The EBN Dispatch
Employer Branding News (EBN) comes to your ears with the same dry wit and disruptive insights you’ve come to expect from our articles and videos. We tackle the world of work, employer branding, recruitment, culture and everything in between, with a raised eyebrow and a data-backed argument. If you’re a company leader, HR rebel, or just someone who thinks ”culture fit” is a lazy excuse, you’re in the right feed. Each episode unpacks real-world employer brand moves, cuts through corporate speak, and challenges tired talent narratives. Less fluff, more facts. Occasionally funny. Always unfiltered.
Employer Branding News (EBN) comes to your ears with the same dry wit and disruptive insights you’ve come to expect from our articles and videos. We tackle the world of work, employer branding, recruitment, culture and everything in between, with a raised eyebrow and a data-backed argument. If you’re a company leader, HR rebel, or just someone who thinks ”culture fit” is a lazy excuse, you’re in the right feed. Each episode unpacks real-world employer brand moves, cuts through corporate speak, and challenges tired talent narratives. Less fluff, more facts. Occasionally funny. Always unfiltered.
Episodes
4 hours ago
4 hours ago
Employer branding is becoming operational. The winners are building systems that hold up under scrutiny: shared ownership across HR and marketing, real accountability when leaders misbehave, hiring that doesn’t manufacture friction, and AI adoption that improves work instead of expanding it.
📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25
🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25
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📌 Sources & Links:
Employer branding and HR demand
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/employer-branding-is-the-new-marketing-imperative/
https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/hr-job-demand-lags-20-behind-pre-pandemic-levels/565106
Leadership misconduct and HR accountability
https://www.hrdive.com/news/when-leaders-misbehave-hr-responsibility/812009/
Hiring friction and talent shortages
https://www.hrdive.com/news/hr-leaders-facing-self-inflicted-skills-talent-crises/811691/
https://telanganatoday.com/linkedin-study-reveals-talent-shortages-ai-hiring-trends-in-india
AI job swap and workplace impact
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/11/big-ai-job-swap-white-collar-workers-ditching-their-careers
https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/what-happens-workplaces-embrace-ai
https://www.hcamag.com/asia/specialisation/employment-law/south-korea-pushes-ai-job-protection-bill/564801
The Cut List
https://www.thestreet.com/employment/major-tech-firm-quietly-lays-off-hundreds-in-ai-related-shakeup
https://www.businessinsider.com/google-offers-exit-packages-to-some-business-unit-employees-2026-2
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#EmployerBranding #HR #TalentAcquisition #Recruiting #Leadership #Culture #AI #FutureOfWork #PeopleOps
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Layoffs, Flat Raises, and Resume Botox | PAPER CUT
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Layoffs are rising, pay is flattening, and AI still struggles to prove ROI. This week’s brief breaks down what those shifts mean for hiring, retention, and employer brand trust.
📰 Subscribe to the free newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25
🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25
📌 Sources & Links
AI ambition is ahead of the evidence
• https://hbr.org/2026/02/9-trends-shaping-work-in-2026-and-beyond
• https://hbr.org/2026/01/companies-are-laying-off-workers-because-of-ais-potential-not-its-performance
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/openai-is-reportedly-seeing-exit-of-senior-level-employees-after-ceo-sam-altman-makes-it-compulsory-to-use/articleshow/127909390.cms
Peanut butter raises
• https://fortune.com/2026/02/02/employers-ditching-merit-based-pay-bumps-in-favor-peanut-butter-raises/
Resume Botox
• https://www.businessinsider.com/resume-botox-lying-millennials-careers-2026-2
The Cut List
• https://apnews.com/article/amazon-ups-layoffs-economy-washington-71bfde72b358fddb9a22c15aa13fe848
#FutureOfWork #HR #EmployerBranding #Layoffs #Compensation #AI #Hiring #TalentStrategy
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
Layoff Leak and the AI Trust Gap | PAPER CUT
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
Amazon’s layoff leak is the week’s defining signal: trust is fragile, and AI hype does not run the business.
This Paper Cut looks at the AI reality gap, rising job anxiety, and what “proof” looks like in rollouts, skills, and comms.
📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25
🔗 LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25
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📌 Sources & Links:
Amazon’s Layoff Leak
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/28/amazon-global-job-cuts-email-error-workers-sent
https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-staff-calendar-invitation-upcoming-job-cuts-project-dawn-2026-1
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/organizational-update-january-2026
AI Reality Gap
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/25/more-than-quarter-britons-fear-losing-jobs-ai-next-five-years
https://www.hcamag.com/au/specialisation/hr-technology/global-ai-job-shake-up-uk-strained-as-cautious-australia-bets-on-growth/563219
Agents and Trust
https://www.wired.com/story/for-future-reference-ai-technology/
https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-agents-incapable-math
The Cut List
https://apnews.com/article/pinterest-layoffs-ai-cf278cf06929db07d5b1310ab7f91861
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/ubisoft-hopes-200-employees-at-its-paris-hq-will-agree-to-quit-so-it-doesnt-have-to-lay-them-off-the-regular-way/
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#EmployerBrand #HR #FutureOfWork #AI #Layoffs #WorkforcePlanning #TalentStrategy #PeopleOps
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
CEOs Say AI Is Boosting Efficiency. Employees Aren’t Convinced. | PAPER CUT
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
AI agents are arriving fast, but the proof is lagging. This week’s Paper Cut looks at the gap between “efficiency” claims and employee reality, why retention depends on systems not slogans, and what a tighter hiring mood means for employer brand leaders.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & Links:AI Agents and the credibility gaphttps://www.zdnet.com/article/ai-agent-deployment-in-workplace-outpaces-safety-protocols-deloitte-says/https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-failing-boost-productivityhttps://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescommunicationscouncil/2026/01/21/how-to-make-ai-rollouts-clearer-so-employees-actually-buy-in/https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/ceos-say-ai-is-making-work-more-efficient-employees-tell-a-different-story-6613ce9dhttps://techcrunch.com/2026/01/22/are-ai-agents-ready-for-the-workplace-a-new-benchmark-raises-doubts/Retention, burnout, culturehttps://hbr.org/2026/01/policies-arent-enough-to-retain-top-talent-you-need-systemshttps://www.fastcompany.com/91462106/burnout-is-an-operations-issue-workplace-burnouthttps://www.inc.com/maltekramer/culture-is-what-you-do-not-what-you-print/91289589https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/mentoring-matters/2026/01/leadership-that-scales-clarity-over-burnout.htmlHybrid work and performance expectationshttps://www.businessinsider.com/tech-companies-employees-prove-productivity-rto-performance-reviews-ai-investments-2026-1https://www.inc.com/fast-company-2/return-to-office-workplace-hybrid-rto-flexible-work/91289115https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2026/01/one-agency-eases-in-office-work-requirements-while-another-is-ordered-to-consider-exceptions/Hiring and labour market signalshttps://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-weekly-jobless-claims-unexpectedly-fall-amid-seasonal-adjustment-challenges-2026-01-15/https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/economists-job-market-hiring-2213807bhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-20/uk-unemployment-holds-at-near-5-year-high-as-jobs-market-coolshttps://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9366/https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/recruitment/silent-gatekeepers-how-boss-level-bias-shapes-who-gets-hired/126550103https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/even-mbas-from-top-business-schools-are-struggling-to-get-hired-11f4a167https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cangrade-releases-2026-hiring-outlook-144000454.htmlhttps://dig.watch/updates/youth-express-higher-concern-over-ai-job-disruption-global-survey-indicatesLayoffs and restructuringhttps://www.tipranks.com/news/meta-prepares-layoffs-as-it-rebalances-spending-prioritieshttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/amazon-layoffs-company-to-cut-14000-more-jobs-ceo-andy-jassy-said-not-about-ai-and-cost-cutting-but/articleshow/127232563.cmshttps://www.businessinsider.com/vimeo-laying-off-staff-after-billion-sale-to-bending-spoons-2026-1https://theindependent.sg/quiet-cutting-how-companies-quietly-remove-staff-without-paying-severance/https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/careers/australian-ceos-plot-deeper-job-cuts-than-global-peers-20260115-p5nu8nhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/business/snohetta-nlrb-complaint.htmlhttps://www.capitalbrief.com/article/canva-bucks-tech-employment-slowdown-with-intentional-global-hiring-spree-1fdb6959-29d7-42f1-abbe-876ad652bc53/⸻#FutureOfWork #EmployerBrand #HR #HybridWork #AI #TalentStrategy #Recruiting #PeopleOps #Retention
