Will they come to the office?
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May 14, 2025
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Top Story
What does IBM's AI-driven HR overhaul mean for the field?
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IBM recently announced that it automated hundreds of HR roles with AI agents, aiming to streamline operations, eliminate tedious manual work and invest in areas requiring critical thinking, according to CEO Arvind Krishna. The move mirrors a larger trend of companies overhauling their HR strategies to be AI-driven and people prudent. Upskilling and reskilling will be critical for HR professionals looking to remain relevant in their organization and field.
Full Story: The HR Digest (5/14) 
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Recruiting & Retention
Plant Services' Captain Unreliability takes a satirical look at the idea of parting ways with frontline workers and the pitfalls associated with this type of downsizing. "Once we’ve finally eliminated the last of those pesky employees who are actually doing the work, maybe we can achieve our ultimate corporate dream: an organization of managers managing managers, reporting to executives who answer only to other executives, in a streamlined, productivity-free paradise," Captain Unreliability writes.
Full Story: Plant Services (5/12) 
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Leadership & Development
Benefits & Compensation
Guaranteed income options can enhance 401(k) plans
(Pekic/Getty Images)
Benefit managers should consider adding lifetime income solutions, such as annuities, to 401(k) plans to ensure employees don't outlive their retirement savings, experts say. Research from the Morningstar Center for Retirement & Policy Studies indicates that 45% of workers who retire at age 65 may be at risk of running out of money.
Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (5/13) 
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Path to Workforce
Azadeh Aalai highlights the growing reliance on AI for written assignments in academia, noting that Turnitin reported more than 22 million papers with AI-generated content. This trend raises concerns about the shift from process-oriented to outcome-oriented learning, as students miss out on developing critical academic skills. Alai, a professor at Queensborough Community College, emphasizes the intrinsic value of engaging in the writing process and cautions against the reliance on technology that undermines educational goals.
Full Story: Psychology Today (5/11) 
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The HR Leader
Gen Z and millennial workers highly prioritize work flexibility, with 40% willing to take a pay cut for the option of remote or hybrid work, athough these workers still recognize the importance of in-office interactions for relationship building. "Not everyone can afford to trade money for flexibility, but for those who can, it's becoming a no-brainer," wrote Laura Roman, a senior talent acquisition manager.
Full Story: Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model) (5/12) 
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About the Editor
Reflections
Reflections
(Kanoe Namahoe)
I probably should have saved today’s Recruitment & Retention story for Friday’s Workplace Chatter section, but I just couldn’t. Captain Unreliability’s insights on frontline workers and corporate bureaucracies are the perfect shot of humor for the middle of the week.
 
So please, grab a cookie, pour a fresh cup of coffee, close your office door and enjoy. Let me know your thoughts. I’m curious to hear your feedback.
 
Do you enjoy this brief? Share it with others. Want different stories? Something about it bug you? Tell me. In the words of Frasier Crane, “I’m listening.”
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Ann Curry,
journalist
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
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