The EBN Dispatch

RTO creeps up, HR burns out, visas tighten, and AI workslop eats real work. This week’s Paper Cut breaks down the choices that shape your employer brand.This week’s Paper Cut slices through the spin to give HR and employer brand leaders the insight they actually need. No fluff, just facts.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & Links:Hybrid Creep And The Skill-Fade PanicWorkers say return-to-office “makes sense” (https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/24/workers_yes_rto_makes_sense/)Return to office: workers fail (https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/return-to-office-workers-fail-3d966807)Hybrid creep is real (https://www.businessinsider.com/hybrid-creep-employers-increasing-rto-days-office-2025-9)Eric Schmidt on WFH and learning (https://www.businessinsider.com/eric-schmidt-google-wfh-work-life-balance-learning-tech-ai-2025-9)HR On The Brink: Burnout, Band-Aids, And Culture TheaterTwo thirds of HR want to quit (https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/two-thirds-looking-to-quit-their-hr-role-with-half-pointing-to-burnout/)Using events to strengthen culture (https://hrnews.co.uk/how-hr-leaders-are-using-events-to-strengthen-workplace-culture/)What drives career moves by sector (https://hrnews.co.uk/understanding-employee-priorities-new-data-shows-what-drives-career-moves-by-sector/)Confidence gap survey 2025 (https://connextglobal.com/connext_confidence_gap_survey_2025/)Visas, Cuts, And The Talent SqueezeH-1B and Global Talent visas explained (https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/h-1b-visa-usa-global-talent-visa-uk-immigration-skilled-workers/)Nvidia and OpenAI chiefs defend H-1B fee (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/we-need-the-brightest-minds-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-opneais-sam-altman-defend-100k-h1b-fee/articleshow/124066382.cms)Bosch to cut 13,000 jobs (https://www.wsj.com/business/bosch-plans-to-cut-13-000-jobs-by-end-of-2030-fbfc6046)PwC trims partners and staff in Middle East (https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/09/19/pwc-culls-jobs-of-60-partners-and-1500-staff-in-middle-east-after-saudi-clash/)Tech layoffs roll on (https://www.financialexpress.com/life/technology-tech-layoffs-2025-google-intel-salesforce-oracle-lead-job-cuts-as-ai-reshapes-tech-industry-3986268/)Viral layoff email (https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/ceo-send-major-layoff-email-to-all-employees-reddit-viral-10266644/)Workslop And Quiet Promotions: The Trust TaxAI workslop is destroying productivity (https://hbr.org/2025/09/ai-generated-workslop-is-destroying-productivity)Microsoft CEO warns on AI misuse (https://futurism.com/microsoft-ceo-concerned-ai-destroy-company)Quiet promotions and burnout (https://fortune.com/2025/09/19/quiet-promotions-workplace-expert-employees-gen-z-burnout-employers-bosses-wages-compensation/)Gen Z in a competitive job market (https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/09/gen-z-are-competitive-job-market-randstad/)Burnt but hopeful (https://fortune.com/2025/09/19/suzy-welch-gen-z-millennials-burnout-hope/)⸻#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #TalentStrategy #RTO #HRLeadership #EVP #AIGovernance

AI isn’t the story. Your operating model is. This week we break down agentic HR, augmentation without layoffs, and why carrots beat control.This week’s Paper Cut slices through the spin to give HR and employer brand leaders the insight they actually need. No fluff, just facts.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Agentic HR, Not Theatrical AIhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/adrianbridgwater/2025/09/17/workday-tracks-evolution-of-human-agentic-resources/https://hbr.org/2025/09/should-your-company-merge-its-chro-and-cto-roleshttps://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/salesforce-soften-blow-ai-jobs-21053239.phphttps://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/talent-acquisition/ai-is-changing-the-game-why-recruiters-need-to-think-like-consultantshttps://aimagazine.com/news/workday-ai-research-reveals-enterprise-talent-drain-crisisProductivity Without Pink Slipshttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/17/duolingo-ceo-how-ai-makes-my-employees-more-productive-without-layoffs.