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Time Is the New Perk | PAPER CUT
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
AI will keep dominating the headlines. The practical 2026 story for HR and employer brand leaders is time: schedule control, workflow design, and whether skills and pathways are being built in reality, not just in messaging.This week’s Paper Cut looks at the AI jobs narrative versus labour data, the shift from “where” to “when” flexibility, and what narrowing entry routes mean for talent strategy.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & LinksAI Jobs: Between Panic and PRhttps://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/us-could-lose-104-million-jobs-to-ai-and-automation/562136https://fortune.com/2026/01/07/ai-layoffs-convenient-corporate-fiction-true-false-oxford-economics-productivity/https://www.businessinsider.com/wef-sees-4-ai-futures-for-jobs-by-2030-only-one-limits-disruption-2026-1https://www.businessinsider.com/mckinsey-workforce-ai-agents-consulting-industry-bob-sternfels-2026-1https://fortune.com/article/godfather-ai-geoffrey-hinton-massive-unemployment-soaring-profits-capitalism-hyperscalers/Flexibility 2.0: Control the Clockhttps://fortune.com/2026/01/04/bosses-new-battle-remote-work-from-where-to-when-flexible-hybrid/https://fortune.com/2026/01/13/what-is-microshifting-work-life-balance-hybrid-remote/https://www.peoplematters.in/news/hr-effectiveness/amazon-tightens-return-to-office-enforcement-with-new-monitoring-system-report-47956https://www.businessinsider.com/120k-remote-job-vs-240k-in-office-debate-reader-survey-2025-12https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/work-from-home-office-remote-benefits-b2894944.htmlPipelines Are Bending, Not Breakinghttps://fortune.com/2026/01/06/college-to-office-path-dead-ceo-randstad-recruiter-gen-z-millennial-grads-trade-jobs/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/14/workers-age-new-jobs-baby-boomers/https://www.hcamag.com/nz/news/general/hr-steps-out-of-the-back-office-how-people-leaders-became-core-decision-makers/561456https://qz.com/adp-employment-report-white-collar-job-losseshttps://www.upworthy.com/gen-z-career-minimalism-ex1Layoffs, Brieflyhttps://www.humanresourcesonline.net/citigroup-expected-to-cut-about-1-000-jobs-this-week-as-restructuring-continueshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-15/wall-street-eliminated-10-600-jobs-last-year-most-since-2016https://tvpworld.com/91010323/important-stellantis-car-factory-in-poland-announces-mass-layoffshttps://me.peoplemattersglobal.com/news/workforce-planning/ubisoft-confirms-layoffs-at-abu-dhabi-studio-amid-global-restructuring-48049https://www.businessinsider.com/recent-company-layoffs-laying-off-workers-2026https://www.newsweek.com/list-companies-layoffs-employees-january-11293493⸻#FutureOfWork #EmployerBrand #HR #HybridWork #Skills #AI #TalentStrategy #Recruiting #PeopleOps
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
PAPER CUT - Brains, Bots, and the HR Plot Twist
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
This week’s Paper Cut slices through AI agent hype, labour market whiplash, hybrid headaches, and the growing trust tax at work. No fluff, just the context HR and employer brand leaders need to act with confidence.This episode cuts through the spin to give HR, TA, and employer brand leaders the signal they actually need. We connect AI agents, uneven labour data, hybrid policy shifts, and rising privacy concerns into one clear story about trust, skills, and staying power.Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25Sources & Links:Agents, Anxiety, and the AI Reality Checkhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-releases-ai-agents-it-says-can-work-for-days-at-a-time-79c82902https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/aws-ceo-matt-garman-ai-agents-cannot-be-replacements-for-employees-they-are-ways-to-/articleshow/125732718.cmshttps://fortune.com/2025/12/04/godfather-of-ai-geoffrey-hinton-massive-unemployment-warning-thanks-to-big-tech-replacing-workers-with-ai-senator-bernie-sanders-bill-gates-elon-musk-predictions-probably-right/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2025/12/people-outsourcing-their-thinking-ai/685093/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-says-humans-cant-rely-on-brains-alone-to-succeed-at-workplace-they-need/articleshow/125709288.cmsLabor Market Mirage: Sunny Data, Stormy