The EBN Dispatch

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

Starter jobs are turning into agent workflows while boards rediscover layoffs and RTO. We cut through noise and show what to fix now: rebuild the first rung, make hybrid a system, and narrate change like adults.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:The Freeze Cracks: From Hoarding to CutsAmazon, UPS layoffs show a labor market recalibration (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-ups-layoffs-labor-market-jobs-economy/)Amazon To Lay Off 15 Percent Of HR Employees After Jassy Said AI Will ‘Reduce Our Total Corporate Workforce:’ Report (https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/2025/amazon-to-lay-off-15-percent-of-hr-employees-after-jassy-said-ai-will-reduce-our-total-corporate-workforce-report)Laid-off Amazon workers turn to TikTok and LinkedIn (https://www.businessinsider.com/laid-off-amazon-workers-turn-to-tiktok-and-linkedin-2025-10)Applied Materials to lay off Bay Area workers after export rule (https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/applied-materials-bay-area-layoff-trump-admin-rule-21127552.php)Amazon to announce sweeping corporate job cuts starting Tuesday (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/27/amazon-to-announce-sweeping-corporate-job-cuts-starting-tuesday.html)Amazon Plans New Layoffs (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/technology/amazon-layoffs.html)AI Eats the First RungVercel trained an AI agent on its best salesperson. Then it cut the 10-person team down to 1. (https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-agent-entry-level-sales-jobs-vercel-2025-10)Ex-McKinsey consultants are training AI models to replace them (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-30/ex-mckinsey-consultants-are-training-ai-models-to-replace-them)Goldman Sachs to employees in memo: Expect more rounds of job cuts (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/goldman-sachs-to-employees-in-memo-expect-more-rounds-of-ai-led-job-cuts-its-become-increasingly-clear-that/articleshow/124583565.cms)Chipmakers are slapping ‘golden handcuffs’ on workers to meet AI demand (https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-amd-broadcom-chipmakers-employee-retention-ai-boom-2025-10)AI won’t take our jobs. Silicon Valley’s automation theater has to end. (https://fortune.com/2025/10/27/ai-wont-take-our-jobs-silicon-valley-automation-theater-has-to-end/)JPMorgan and Goldman are hiring for AI (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/15/jpmorgan-chase-goldman-sachs-ai-hiring.html)RTO, Hybrid, and the Attendance Arms RaceJamie Dimon renews push to get workers back to offices (https://qz.com/jpmorgan-jamie-dimon-renews-return-to-office-push)Toptal CEO: Companies are getting hybrid wrong. Here’s the 80/20 model. (https://www.businessinsider.com/toptal-ceo-companies-getting-hybrid-wrong-80-20-model-2025-10)Why I worry about government meddling in WFH (https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/why-i-worry-about-government-meddling-in-wfh-20251030-p5n6fb)America’s New Normal for White-Collar Jobs (https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/americas-new-normal-for-white-collar-jobs-85440ca5)Morale, Burnout, and the Narrower FunnelEmployee Discontent Is on the Rise. Here’s What to Do About It. (https://hbr.org/2025/10/employee-discontent-is-on-the-rise-heres-what-to-do-about-it)We’ve Talked About Burnout for Decades. Here’s How to Finally Solve It. (https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/weve-talked-about-burnout-for-decades-heres-how-to-finally-solve-it/91257438)At least 4 in 5 tech talents could face limited opportunities as job market cools (https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/least-4-5-tech-talents-could-face-limited-opportunities-job-market-cools)Amazon makes cold move that raises nationwide workplace fears (https://www.thestreet.com/employment/amazon-makes-cold-move-that-raises-nationwide-workplace-fears)General Motors lays off hundreds of engineers on Microsoft Teams (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/general-motors-lays-off-hundreds-of-engineers-on-microsoft-teams-says-its-not-your-performance-its/articleshow/124824468.cms)Meet America’s Best Employers for Engineers 2026 (https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelpeachman/2025/10/28/meet-americas-best-employers-for-engineers-2026/)⸻#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRStrategy #AIatWork #HybridWork #Layoffs #EVP