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/technology/online-marketplace-fiverr-lay-off-30-workforce-ai-push-2025-09-15/https://www.engadget.com/ai/fiverr-is-laying-off-250-employees-to-become-an-ai-first-company-215730063.htmlhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2025/09/14/small-business-technology-roundup-microsoft-copilot-does-not-improve-productivity-and-openai-makes-chatgpt-project-free/https://fortune.com/2025/09/15/zoom-ceo-eric-yuan-three-day-workweek-ai-automation-human-jobs-replaced-future-of-work/Carrots Beat Command-and-Controlhttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/17/amazon-invests-1-billion-to-raise-worker-pay-lower-health-care-costs.htmlhttps://www.hrdive.com/news/most-workers-would-trade-salary-to-work-with-close-friends-kpmg-finds/760363/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2025/09/16/how-to-overcome-overqualified-or-salary-range-biases-when-job-hunting/86120260007/https://www.businessinsider.com/consulting-changes-workforce-impact-business-worldhttps://www.inc.com/phil-rosen/ai-outlook-labor-jobs-market-investing-career-engineers-artificial-intelligence-business/91240002The Great Watchbackhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/14/uk-firms-bossware-monitor-workers-activityhttps://www.businessinsider.com/att-system-for-tracking-employees-rto-compliance-2025-9https://www.wsj.com/tech/microsoft-cracks-down-on-work-speech-limits-remote-work-df9d469ehttps://www.wired.com/story/hundreds-of-google-ai-workers-were-fired-amid-fight-over-working-conditions/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/14/australian-workers-commonwealth-bank-data-being-gathered-by-employers-ittle-privacy-protectionhttps://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/telcos-media-tech/Tech-in-Asia/ai-talent-war-pushes-us-firms-asias-outsourced-codershttps://www.peoplematters.in/news/organisational-culture/after-9000-layoffs-novo-nordisk-ends-remote-work-for-staff-43535https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/agoda-axes-50-singapore-staff-warns-them-not-report-govt-agencies-or-lose-their-severance-pay⸻#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #TalentStrategy #AIatWork #HRLeadership #EVP #WorkplaceTrust

Layoffs roll on, RTO gets louder, and consulting is rebuilt by the very tools it once sold. Workers hedge, managers lose the room, and trust becomes the only durable advantage. This week’s Paper Cut turns headlines into practical moves for employer-brand leaders.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & LinksLayoffs With a Side of Spinhttps://www.reuters.com/business/novo-nordisk-slashes-9000-jobs-slim-down-fierce-weight-loss-drug-battle-2025-09-10/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fifth-consecutive-month-microsoft-layoffs-102009142.htmlhttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/11/microsoft-ceo-nadella-says-company-must-rebuild-trust-with-employees.htmlhttps://citywire.com/asia/news/goldman-sachs-to-lay-off-3-of-staff-at-global-headquarters/a2473769https://www.businessinsider.com/rto-mandates-driving-workers-quit-helping-employers-avoid-layoffs-2025-9https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/global-oil-gas-company-layoffs-2024-2025-2025-09-03/Consulting Gets Rewritten by Its Own Pitchhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-ai-boom-is-leaving-consultants-behind-c9088fdahttps://hbr.org/2025/09/ai-is-changing-the-structure-of-consulting-firmshttps://www.businessinsider.com/mckinsey-growing-entry-level-hires-ai-era-partner-says-2025-9https://hbr.org/2025/09/what-it-takes-to-lead-through-digital-disruptionWorkers Play Defense, Managers Lose the Roomhttps://fortune.com/2025/09/07/silicon-valley-gen-z-tech-industry-jobs-dissappearing-millennials-ai-automation-careers-older-workforce/https://www.cfodive.com/news/ai-driven-job-displacement-may-already-be-here-report-says/759570/https://www.newsweek.com/employers-employees-very-different-outlooks-us-economy-2127036https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2025/09/06/why-employees-prefer-ai-over-their-managers-the-impact-on-leadership/https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracylawrence/2025/09/09/why-your-company-picnic-wont-fix-your-work-culture/Place, Product, and Perceptionhttps://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-send-employees-back-to-office-rto-remote-work-2025-9https://www.businessinsider.com/cbre-announces-building-experience-lab-annie-dean-office-design-2025-9https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/how-did-an-employee-get-clues-that-layoffs-in-his-company-are-coming-soon-he-could-sense-from-his-managers-behaviour-he-just-ghosted-us/articleshow/123734166.cmshttps://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/lifestyle/job-hugging-what-uk-jobs-employment-b2823073.htmlhttps://qz.com/careers-most-vulnerable-in-a-recession⸻#EmployerBrand #AIatWork #RTO #Consulting #WorkCulture #TalentStrategy