Feelshttps://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-weekly-jobless-claims-drop-lowest-level-more-than-three-years-2025-12-04/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/03/us-private-payroll-jobs-decline-novemberhttps://www.aol.com/finance/companies-announced-more-71-000-124809294.htmlhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/12/02/private-sector-employers-warn-job-cuts-and-hiring-freeze/https://fortune.com/2025/12/03/university-gen-z-graduates-pay-premium-lower-than-millennials-job-market-struggles-united-kingdom/https://fortune.com/2025/12/04/gen-z-4-million-new-manufacturing-jobs-america-boomer-retire-one-trade-job-young-people-dont-want/Hybrid, Happiness, and the House Ruleshttps://theconversation.com/whats-working-from-home-doing-to-your-mental-health-we-tracked-16-000-australians-to-find-out-270356https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/wellbeing/has-the-freedom-of-hybrid-work-made-us-happierhttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/01/meta-instagram-rto-return-to-office.htmlhttps://www.thestreet.com/employment/leaked-memo-reveals-metas-harsh-work-policy-changehttps://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/lifestyle/remote-work-hybrid-jobs-house-of-lords-b2876613.htmlhttps://www.hcamag.com/ca/specialization/employee-engagement/hr-manager-offers-tips-on-remote-first-success/558285Culture, Privacy, and the Trust Taxhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/12/03/google-starts-sharing-all-your-text-messages-with-your-employer/https://www.wsj.com/style/fashion/office-attire-changes-history-e6e9147bhttps://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/580803/gen-z-workers-least-happy-40-percent-dread-going-to-workhttps://theconversation.com/ai-promises-efficiency-but-its-also-amplifying-labour-inequality-258772https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/ai-artificial-intelligence-asia-risk-widen-inequality-automation-5527671https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-adaptive-mind/202511/the-culture-gap-no-one-talks-abouthttps://fortune.com/2025/12/04/nvidia-ceo-admits-he-works-7-days-a-week-including-holidays-in-a-constant-state-of-anxiety-out-of-fear-of-going-bankrupt/#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRTrends #AIandWork #HybridWork #TalentStrategy #WorkplaceCulture #PrivacyAtWork #LaborMarket
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
PAPER CUT - The Overcapacity Era: AI, Layoffs and the Culture Recession
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
The overcapacity era is here. We cut through hype versus headcount and map the moves that keep your employer brand credible when AI agents rise, entry routes shrink, and culture confidence slides.This week’s Paper Cut slices through the spin and gives HR and employer brand leaders the context and checklists they actually need. No fluff, just facts and practical moves.Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻SOURCES & LINKSOvercapacity is a strategy, not a surprisehttps://www.straitstimes.com/business/allianz-to-cut-up-to-1800-jobs-due-to-ai-advances-says-sourcehttps://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/hp-cut-thousands-jobs-due-ai-adoption-5490266https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-24/apple-aapl-cuts-jobs-across-its-sales-organization-in-rare-layoffhttps://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-government-shed-317000-workers-this-year-trumps-hr-chief-says-2025-11-24/https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/26/workday_cross_selling/Agents are useful, insidehttps://hbr.org/2025/11/ai-agents-arent-ready-for-consumer-facing-work-but-they-can-excel-at-internal-processeshttps://www.zdnet.com/article/3-ways-ai-agents-will-make-your-job-unrecognizable-in-the-next-few-years/https://fortune.com/2025/11/25/why-ai-wont-take-your-job-partnership-agents-robots-mckinsey/https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/26/workday_cross_selling/The culture recession is herehttps://www.unleash.ai/employee-experience-and-engagement/how-the-push-for-efficiency-sparked-a-corporate-culture-recession/https://hbr.org/2025/11/leaders-assume-employees-are-excited-about-ai-theyre-wronghttps://www.theregister.com/2025/11/23/bossware_monitor_remote_employees/https://fortune.com/2025/11/25/half-of-workers-are-revenge-quitting-walking-out-on-their-jobs-without-notice-or-resignation-letter-majority-are-loyal-staff-whove-been-there-over-2-years-monster-report/https://www.fastcompany.com/91433435/great-leaders-boost-motivation-quiet-quittinghttps://www.wired.com/story/amazon-employees-open-letter-artificial-intelligence-layoffs/Policy whiplash: rules, dress codes, and rankingshttps://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/24/spains-new-remote-work-rules-what-changes-and-what-it-means-for-you/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-introduces-new-corporate-dress-code-what-workers-must-wear-now/articleshow/125609007.cmshttps://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/economy/singapore-leads-world-in-talent-competitiveness-dethroning-switzerland-for-the-first-time-4986753.htmlhttps://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/dei-changes-benefits-workplace-04f0adb8https://www.businessinsider.com/shrm-johnny-taylor-dei-workplace-lawsuits-layoffs-2025-11https://www.efinancialcareers.co.uk/news/unemployment-uk-graduateshttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/nov/25/ai-could-replace-3m-low-skilled-jobs-by-2035-research-finds⸻#HR #EmployerBrand #FutureOfWork #PeopleStrategy