This week’s lead story: AI agents scale while layoffs surge. We unpack the cultural signal in the cuts, why middle managers decide AI success, and how to rebuild early-career rungs and remote strategy.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:The Cuts Are Strategic. The Signal Is Cultural.Target eliminating 1,800 positions, laying off 1,000 workers https://www.startribune.com/target-la...Exclusive: ConocoPhillips to lay off Canada employees in November, company memo shows https://www.reuters.com/business/worl...Charter to Lay Off 1,200 Workers https://broadbandbreakfast.com/charte...Meta layoffs tied to AI priorities https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/meta-...Rivian layoffs reported https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/23/rivia...Graphic of the day: Layoffs accelerate in 2025 https://www.forbesindia.com/article/u...US federal layoffs threaten the backbone of community support https://www.benefitsandpensionsmonito...AI’s Split Screen — Agents Deliver, Adoption FumblesHow Block Got 12,000 Employees Using AI Agents in Two Months https://thenewstack.io/how-block-got-...Middle Managers Feel the Least Psychological Safety at Work https://hbr.org/2025/10/middle-manage...Amazon To Lay Off 15 Percent Of HR Employees After Jassy Said AI Will ‘Reduce Our Total Corporate Workforce:’ Report https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/2025/a...AI might be creating a ‘permanent underclass’ but it’s the makers of the tech bubble who are replaceable https://www.theguardian.com/commentis...Deloitte's Global AI Leader Nitin Mittal warns job loss to AI is ‘inevitable’, but engineers should….. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/t...The Broken Rungs — Early Careers Are A Meat GrinderA City exec says Gen Z is nearing breaking point as AI turns graduate hiring into a 'meat grinder' https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-br...KPMG: Half of banks experiencing uptick in Gen Z staff quitting https://www.cityam.com/kpmg-half-of-b...At least 4 in 5 tech talents could face limited opportunities as job market cools https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/comp...UK tech grad jobs slump, placements cut https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/1...Gen Z is stuck at the bottom rung. Citi Foundation pledges $25 million https://fortune.com/2025/10/21/gen-z-...‘They want us to work but there is no work’: meet the NEETs https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/job...Remote Reality Check — Demand Is LopsidedRemote companies like Dropbox and Atlassian say they're getting flooded with applications, as other firms RTO https://www.businessinsider.com/remot...Woman wins right to work from home every day in landmark case https://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...Employers want hybrid. Workers want flexibility. https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjourna...The quiet migration behind remote work https://www.thehill.com/opinion/techn...⸻#WorkDesign #EmployerBrand #AIatWork #FutureOfWork #GenZ #RemoteWork #Layoffs

Leaders keep invoking AI to justify cuts. The truth this week is sharper. Fear, not code, is driving many decisions. Here is how to turn skills into policy and stop torching trust on location.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:AI Didn’t Fire Them. Fear DidGoldman Sachs eyes layoffs and hiring slowdown amid AI push, memo shows — https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/goldman-sachs-eyes-job-cuts-hiring-slowdown-amid-ai-push-memo-shows-2025-10-14/Companies are blaming AI for layoffs — but the real reason is fear — https://www.businessinsider.com/firms-blaming-ai-for-layoffs-driven-by-fear-work-guru-2025-10AI is supposed to kill jobs. Instead, AI companies are hiring in droves — https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-supposed-kill-jobs-instead-hiring-office-boom-2025-10Amazon layoffs: Company to cut thousands of jobs as AI reshapes its global workforce — https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/amazon-layoffs-company-to-cut-thousands-of-jobs-as-ai-reshapes-its-global-workforce-82629.htmSkills Are Strategy. Training Is PolicyCiti rolls out AI prompt training requirement to most staff — https://www.hrdive.com/news/citi-ai-prompt-training-requirement/802862/Singapore launches data-driven index to boost workforce mobility and competitiveness — https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/singapore-launches-data-driven-index-to-boost-workforce-mobility-and-competitivenessA Research-Backed Training Method That Improves Hiring Outcomes — https://hbr.org/2025/10/a-research-backed-training-method-that-improves-hiring-outcomesReturn To Office Meets RealityMajor disconnect between managers and employees on engagement — https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/employee-engagement/major-disconnect-between-managers-and-employees-on-engagement/553016Most employers say they hire overqualified candidates despite retention concerns — https://www.hrdive.com/news/employers-hire-overqualified-candidates-worry-about-retention/802700/To create psychological safety, do not bring your whole self to work — https://www.fastcompany.com/91413530/to-create-psychological-safety-dont-bring-your-whole-self-to-work-psychological-safety-at-work⸻#EmployerBrand #HR #FutureOfWork #AIatWork #TalentStrategy