Salesforce cuts staff. Amazon tightens rules and chases urgency. Paramount plans five days in the office. The market cools, workers hedge, and AI only pays off when companies change how they work. Paper Cut distils the noise into practical moves for employer-brand leaders.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & LinksHard Reset at the TopSalesforce lays off 4,000 employees; support staff trimmed from 9,000 to about 5,000https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/salesforce-lays-off-4000-employees-ceo-marc-benioff-says-ive-reduced-support-staff-from-9000-heads-to-about-5000-because/articleshow/123631907.cmsAmazon CEO Andy Jassy reshapes company culture to restore urgency and disciplinehttps://www.ainvest.com/news/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-reshapes-company-culture-restore-urgency-discipline-2509/Amazon’s strict phone policy stirs employee concerns over trust and controlhttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/culture-reset-turns-personal-amazons-strict-phone-policy-stirs-employee-concerns-over-trust-and-control/articleshow/123709779.cmsAmazon asks staff to report personal use of work phones as cost cutting deepenshttps://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/amazon-asks-staff-to-report-personal-use-of-work-phones-as-cost-cutting-drive-deepens-80180.htmUnilever to review its top 200 roles under turnaround strategyhttps://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/unilever-review-top-200-roles-under-turnaround-strategy-2025-09-03/Office Rules, Talent GravityParamount to mandate five-day return to office from January, internal memo sayshttps://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/paramount-mandate-five-day-return-office-starting-january-memo-says-2025-09-04/Amazon’s strict RTO policy is costing top tech talenthttps://africa.businessinsider.com/news/amazons-strict-rto-policy-is-costing-it-top-tech-talent-according-to-internal/syr3et6Community reaction and internal chatter on Amazon RTOhttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45132093Regional and suburban shared workspaces boost productivity for WFHhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-03/shared-workspaces-regional-suburban-wfh-option-productivity/105680458Want staff back at their desks? Make the office less boringhttps://www.afr.com/property/commercial/want-your-staff-back-at-their-desks-maybe-make-the-office-less-boring-20250901-p5mrfiSoft Demand, Smaller BetsUS JOLTS: job openings and layoffshttps://www.cnn.com/2025/09/03/economy/us-jolts-job-openings-layoffs-july“I applied to 5,000 jobs” in a brutal markethttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/career-advice/applied-over-5000-jobs-brutal-market/Feeling stuck in a stagnating job markethttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/feeling-stuck-stagnating-job-market-120000344.htmlThe coming white-collar recessionhttps://seekingalpha.com/article/4817969-the-coming-white-collar-recessionGen Z career minimalism and the rise of job hugginghttps://fortune.com/2025/08/26/gen-z-career-minimalism-side-hustle-management/Signs of the rising job hugging trend and how to address ithttps://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2025/08/26/signs-of-the-rising-job-hugging-trend-and-5-ways-to-address-it/AI Reality, Trust RequiredEmployees are using AI and companies are not preparedhttps://www.fastcompany.com/91394046/employees-are-using-ai-and-companies-arent-preparedWhy AI change management matters more than hypehttps://www.inc.com/fast-company-2/ai-change-management-mckinsey-doge/91233676Academics raise alarm over suspected AI use in a Deloitte reporthttps://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/academics-raise-alarm-over-suspected-ai-use-in-deloitte-report-20250822-p5mp0f⸻#EmployerBrand #AIatWork #RTO #OrgDesign #WorkCulture #TalentStrategy