Sunday Nov 23, 2025
[23 NOV] PAPER CUT - Pink Slips, Quiet Scripts, and RTO Flip-Flops
Sunday Nov 23, 2025
Sunday Nov 23, 2025
This week’s Paper Cut looks past the headlines on layoffs, AI checklist hiring, hybrid confusion, and culture awards to ask what they really signal about trust.This edition of Paper Cut from Employer Branding News cuts through the spin to give HR, talent, and employer brand leaders the context they actually need. Clear patterns, practical implications, no fluff.📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & Links:Layoffs In A Trust Recessionhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/11/18/big-tech-layoffs-ai/https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/new-layoff-tactics-bring-new-blunders-beefbf56https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/ey-oceania-cuts-90-from-consulting-arm-20251118-p5ng7zhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/19/world-health-organisation-to-cut-jobs-due-to-us-withdrawing-fundinghttps://www.reuters.com/world/us-canceling-octobers-employment-report-after-shutdown-prevented-data-collection-2025-11-19/https://hbr.org/2025/11/how-leaders-can-build-stakeholder-trust-in-uncertain-timeshttps://employerbranding.news/2025-layoffs-employer-brand-outlook/https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/science/2025/11/19/csiro-restructure-ministerThe AI Arms Race vs Hiring’s Doom Loophttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-19/mbas-seeking-jobs-in-consulting-must-be-ai-proficienthttps://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/2025/11/18/ai-use-creating-a-recruitment-doom-loop-according-to-major-consulting-firm/https://www.thehill.com/opinion/technology/5609124-ai-agents-fail-real-work/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hessiejones/2025/11/18/harvard-got-it-wrong-ai-is-not-killing-entry-level-jobs/https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/anglicare-report-reveals-australias-entrylevel-job-crisis-as-39-jobseekers-compete-for-every-vacancy/news-story/72feb4c5d75c08c817c0784753477b0eRemote Reality: Rights, Rituals, and Surveillancehttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/government-urged-to-strengthen-remote-work-rights-as-just-one-employee-complaint-upheld-by-wrc/a545915243.htmlhttps://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1118/1544498-remote-work-consultation/https://www.financialexpress.com/trending/nothing-like-what-they-advertised-remote-employees-rejects-office-push-collaboration-day-ends-in-disaster/4044577/https://theindependent.sg/is-it-ok-if-you-work-from-home-but-come-to-office-for-meetings-employer-offers-solution-after-her-staff-says-im-resigning-i-need-to-take-care-of-my-child/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2025/11/18/employees-companies-available-hr/87271509007/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/remote-work-pandemic-coworkers-productive-b2865519.htmlhttps://www.moneycontrol.com/technology/cognizant-begins-using-tool-to-track-employee-activity-employees-marked-idle-after-5-mins-of-inactivity-article-13682012.htmlThe Optics Economy: Lists, Standards, and Pay Powerhttps://www.livemint.com/companies/25-companies-including-adobe-nvidia-and-accenture-earn-spot-in-fortune-worlds-best-workplace-2025-list-11763051957502.htmlhttps://dailyhive.com/canada/canada-top-100-employers-2026https://www.livemint.com/industry/india-hr-standards-upgrade-services-sector-global-mobility-11763284608331.htmlhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2025/11/16/5-trends-that-will-shape-workplace-culture-in-2026/https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2025/11/12/glassdoor-reveals-the-biggest-workplace-trends-for-2026/https://www.thehill.com/lobbying/5605658-job-market-salary-negotiations/https://www.theeverygirl.com/gen-z-career-minimalism-trend/⸻#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRTrends #Layoffs #RemoteWork #AI #TalentStrategy #WorkplaceCulture #Compensation #Recruiting
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
[16 NOV] PAPER CUT - Commutes, Cuts & Credibility
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Office rules stiffen, AI agents start delivering, and the labor story splits. Here is how to keep credibility when everyone else is playing optics.
