signed off on that exposure.

LinkUp CEO Toby Dayton to Step Down After 25 Years

Toby Dayton will resign as CEO of job market data firm LinkUp at the end of September, concluding a 25-year tenure leading the company and its parent GlobalData.

What primates tell us about the evolutionary origins of keeping pets

Research on primate behavior suggests pet-keeping may have deeper evolutionary roots than previously thought, with studies exploring how other species develop similar relationships with animals.

Top Executive Job Board Turns 10

ExecThread, an executive job board, celebrates its tenth anniversary and has surpassed 900,000 registered members. Founder and CEO Joe Meyers discussed the platform's growth and scalability in a recent interview.

Visa layoffs reach senior ranks, including six VPs and 37 senior directors

Visa eliminated approximately 2,600 positions representing 7% of its workforce on July 28, affecting senior management including six vice presidents and 37 senior directors as part of organizational restructuring.

SmartRecruiters and SAP SuccessFactors Connectivity

SmartRecruiters completed integration connectivity with SAP SuccessFactors by mid-2026, enabling customers to transition recruiting functions from SuccessFactors to SmartRecruiters platform.

CIOs, stop training the room to see you as the IT person

CIOs must leverage technical credibility to influence executive decisions rather than remaining perceived solely as information technology leaders responsible for routine updates and maintenance.

A new scenario report puts a number on Europe’s talent risk

European AI researchers released a scenario report warning that Europe risks losing control over AI compute, talent, and industrial leverage by 2031, recommending aggressive AI adoption paired with retraining programs.

ExecThread Turns 10 with CEO Joe Meyer

ExecThread, a curated marketplace for executive and board-level career opportunities, celebrates its tenth anniversary with over 900,000 registered members under CEO Joe Meyer's leadership.

T-Mobile US has just cut more than 4,500 jobs in latest shakeup

T-Mobile US eliminated over 4,500 positions in recent workforce reduction, with Deutsche Telekom data revealing headcount declined nearly 7% year-to-date.

Five steps: A leader’s guide to creating psychologically safe teams

Leaders build psychological safety through five practices: sending belonging cues, modeling work-life integration, ensuring equal participation, inviting disagreement, and normalizing failure as learning.

AI Is Driving Down the Cost of Outplacement

Pelgo leverages artificial intelligence to reduce outplacement service costs, expanding access beyond executive-level clients to broader employee populations through improved service economics.

Editor's noteOutplacement has been an executive perk for decades because the economics only worked at executive prices. If AI genuinely moves the cost down, the same service becomes affordable for whole cohorts, and the ethics of a layoff change with it. We ran this for the HR heads who will be asked why they still offer it to so few.