Hello, HR Pros!

From AI-ghosted interviews to purple-haired policymakers, the role of HR has never been more complex—or more thrilling. This edition dives into why CHROs now walk a tightrope between strategy and empathy, how stress management is the new business risk radar, and why your next dress code policy might just include crop tops.

Let’s decode the future of talent—one first impression (and one fashion choice) at a time. ✨

📰 Upcoming in This Issue

• ⚙️ The HR Tech Stack Failure: A Research Analysis

• 🎯 CHRO Case Studies: Leading from the Front

• 🔍 The Nefarious Side of AI for Talent Acquisition

• 🎨 How To Write a Dress Code for the Modern Workplace

📣 Trending HR News

• GitHub CEO: manual coding remains key despite AI boom (Tech In Asia)

• Employers without paid caregiving leave risk losing talent (Yahoo)

• LinkedIn adds more AI tools to assist recruiters (LinkedIn)

• Microsoft makes AI usage mandatory, ties it to performance reviews (Business Insider)

⚙️ The HR Tech Stack Failure: A Research Analysis

After $2.5 trillion and two decades of investment, HR tech has barely moved the needle—just a 12% uptick in hiring success.

Turns out, volume processing, keyword matching, and cutting humans out of hiring isn’t just flawed—it’s actively pushing away top performers. This eye-opening analysis makes one thing crystal clear: it's time to stop treating hiring like supply chain optimization.

Key Takeaways:

• 🧲 Referrals Beat Resumes: 89% of quality hires come from referrals, internal mobility, or boomerangs—not applicant tracking systems.

• 🧮 Credentials ≠ Capability: 76% of top performers lack the "required" credentials listed on job descriptions, undermining keyword-based screening.

• 💬 Human > Automation: 94% of successful hires involve meaningful human interactions—each hour of conversation boosts retention by 8%.

• 📉 New Tech, Old Problems: AI agents still screen strangers instead of building relationships—speeding up failure, not fixing it.

Read the full 5,891-word article here from Moneyball HR.

🛠️ Tackling HR Tech Stack Challenges? Explore These HR Tools

If your current HR technology feels more like an obstacle than an enabler, you're not alone. The right tools can be game-changing. Based on feedback from HR tech experts and proven effectiveness, consider these:

💰 Simplify Payroll with Paychex

Payroll doesn't have to be stressful. Paychex handles payroll automation, compliance, and reporting—saving valuable time and headaches.
👉 Get 3 Months Free Payroll Processing from Paychex→

🤝 Make HR Resource Management Easy with Monday.com

A good ATS is your secret weapon in efficient hiring. Greenhouse cuts recruitment costs, automates tedious tasks, and reduces bias through structured hiring practices.
👉 Try Monday.com for Free→

🤝 Reinvent Your HR Experience with HiBob

Move beyond outdated software with HiBob’s modern, user-friendly platform. From onboarding to employee engagement, HiBob transforms HR into a meaningful employee experience.
👉 See how HiBob reshapes HR→

🔗 Strengthen Employee Relationships with Salesforce CRM

Great HR teams build great relationships. Salesforce CRM leverages powerful AI to help HR proactively manage talent pipelines, boost employee engagement, and enhance internal collaboration.
👉 Try Salesforce for Free→

HR Tweet of the Week:

If you get an email from Mark Zuckerberg, do not assume that it is fake!

⚙️ Too Many HR Projects? Simplify with Smartsheet

Smartsheet brings clarity and collaboration to HR projects, from onboarding to compliance. Keep tasks on track, automate busywork, and get projects moving effortlessly.

👉 Try Smartsheet for Free→

🎯 CHRO Case Studies: Leading from the Front

HR isn’t just about managing people—it’s now ground zero for business transformation. This article profiles five pioneering CHROs reshaping how we work, from embedding AI across the enterprise to revolutionizing coaching and performance management. If you think HR's future is all spreadsheets and compliance, think again.

These leaders are architects of a bold new workforce—and they’re not waiting for permission.

Key Takeaways:

• 🤖 BCG’s GenAI approach isn’t niche—it's viral: 70% of its workforce is using AI daily, with 18K+ GPTs built in-house.

• 📈 IBM links raises to future skills, not just past results: Employees who stop learning decline in performance—even top salespeople.

• 🧘 Wood combats burnout with “well-being champions”: across sites and a 30-day global wellness trek that actually gets engagement.

• 🎯 LinkedIn gives every employee a coach: 97% feel more career-confident; 80% of users aren’t managers, just growth-hungry ICs.

Read the full 2,111-word report here.

🔍 The Nefarious Side of AI for Talent Acquisition

Think spammy résumés are your worst TA nightmare? Try deepfake interviews, sabotaged scorecards, and fake exec resignations—all from rogue AI agents.

This article from Steve Levy reads like a thriller and a wake-up call wrapped in one. From sabotaged scheduling to fake “candidate feedback,” it paints a picture of just how vulnerable modern talent acquisition workflows are in an AI arms race. The message is clear: HR leaders can’t afford to ignore cybersecurity anymore.

Key Takeaways:

• 🧨 AI agents could flood ATS systems with fake résumés: Over-optimized for keywords but completely fabricated, derailing both sourcing efficiency and data quality.

• 💻 Fake candidate profiles and deepfake interviews: Advanced AI can mimic real applicants in screening calls, hijacking time and trust.

• ⚠️ Workflow sabotage can crash hiring ops: Imagine all your best candidates auto-rejected or job titles changed in the system—yes, that’s possible.

• 🕵️ AI-powered espionage is a real threat: From poisoning sentiment analysis to impersonating CHROs, it’s not sci-fi—it’s a near-future HR challenge.

Read the full 1,661-word article here.

🎨 How To Write a Dress Code for the Modern Workplace

Let’s be honest: when did writing a dress code start feeling like writing a minefield manual? This article isn’t just about policy—it’s about preserving dignity while balancing crop tops and cultural tattoos.

Professionalism isn’t one-size-fits-all anymore, and if HR can’t flex, it risks fraying the very culture it’s meant to stitch together. Dress codes can be clear without being controlling, and inclusive without inviting chaos.

It’s not about less fashion—it’s about more intention.

Key Takeaways:

• 🪞 Professionalism is now personal: Gen Z sees workplace attire as identity; they’re not anti-rules, just pro-guidance and clarity.

• 🧢 It’s time to outgrow “fashion police” mode": Clear norms set early (even pre-hire) help prevent confusion and minimize awkward HR interventions.

• 👗 Treat adults like adults: Flexible policies that explain the why behind them prevent resentment and encourage voluntary alignment.

• 💬 Bias-proof your enforcement: Consistent dress code enforcement paired with “safe space” dialogue builds psychological safety and real inclusivity.

Read the full 1,174-word article from HR Dive here.

The bottomline

If you’re wondering whether to revise your onboarding, reframe your stress metrics, or rewrite the dress code—this edition just gave you the blueprint. Because in 2025, HR isn’t just about managing people—it’s about predicting behaviors, preventing risks, and making room for a little personality.

Stay sharp, stay human. ✨