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
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📌 Sources & Links:
RTO With Consequences
https://www.fastcompany.com/91439545/what-companies-are-getting-wrong-about-rto
https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/more-law-firms-boost-office-mandates-remote-work-fades-2025-11-07/
https://fortune.com/2025/11/11/paramount-skydance-return-to-office-ultimatum-cost-185-million-dollars/
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/dutch-employers-are-getting-tougher-about-working-from-home/
https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/no-work-from-home-600-employees-quit-at-us-based-firm-opt-for-ceo-s-buyout-offer-11762927498492.html
The Layoff Signal Is Noisy
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2025/11/13/ais-impact-on-employment-is-negligible-study-asserts/
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/layoffs-spreading-across-industries-careers-233117569.html
https://www.reuters.com/business/verizon-cut-about-15000-jobs-wsj-reports-2025-11-13/
https://fortune.com/2025/11/10/economy-bad-low-hire-fire-labor-market-recession-levels-ubs/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/11/11/job-losses-mounted-in-october-as-employers-struggled-and-wall-street-projects-grim-job-market/
https://www.cityam.com/uk-businesses-accelerate-layoffs-amid-ai-surge-and-legislative-uncertainty/
https://www.iamexpat.de/career/employment-news/one-third-companies-germany-cut-jobs-2026
https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/no-more-hiding-the-impact-of-ai-the-us-government-is-looking-to-force-companies-to-report-how-many-folks-have-been-fired-because-of-artificial-intelligence/
https://www.techspot.com/news/110139-new-data-shows-companies-rehiring-former-employees-ai.html
https://www.marketplace.org/episode/2025/11/11/more-labor-market-blues
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/11/09/small-business-owners-hiring-uncertainty/
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/11/mark-cuban-job-hunting-advice-i-give-my-kids-in-age-of-ai.html
Agents, Tracking, Fair Measurement
https://www.wired.com/story/all-my-employees-are-ai-agents-so-are-my-executives/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-begin-to-see-a-return-on-ai-agents-671d830d
https://theconversation.com/ai-makes-measuring-work-performance-a-lot-trickier-how-do-companies-adapt-269477
https://thewalrus.ca/workplace-surveillance/
https://www.financialpost.com/fp-work/howard-levitt-employers-virtual-interviews
Culture That Operates
https://www.inc.com/benjamin-butler/startups-can-beat-industry-giants-by-leveraging-their-company-culture-heres-how/91261421
https://www.hrdive.com/news/companies-focusing-on-credentials-over-skills-may-be-left-behind-hiring/805350/
https://www.economist.com/business/2025/11/10/how-hr-took-over-the-world
https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/ibm-change-management-phil-gilbert-leadership-failure/91242714
https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/talent-management/job-hugging-and-the-psycho-economics-of-modern-work-why-purpose-is-quietly-leaving-the-building/125230856
https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/hrtech/talent-acquisition-and-management/45-of-ericssons-roles-now-filled-internally-as-hr-turns-data-driven/125237846
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/578373/employers-forking-out-more-for-employees-in-talent-short-market
https://fortune.com/2025/11/11/gen-z-share-salaries-compensation-at-work-wage-gap-transparency-wealth/
https://www.fastcompany.com/91438481/conde-nast-fires-four-for-confronting-hr-the-internet-reacts
https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/kpmg-cuts-pay-offers-for-some-staff-in-fresh-blow-to-big-four-0fs3z26pt
https://theconversation.com/why-women-land-top-jobs-in-struggling-organisations-they-may-just-be-better-in-a-crisis-268592
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#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRTrends #RemoteWork #AIAgents #PeopleAnalytics #TalentStrategy #Layoffs2025