AI savings, manager cuts, RTO reality, and a labour market easing into a long hold. Paper Cut turns the week’s headlines into practical moves for HR and employer-brand leaders.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & LinksWhite-Collar ResetMorgan Stanley says AI could save S&P 500 companies 920 billion dollars: https://fortune.com/2025/08/19/morgan-stanley-920-billion-sp-500-savings-ai-agentic-robots-jobs/Google has slashed more manager roles in its efficiency drive: https://www.businessinsider.com/google-has-slashed-more-manager-roles-in-its-efficiency-drive-2025-8Google executive says the company has cut a third of its managers: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/27/google-executive-says-company-has-cut-a-third-of-its-managers.htmlResearchers leave Meta and OpenAI’s superintelligence labs: https://www.wired.com/story/researchers-leave-meta-superintelligence-labs-openai/How AT&T CEO John Stankey’s tough memo rewrites workplace terms: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/how-att-ceo-john-stankeys-tough-memo-to-employees-rewrites-the-terms-of-workplace-in-corporate-america/articleshow/123448358.cmsOffice Rules, Real OutcomesGetting employees back to the office is at an inflection point: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/author-getting-employees-back-to-the-office-is-at-an-inflection-point-201435253.htmlWork-from-home workers defy RTO mandates: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/08/27/work-from-home-workers-defy-rto-mandates/85821219007/#/Back to the office, Gen Z says enough working from home: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/aug/25/back-to-office-gen-z-enough-working-from-homeGoogle adds at least one round of in-person interviews: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-says-we-have-introduced-at-least-one-round-of-in-person-interviews-just-to-make-sure/articleshow/123495271.cmsRemote work benefits explained: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/working-from-home-office-remote-benefits-b2815035.htmlQuiet Cracking, Loud MetricsQuiet quitting is past, workers are quiet cracking: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/25/quiet-quitting-is-a-past-trend-why-workers-are-quiet-cracking.htmlEmployees who engage in quiet cracking, early research: https://phys.org/news/2025-08-employees-quiet.htmlEven lunch breaks are about performance, new Amazon L4 says: https://www.financialexpress.com/trending/even-lunch-breaks-are-about-performance-new-amazon-l4-employee-says-constant-comparisons-add-to-pressure/3957061/The nine to five schedule is really archaic: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/25/the-9-to-5-schedule-is-really-archaic-hr-expert-says.htmlChange culture by changing systems: https://hbr.org/2025/08/to-change-company-culture-focus-on-systems-not-communicationPerformance reviews and metrics, a rethink: https://qz.com/performance-management-reviews-metrics-talent-leadership-managementThe Big Stay, The Pay ShuffleThe Big Stay and a no-hire, no-fire freeze: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/25/the-big-stay-and-a-no-hire-no-fire-freeze-change-to-labor-markets.htmlInflation and wage growth patterns by sector: https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-wage-growth-white-collar-workers-healthcare-retail-leisure-hospitality-2025-8Novo Nordisk freezes hiring for non-critical jobs: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/drugmaker-novo-nordisk-freezes-hiring-non-critical-jobs-2025-08-20/Why it is harder for laid-off older workers to find jobs: https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/why-its-harder-for-laid-off-older-workers-to-find-jobs/91230898⸻#EmployerBrand #AIatWork #RTO #OrgDesign #WorkCulture #TalentStrategy

Trust used to be your quiet advantage. In 2025, it is the whole game. In this session, we unpack why employee trust is dipping, where leadership credibility breaks, and a practical plan to rebuild it without the corporate varnish.
You will learn• What the latest data says about trust in employers• The gap between leaders saying “we trust people” and employees actually feeling trusted• Remote work, surveillance and productivity paranoia• Why layoffs during record profits wreck credibility• A simple rebuild playbook you can start this quarter
Chapters00:00 Welcome and housekeeping04:25 Speaker intros08:05 The data: trust trends and the trust gap16:11 Remote work, productivity belief gap and surveillance24:47 Who feels it most: income and discrimination concerns30:08 AI and early careers35:58 Why trust matters: attrition and performance41:28 How to rebuild trust: the practical playbook56:00 Managing reviews and reputation outside-in59:00 Wrap and resources
Links• Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7VbMwi2imE4• Download the white paper on EBN (free for subscribers): https://employerbranding.news/the-trust-recession-is-here-what-employer-brands-need-to-do-now/#white-paper• Read more at Employer Branding News: https://www.employerbranding.news/
Speakers• Mike Parsons, CEO at Fathom. Writes weekly for Employer Branding News on trust, culture and performance.• Celeste Sirin, Founder and CEO at Employer Branding Africa. Host of the EBA Leadership Spotlight series.

