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The rush to adopt the latest AI tools has resulted in what David Lloyd, chief AI officer at the HR tech company Dayforce, describes as a moment necessitating careful discretion. With so much confusion and many questions surrounding AI, it’s no wonder so many of us — including himself — feel like “we need an AI therapist,” as Lloyd put it. But enlisting the hot tech of the moment doesn’t have to be so complicated. “Of every 10 ideas we see come through, three need AI,” he said, cautioning against viewing automation as a universal solution. “Generative AI, especially, looks like a massive hammer —?and everything looks like a nail right now. So, be careful.”

In this edition of the newsletter, we take a look at ping fatigue, what Trump's second term could mean for DEI programs, and how how employers are shifting layoff protocols to safeguard their brand appeal.

While it remains to be seen exactly what Trump will do, legal experts are considering some actions he could take and how that would influence employer programs. Some levers Trump is expected to pull include issuing executive orders reversing some Biden-era workplace rules. To start, he can direct federal agencies to eliminate their own DEI programs. He may also try to reverse Biden-era protections around sexuality and gender identity. He will also be able to appoint new officials to direct agencies like the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Justice.?“You have that kind of power to look across departments and agencies and have everybody come back with something that they can do,” said Luke Hartig, president at Gravity Research, a DC-based, societal risk firm.

As the workplace continues to evolve because of hybrid work and the acceleration of AI, fostering a sense of connection among employees has become more essential than ever.? Still, only 23% of employees feel connected to their company culture,?according to a recent Gallup poll. That poses a significant challenge to organizations as younger generations shift from a “me” to a “we” mindset, emphasizing shared goals and team success and something HR leaders play a vital role in facilitating.

While corporate holiday parties remain a staple of workplace culture, they are also adapting to evolving employee preferences and post-pandemic realities, according to the latest research. In the U.S., the food delivery service ezCater found that 8 in 10 employees plan to attend their employers’ celebrations this year, up from fewer than 7 in 10 last year. Younger workers appear particularly enthusiastic, with 82% of Gen Z and millennials planning to attend, compared to 77% of Xers and boomers. In this piece by Tony Case, we speak to Marissa Andrada of WUF WORLD, Samantha Reynolds of Helpside, and Kaushik Subramanian.

Developers don’t want to find themselves spending a significant amount of time on repetitive, thoughtless tasks. GenAI is helping them get out of that spot. Specifically, at Amazon, developers previously reported that 70% of their time is spent on tedious and repetitive tasks rather than coding. That’s why they are leveraging new tools like the AI-powered software development assistant Amazon Q Developer to remove the grunt work.?

Breadcrumbing is when someone offers intermittent reinforcement to keep someone on the hook. At work, it may look like managers or HR telling staff about future opportunities, like raises, promotions, and travel, that never come to fruition. While this tactic to keep staff engaged isn’t new, it can ultimately break employees’ trust in their employer. And today’s younger workers are more discerning of it and have no problem job hopping when their patience dwindles. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gRQ8hfec

Employers are modifying severance packages and staff-exit policies as they look to guard against sloppy layoff protocols and protect their brand reputation as a destination for top talent. About 70% of companies in the U.S. and Canada enhanced separation and severance packages in the past three years, and over 90% said they reviewed their policies, according to a?new report?from talent solutions provider LHH based on responses from 700 HR leaders in the U.S. and Canada. In this piece by Hailey Mensik, we speak to Professor Sir Cary Cooper,CBE of The University of Manchester, and Russell Williams.

From Tinder dates to?pet insurance,?meditation classes?and?smoking-cessation programs, employers have become extra creative when it comes to the benefits they offer. The reason is clear, as employees have come to value benefits more than ever — in some cases, even more than a pay bump. A recent?analysis by the jobs site Indeed?found that 59% of job postings advertised at least one employer-provided benefit, up from fewer than 40% in early 2020.

When it comes to work, all generations have something in common: anxiety. Exactly what kind of anxiety is where their paths start to diverge, not just in terms of how different age groups work but also how they search for new jobs, according to new research. The stress points felt when job seeking were outlined in a?new survey?by Geographic Solutions, Inc. which polled 500 job seekers. While 62% of Gen Z respondents cited limited job opportunities as their primary concern, millennials (67%) and Gen X (61%) found lack of employer communication most stressful. Boomers reported higher anxiety about competing with other candidates and the lengthy interview process. In this piece by Tony Case, we speak to Steven Lowell, CSNS, CIC, CPRR of Find My Profession, Paul Toomey, Mei-joy Foster of Blackhawk Network, and Anna Amosova of Mellow.