Sunday Nov 09, 2025
[09 NOV] - PAPER CUT - Count the Cuts, Ditch Ultimatums, Fix the Middle
Sunday Nov 09, 2025
Sunday Nov 09, 2025
This week we cut through the noise: AI layoffs get counted, CEOs flirt with ultimatums, hybrid needs better managers, and HR turns into a growth engine.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25⸻📌 Sources & Links:Layoffs Go Transparent: Start Counting AIhttps://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/layoffs-us-october-surge-two-decade-high-challenger-data-shows-2025-11-06/https://www.challengergray.com/blog/october-challenger-report-153074-job-cuts-on-cost-cutting-ai/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jobless-boom-ai-economy-labor-market-corporate-profits-layoffs/https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/no-more-hiding-the-impact-of-ai-the-us-government-is-looking-to-force-companies-to-report-how-many-folks-have-been-fired-because-of-artificial-intelligence/https://www.techspot.com/news/110139-new-data-shows-companies-rehiring-former-employees-ai.htmlhttps://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/11/federal-employees-are-reporting-major-workplace-disruptions-at-nearly-triple-the-national-average/https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3331099/us-software-firm-sas-exits-china-after-25-years-lays-about-400-staffCulture Ultimatums: Agree Or Quithttps://www.businessinsider.com/ceos-dei-ai-remote-work-culture-agree-quit-2025-11https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-vp-jamie-siminoff-hiring-promoting-ai-usage-2025-10https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/three-things-amazon-vp-told-remaining-employees-to-focus-on-in-internal-memo-after-14000-layoffs/articleshow/125011344.cmshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-31/kpmg-staff-to-be-rated-on-ai-usage-in-yearly-performance-reviewshttps://www.cnn.com/2025/10/30/tech/amazon-layoffs-andy-jassy-ai-cultureDegrees Or Deliverables? The Skills Resethttps://fortune.com/2025/11/05/palantir-colleges-no-longer-reliable-training-ground-gen-z-hire-22-high-school-students-fellowship/https://fortune.com/2025/11/06/gen-z-success-work-hard-skills-demand-ai/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/opinion/gen-z-work.htmlhttps://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/how-socioeconomic-status-shapes-workplace-successHybrid Isn’t The Villain. Management Is.https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/hybrid-work-is-not-the-problem-poor-leadership-is/https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/10/31/microshifting-the-workplace-trend-that-means-flexibility-but-longer-dayshttps://theconversation.com/home-vs-office-working-why-it-doesnt-have-to-be-a-battle-267084https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-31/kpmg-staff-to-be-rated-on-ai-usage-in-yearly-performance-reviewshttps://fortune.com/2025/11/05/kpmg-new-office-building-hybrid-model-manhattan-tim-walsh/https://www.kare11.com/article/life/workplace-dynamic-has-shifted-giving-employers-the-upper-hand-heres-why/89-a48f2f7c-0e13-468b-b323-4d4b8cd9a5a4HR, Meet Revenue: Be The Enginehttps://hbr.org/2025/10/your-transformation-cant-succeed-without-a-talent-strategyhttps://hrexecutive.com/hr-is-in-the-drivers-seat-for-transformation-3-opportunities-to-take-charge/https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/trends/employee-experience/employee-experience-the-hidden-growth-engine-every-leader-must-activate/125109640https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/leadership/article-the-missing-engine-hrs-role-in-accelerating-business-growth/ https://www.fastcompany.com/91434452/agile-employer-brands-win-in-a-world-of-constant-changehttps://www.inc.com/benjamin-butler/meet-the-2025-power-partners-in-hr-people-operations/91244465⸻#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRStrategy #GenZWork #HybridWork #Layoffs #AIatWork #TalentStrategy #EX #PeopleLeadership