Surveillance spreads. AI pilots stall. Skills get political. Entry-level careers wobble. Paper Cut distils the week’s headlines into moves you can use.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & Links:Surveillance Season 2Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/business/banking/hsbc-plans-major-global-expansion-of-office-staff-surveillance-documents-showNews.com.au: https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/above-simply-automating-major-company-to-roll-out-aipowered-hr-personas/news-story/dc959391e7c876a3ddd9ac4995ddae11AI ROI: From Fireworks to AccountingFortune: https://fortune.com/2025/08/18/mit-report-95-percent-generative-ai-pilots-at-companies-failing-cfo/The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/does-ai-really-boost-productivity-at-work-research-shows-gains-dont-come-cheap-or-easy-263127Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/meta-freezes-ai-hiring-wsj-reports-5305886The Global Skill ScrambleT&D World: https://www.tdworld.com/utility-business/news/55311234/global-study-warns-of-growing-engineering-talent-gap-in-energy-transitionAI News: https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/malaysia-huawei-ai-talent-training-program/South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3321901/china-creates-new-visa-young-science-and-technology-talentAxios: https://www.axios.com/2025/08/19/trump-tariffs-jobs-gen-zEarly Careers: Mind the Missing RungsFast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/91387498/what-is-job-hugging-new-career-trend-why-gen-z-is-into-itThe Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/protecting-the-endangered-species-known-as-entry-level-workersCNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/21/job-seekers-are-in-survival-mode-hr-expert-says.htmlFortune: https://fortune.com/2025/08/21/starbucks-ceo-replaces-merit-raises-flat-salary-increase/⸻#EmployerBrand #AIatWork #RTO #Skills #GenZ #TalentStrategy

PwC leans on traffic lights to track attendance. The UK jobs market cools. Major employers slim down while AI headlines get louder. Paper Cut turns the noise into usable moves for HR and employer brand leaders.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & Links:Surveillance SeasonPersonnel Today: https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/pwc-office-attendance-monitoring-traffic-light-dashboard/Business Live: https://www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/pwc-ramps-up-office-attendance-32257460The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/aug/13/pwc-tracks-uk-office-attendance-with-traffic-light-dashboardEconomic Times: https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/microsoft-eyes-remote-work-crackdown-office-return-could-be-imminent-heres-what-it-means-for-staff/articleshow/123282023.cmsFortune: https://fortune.com/2025/08/14/robinhood-ceo-admits-rto-call-was-wrong/The Great ShrinkingBBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpdjjp681p7oBusiness Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-biggest-employers-facing-great-shrinking-corporations-ai-2025-8finews.com: https://www.finews.com/news/english-news/68850-ubs-stellenabbau-integration-cs-ziele-mitarbeitende-finanzplatz-schweiz-swiss-finance-place-2The Business Times: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/telcos-media-tech/dentsu-plans-cut-about-3400-overseas-jobs-trim-costThe Business Times: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/telcos-media-tech/oracle-cuts-cloud-division-jobs-amid-surge-ai-spendingAI Reality: Fewer Jobs, Pricier SkillsThe Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/aug/14/ai-artificial-intelligence-jobs-cleaning-construction-hospitality-australian-reportGoldman Sachs: https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/how-will-ai-affect-the-global-workforceWorld Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/08/ai-jobs-replacement-data-careers/CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/13/amazon-aws-ceo-the-most-important-skill-you-need-to-succeed-in-ai-age.htmlCulture AftercutsFast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/91371839/why-workplace-friendships-are-fading-and-why-that-matters-to-the-bottom-line-workplace-friendshipsHarvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2025/08/its-time-to-streamline-how-we-communicate-at-workObserver: https://observer.com/2025/08/rethinking-employee-wellness-culture-retention/eFinancialCareers: https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/jp-morgan-s-new-head-of-talent-transformation-suggests-a-rise-in-moneyball-promotions⸻#EmployerBrand #AIatWork #JobsReport #RTO #WorkCulture #TalentStrategy

