This New AI-Powered Platform Is Giving Employees 24/7 Access To An HR Advocate

With the re-election of Donald Trump, many of his supporters have quipped that the policies proposed in Project 2025 may become a reality, despite Trump distancing himself from the 922-page proposal document while on the campaign trail. If Project 2025 were to be implemented, employee protections would be severely limited. A previous examination of the anticipated effects of Project 2025 on American workplaces indicated, “Project 2025 wants to dismantle workers’ rights to organize via unions and proposes that employees instead be provided a less powerful alternative called ‘employee involvement organizations.’ Unions play a vital role in empowering workers and ensuring that employees are treated and paid equitably— limiting their power or getting rid of unions altogether would ultimately harm workers.”

When Cierra Gross was developing her platform Wrk Receipts , she didn’t know how critical the platform would be with the potential elimination of worker rights protections under a Trump second term. “Two years ago, I started Caged Bird HR, which provides employees access to independent HR support. After scaling that nationwide, I noticed two opportunities…one [was that] employees did not have a way to easily track and send work experiences…and two [was that] the most vulnerable employees in low rights awareness environments could not afford the support they need to be successful at work…corporate HR was no longer a trusted source of information. I set out to solve those problems and Wrk Receipts was born.”

Gross explained that Wrk Receipts is like having 24/7 access to an employee advocate who can provide you with advice and guidance about your rights as a worker. “Employees download the app for free [in] the app store and create a profile. The profile is what allows the technology to provide personalized guidance. Employees enter their work experiences into the app in three categories: adversities, accomplishments, and time off. If they need guidance, they can request it by clicking ‘Get Guidance’ and the AI-powered employee advocate Jayla, will provide relevant information like federal and state rights, things to consider, and how to talk to an independent HR professional if they choose. The user does not need to [write a] prompt or ask the AI anything, removing the barrier to information. If they need to share their experiences with their lawyer, therapist, [the] EEOC or even their mom, they send over a chronological timeline with the click of a button.”

The app, which launched on October 7th, has nearly 2,000 users. “Wrk Receipts is revolutionizing workplace dynamics by democratizing access to employment rights information. By providing employees with 24/7 access to expert guidance, we’re transforming how HR and employee relations operate. Employees now approach HR with a clear understanding of their rights rather than seeking basic information. This shift is catalyzing a more transparent and equitable workplace environment where HR departments must evolve to meet a more informed workforce…creating better outcomes for both employees and organizations,” Gross explained.

“Wrk Receipts is a game-changer for busy professionals,” shared platform user Reuben Thompson-Amarteifio. “It’s the perfect tool to quickly and easily log your successes, projects, and even workplace challenges to keep track of your professional narrative…the tools and options users have at their fingertips will create a dynamic shift in how employees empower and advocate for themselves.” Users of Wrk Receipts have shared how the platform is a powerful tool to regain control, especially as we enter what will likely be an era where employees are disempowered and must relinquish control in the workplace. “With Wrk Receipts, I feel so much more in control over my career than before…with the instant access to personalized advice, I feel prepared knowing what all of my options are,” shared platform user Marcel Johnson.

“As Project 2025’s workplace reforms threaten to dismantle decades of hard-won worker protections at the federal level, we could see a shift from uniform federal standards to state-determined protections,” Gross shared. “This fragmented regulatory landscape particularly affects workers who have historically relied on federal protections against discrimination based on characteristics like sexual orientation, race, and gender. This could create a patchwork system, where worker protections vary dramatically based on location…leaving some workers with significantly reduced safeguards, while others retain stronger protections. These changes also threaten collective bargaining power, potentially forcing unionized workers into non-union status against their will and restricting employees’ fundamental right to organize.”

Gross, who is a former Googler and was an HR professional before diving headfirst into entrepreneurship, hopes that Wrk Receipts will put the power back in the hands of employees. “Jayla, Wrk Receipts’ AI-powered employee advocate, eliminates barriers to workplace rights information by guiding employees through complex state protections,” Gross explained. “This seamless access to knowledge is especially crucial for workers in environments where rights awareness is low, ensuring they can easily document incidents, understand their state-specific protections, and connect with appropriate resources, regardless of their location.”

This interview was originally published in Forbes.

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