How do you rebuild trust when your systems scream control? This week we cut through RTO threats, AI scoreboards, and hiring mazes to show the path to real performance.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:Trust Theater vs Control Creephttps://www.businessinsider.com/ford-workers-rto-warned-emails-fired-office-attendance-2025-10https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/ford-hr-head-admits-we-have-failed-in-amid-confusion-over-return-to-office-emails/articleshow/124386719.cmshttps://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/it-takes-screenshots-every-10-minutes-employee-shocked-by-new-office-software-101759737902421.htmlhttps://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/employees-checkmate-management-after-their-bathroom-breaks-were-secretly-tracked-rs-44-lakh-faced-by-company/articleshow/124385019.cmshttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/google-adds-limits-to-work-from-anywhere-policy-that-began-in-covid.htmlAI Skills Gap: Adoption or Audithttps://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/hr-leaders-lack-faith-that-managers-are-ai-skilled/552446https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-tracks-employees-ai-use-creates-game-to-boost-adoption-2025-10https://hbr.org/2025/10/5-critical-skills-leaders-need-in-the-age-of-aihttps://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2025/10/08/3-ai-certifications-you-need-to-put-on-your-resume-in-2025/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/how-ai-is-poised-to-disrupt-the-job-market.htmlhttps://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/man-embraces-ai-at-work-replacedCandidate Experience Whiplashhttps://hbr.org/2025/10/4-organizational-red-flags-that-turn-off-job-candidateshttps://fortune.com/2025/10/07/goldman-sachs-interview-process-hiring-sharran-srivastaa-39-interviews/https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/remote-employees-remain-highly-productive-a-new-survey-says/91248497https://fortune.com/2025/10/07/hiring-managers-gen-z-ready-for-work-careers-jobs-unemployment-ai-skills-based-us-college-degree-crisis/https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelpeachman/2025/10/08/meet-the-worlds-best-employers-2025/Change Narratives That Workhttps://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/change-management-how-to-avoid-the-hero-trap/https://hbr.org/2025/10/the-power-of-metaphors-when-introducing-change-initiativeshttps://hbr.org/2025/10/when-authentic-leadership-backfires⸻#EmployerBrand #HRStrategy #FutureOfWork #AI #Hiring #Leadership

A cooler market with hot spots. Skills beat degrees. Managers decide growth. Pipelines move to attention markets. Here is what actually matters for HR this week.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:The Jobs MirageStagflation’s impact on recruiting. Plus, news from EY, Dropbox and more: https://hrexecutive.com/stagflations-impact-on-recruiting-plus-news-from-ey-dropbox-and-more/U.S. unemployment rate likely steady at 4.3% in September, Chicago Fed says: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-unemployment-rate-likely-steady-43-september-chicago-fed-says-2025-10-02/US private sector sheds 32,000 jobs in September: https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/us-private-sector-sheds-32000-jobs-in-september/551697Google Cloud layoffs hit employees as sales reach record highs: https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/2025/google-cloud-layoffs-hit-employees-as-sales-reach-record-highsChina’s K visa backlash: https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/01/china/china-k-visa-backlash-intl-hnkSkills Beat SignalsLinkedIn’s CEO says these 4 qualities will matter more than fancy degrees: https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-ceo-will-college-degrees-matter-ai-future-of-work-2025-10Hiring managers say they’ll offer more money to candidates with these skills: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/30/hiring-managers-say-theyll-offer-more-money-to-candidates-with-these-skills.htmlCiti mandates AI prompt training for employees: https://fortune.com/2025/10/01/citi-ai-prompt-training-mandate-employees-reskilling-workforce-business/Now OpenAI is coming for LinkedIn: https://www.fastcompany.com/91410238/openai-is-coming-for-linkedin-openai-linkedin-human-resourcesNetflix posts GenAI product manager role with high salary range: https://fortune.com/2025/10/02/netflix-gen-ai-product-manager-240k-700k-salary-fully-remote/The Manager ResetThe Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/the-limits-to-hybrid-and-remote-work/New Research on How the Best Managers Shape Employees’ Careers: https://hbr.org/2025/10/new-research-on-how-the-best-managers-shape-employees-careersWhat does job hugging mean for the workplace?: https://www.hrdive.com/news/what-does-job-hugging-mean-for-the-workplace/761431/‘Conscious unbossing’ is a new workplace trend: https://www.hrdive.com/news/conscious-unbossing-workplace-trend/760946/Why it Might Pay to Be ‘Playful’ at Work: https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/why-it-might-pay-to-be-playful-at-work/91247092Yes, Food Perks at Work Do Motivate Employees, This Study Says: https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/yes-food-perks-at-work-do-motivate-employees-this-study-says/91244821The Pipeline RebootHR leaders test TikTok for recruitment marketing: https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/09/23/hr-recruitment-marketing-tiktokHuman Resources: finding the world’s hidden talent: https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2025/09/30/human-resources-finding-the-worlds-hidden-talentCongratulations, Graduates. You’re Unemployed.: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/congratulations-graduates-youre-unemployed-ec2a783dIn a Sea of Tech Talent, Companies Can’t Find the Workers They Want: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/in-a-sea-of-tech-talent-companies-cant-find-the-workers-they-want-76b7983aChina’s K visa backlash complicates mobility: https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/01/china/china-k-visa-backlash-intl-hnk⸻#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRStrategy #SkillsBasedHiring

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