Welcome to the Jungle

"Think about it like this....it's like dating." We ask talent acquisition manager,?Arabella Podmore?wants to tell candidates what is holding them back from landing that offer.??

On Saturday, Elon Musk alarmed federal workers by sending an email, ordering them to summarize their accomplishments for the week. The email went as follows, “Please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished this week and cc your manager.” It was made clear that failure to comply would be taken as a resignation. Why do some managers not trust their employees to do their jobs? Musk isn't the only the only one making headlines. There seems to be a growing trend of managers increasing scrutiny over employees' work, with some leaders requiring accomplishment reports and using rigid performance tracking. While accountability is essential, excessive oversight can backfire. A Gallup study found that employees who feel trusted by their managers are 260% more motivated and 50% more productive than those who feel micromanaged. However, research also shows that when employees sense a lack of trust, they may engage in “productivity theater”—performing busyness rather than doing meaningful work. This raises the question: does more monitoring actually lead to better results, or does it just create anxiety and inefficiency? How to Build a Trust-Based Work Culture?? ? Measure Outcomes, Not Hours – Focus on results instead of surveillance. ? Encourage Open Communication – Employees should feel safe discussing challenges without fear of micromanagement. ? Provide Autonomy – Trust employees to manage their own time effectively. ? Recognize & Reward Good Work – When employees feel valued, they’re more engaged. Is your workplace built on trust or tracking? Let us know in the comments.

Is passion necessary for succeeding in the workplace? Let's dive in. ??

"Have you ever had a colleague who spoke with a lot of confidence about something they actually knew very little about?” It’s called the Dunning-Kruger effect. Our Lab expert, Laetitia Vitaud explains how this cognitive bias affects the workplace.??

How can we improve hiring to reduce unconscious biases? ? ? We explore why blind hiring is important and what strategies recruiters can use below.??

With remote and hybrid work, internal communication has shifted to Slack, Teams, and endless emails. But does this new digital landscape create more stress? Research shows that digital communication can contribute to workplace anxiety, especially in remote settings. A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 62% of workers experience stress related to unclear digital communication, with delayed responses and misinterpretations fueling anxiety. The "always-on" culture of instant messaging tools can lead to pressure to respond quickly, even outside of work hours. A Harvard Business Review study further highlights that employees often misinterpret neutral messages as negative, causing unnecessary stress and uncertainty. Tips to Reduce Slack/Email Anxiety: 1?? Clarify Tone – Use emojis or punctuation to ensure your intent is clear. 2?? Set Boundaries – Turn off notifications after work to reduce the "always-on" pressure. 3?? Assume Good Intent – If a message seems abrupt, don’t jump to conclusions. 4?? Use Video or Voice When Needed – Some things are better said than typed. 5?? Encourage Open Communication – Teams should foster a culture where it's okay to ask for clarification. Let us know if digital communication stress you out? ??

Definitions of merit are never neutral but rather intertwined with power dynamics, according to Lauren Rivera. She argues that historically people from dominant groups have always controlled what “merit” is and defined it in their own image. ? ? Rivera speaks with The Inequality Podcast from the Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality & Mobility at the University of Chicago.? ? How does merit apply to hiring?? ? The hiring process is not just measuring your present skills or self, but the process measures the culmination of education, skills, and employment opportunities you’ve had previously, which is why trying to level the playing field at this point for many is already too late. ? ? Let us know what you think.? ??

“The more we can make everyone literate, the less cynicism around AI.” We speak with Sri Satish Ambati, co-founder and CEO of H2O.ai, has a message for skeptics of AI.??

Is it us, or are there less jobs this year? ?? Hiring, job openings, and turnover declined in December, with hiring reaching its lowest point in five years both in the U.S. and globally, according to a new report from BambooHR. Across industries, hiring dropped to 1.9% in the U.S. and 1.7% globally, while turnover fell to 2020 levels. Performance reviews surged at the end of the year, with a 14% month-over-month increase and an 11% year-over-year rise in the U.S. ?? Hiring Decline: ???? US hiring is down 12% MOM and 8% YOY ??? Global: Down 22% MOM and 10% YOY ?? Job Openings: ???? US job openings are down 13% MOM and 21% YOY ??? Global job openings are down 10% MOM and 22% YOY What’s Next for 2025? Much remains TBD on the future of the job market as trends are likely to continue to be shaped by new policies under the Trump administration. Meanwhile, job seekers remain divided on the outlook: ?? 50% are optimistic about securing a job ?? 50% anticipate challenges, citing skill gaps as a major barrier With uncertainty ahead, HR leaders suggest focusing on internal mobility, up-skilling, and leadership development to stay competitive in the evolving job market.

We are excited to welcome?Barbara Holzapfel?as our new Board Chair! "Barbara's expertise in driving growth, innovation and international expansion of B2B and B2C software, coupled with global leadership experience will be invaluable as we enter our next phase of growth.” (Jérémy Clédat, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Welcome to the Jungle) "I am delighted to be joining Welcome to the Jungle as Chair of the Board. I am very excited about the company’s vision and the product that?have?made Welcome to the Jungle the key player in HR tech that it is. I look forward to working with the Board and management team to make Welcome to the Jungle a global leader in employer branding and recruitment marketing." (Barbara Holzapfel)