Jobs are cooling while AI cuts get louder. Leaders tighten control, workers lose patience. Paper Cut connects the dots so HR and employer-brand leaders can act with clarity.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & Links:Stall Speed Meets Automation HypeReuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-labor-market-cracks-widen-job-growth-hits-stall-speed-2025-08-01/Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/04a83e0d-0128-4f59-9835-cb434a4257ecThe Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/artificial-intelligence-replacing-jobs-report-b2800709.htmlFuturism: https://futurism.com/companies-fixing-ai-replacement-mistakesLeader Talk vs Worker RealityFinancial Express: https://www.financialexpress.com/life/technology-google-ceo-sundar-pichai-tells-employees-amid-massive-it-industry-layoffs-i-think-we-have-to-3935901/CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/05/ai-labor-market-young-tech-workers-goldman-economist.htmlTimes of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/github-ceo-thomas-dohmke-to-software-engineers-either-you-or-get-out-of-your-career/articleshow/123112508.cmsTimes of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/tcs-responds-after-employee-sleeps-outside-pune-office-over-unpaid-salary-viral-photo-sparks-outrage-company-cites-unauthorized-absence/articleshow/123113374.cmsControl Fever vs What WorksEntrepreneur: https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/microsoft-plannings-return-to-office-mandate-report/495561CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/07/companies-monitoring-enforcing-office-attendance.htmlEvidenceNetwork: https://evidencenetwork.ca/scientists-have-been-studying-remote-work-for-four-years-and-have-reached-a-very-clear-conclusion-working-from-home-makes-us-happier/Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2025/08/its-time-to-streamline-how-we-communicate-at-workEconomic Times: https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/company-demands-employees-work-12-hours-per-day-netizens-react-at-least-they-are-honest/articleshow/123161263.cmsYahoo Finance AU: https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/major-work-from-home-turning-point-as-employees-return-the-office-worst-behind-us-003808446.htmlThe Quiet Rebuild: Freelancers and Fragile FocusTechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/06/upwork-acquires-bubty-and-ascen-with-plans-to-launch-a-standalone-enterprise-business/Fast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/91379675/how-to-respond-to-quiet-cracking-a-new-workplace-threat⸻#EmployerBrand #AIatWork #FutureOfWork #TalentStrategy

Big Tech bosses brag about billionaire deputies while trimming headcount and blaming AI. Paper Cut cuts through the spin so HR and employer-brand leaders can act—not react. No fluff, just facts.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & LinksExecutive Bravado Meets Headcount RealityGoogle Earnings: CEO Sundar Pichai Dismisses AI Talent War Concerns — Business Insiderhttps://www.businessinsider.com/google-earnings-q2-2025-ceo-sundar-pichai-ai-talent-war-2025-7Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: “I’ve Created More Billionaires on My Team” — The Times of Indiahttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-dont-feel-sad-for-my-employees-ive-created-more-billionaires-on-my-management-team-than-any-ceo-they-are-doing-just-/articleshow/122876810.cmsMicrosoft Staff React to Satya Nadella’s Layoff Memo — Business Insiderhttps://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-employees-react-ceo-memo-satya-nadella-enigma-success-2025-7TCS to Lay Off 12,000 Mid- & Senior-Level Employees — Financial Expresshttps://www.financialexpress.com/business/industry-tcs-to-lay-off-2-workforce-over-12000-mid-and-senior-grade-employees-to-be-impacted-3928025/AI Layoff RollercoasterBig Tech Lays Off Thousands, Then Hires Thousands More for AI — Business Insiderhttps://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-layoffs-hiring-mircosoft-google-meta-ai-why-2025-7AI Skills Add $18k to Average Salaries Despite Layoffs — Fortunehttps://fortune.com/2025/07/27/artificial-intelligence-skills-18000-salaries-28-percent/CEO Boasts After Replacing 150 Employees With AI — Futurismhttps://futurism.com/ceo-lays-off-150-employees-replaced-aiUS Job-Cut Plans Surge on AI and Tariffs — Bloomberghttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-31/us-job-cut-plans-jump-in-challenger-data-due-to-ai-and-tariffsBig Tech Brand Fade & Talent Drift75 % of Grads Walk Away From Google & Meta Dreams — Economic Timeshttps://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/gen-z-careers-google-and-meta-no-longer-cool-75-of-grads-are-walking-away-from-big-tech-dreams-for-new-career-paths/articleshow/122980830.cms2025’s Most Attractive Employers for MBAs: Finance Surges, Tech Fades — Poets & Quantshttps://poetsandquants.com/2025/07/29/2025s-most-attractive-employers-for-mbas-finance-surges-tech-fades/Hiring Confidence Slips as Employers Grow Cautious — HR Divehttps://www.hrdive.com/news/hiring-confidence-shifts-employers-cautious/754238/Work Without WallsStandard Chartered CEO Rejects Blanket Office Mandates — Bloomberghttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-31/stanchart-ceo-resists-office-mandates-we-work-with-adultsStill No Four-Day Week Despite Proven Benefits — YourTangohttps://www.yourtango.com/self/still-dont-have-four-day-workweek-despite-proven-benefitsEmployees Pay for Their Own AI Tools to Keep Up — Inc.https://www.inc.com/bruce-crumley/why-some-employees-are-paying-for-their-own-ai-tools-at-work/91218473Women Use Workplace AI Less, Harvard Study Finds — CTV Newshttps://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/article/women-are-using-ai-less-in-the-workplace-harvard-study-suggests/Workday Ordered to Reveal Employers Using HiredScore AI — HR Divehttps://www.hrdive.com/news/workday-must-supply-list-of-employers-who-enabled-hiredscore-ai/756506/Fortune 500 Firms Already Lag on DEI Pledges — HR Divehttps://www.hrdive.com/news/fortune-500-companies-didnt-live-up-to-dei-pledges/756247/⸻#EmployerBrand #AIatWork #FutureOfWork #TalentStrategy