The EBN Dispatch

Pay is louder. Measurement is heavier. Cuts keep arriving. This week’s Paper Cut is about the bargain underneath it all: what employers are taking away, what they’re demanding in return, and why “efficiency” keeps landing as monitoring plus headcount reduction.We cover burnout and compensation pressure, AI turning into policy and proof culture, flexibility being renegotiated, HR’s expanding remit, and The Cut List.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksBurnout, confidence, and pay* https://www.hrdive.com/news/burnout-increasing-employee-confidence-at-a-record-low/820801/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all* https://www.hrdive.com/news/7-stories-on-the-state-of-pay-in-the-workplace/820169/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/21/samsung-electronics-union-strike-suspended-wage-deal-bonuses.html* https://www.ft.com/content/4837bb92-8db3-4fe6-ada5-7f83c6486a14AI as policy and proof culture* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/18/ai-workforce-college-jobs.html* https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/accenture-exec-future-proofing-org-chart-indeed-university-michigan-ai/* https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/article/billionaire-block-founder-jack-dorsey-suggests-radically-reshaping-manager-roles-in-the-age-of-ai-131219450.html* https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/linkedin-is-fighting-back-against-ai-slop-and-ai-comments* https://www.ft.com/content/d022680e-f769-47c6-ae90-b1ff8a802dce?syn-25a6b1a6=1* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/salesforce-ceo-marc-benioff-who-said-that-we-will-not-hire-any-more-engineers-in-2025-sees-the-company-spending-millions-on-/articleshow/131161788.cms* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/linkedin-co-founder-reid-hoffman-has-a-reminder-for-everyone-on-ai-layoffs-its-important-not-to-ignore-/articleshow/130896300.cms* https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/circle-ceo-says-ai-fueled-layoffs-are-only-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-174500668.htmlFlexibility, four-day week, and time politics* https://theconversation.com/15-australian-companies-switched-to-a-four-day-work-week-it-went-surprisingly-well-283361* https://apnews.com/article/remote-work-virtual-office-a90bba3ecff9548a92efa10e3d061c38* https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-work-driving-us-productivity-boom-stanford-professor-nicholas-bloom-2026-5* https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543* https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/05/14/remote-workers-are-happier-but-most-forced-back-to-office-feel-employer-was-justified/* https://fortune.com/article/zillow-ceo-remote-work-model-talent-everywhere/* https://www.economist.com/business/2026/05/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-commuting* https://www.ft.com/content/ef46bd8f-51ee-4c06-b5ab-1de23114f81a?syn-25a6b1a6=1HR, culture, and operating systems* https://www.peoplematters.in/article/leadership/international-hr-day-2026-how-hr-became-the-fastest-rising-power-function-in-corporate-leadership-49824* https://www.fastcompany.com/91544230/your-company-lives-inside-its-culture* https://www.inc.com/netta-jenkins/why-data-is-becoming-the-language-of-leadership-in-hr/91337316* https://www.inc.com/netta-jenkins/hr-isnt-just-support-anymore-its-running-the-show-behind-the-scenes/91337284* https://fortune.com/2026/05/19/bolt-ceo-ryan-breslow-cut-hr-department-causing-problems-fintech-startup-turn-around/* https://www.inc.com/sarah-lynch/inside-lucy-guos-workplace-strategy-for-building-retention/91339389The Cut List* https://www.reuters.com/world/meta-lays-out-plans-may-20-layoffs-restructuring-internal-document-says-2026-05-18/* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/20/meta-layoffs-zuckerberg-says-success-isnt-a-given-in-memo.html* https://www.ndtv.com/business-news/meta-layoff-job-cuts-final-email-fired-employees-tech-ai-disruption-mark-zuckerberg-h1b-visa-workers-11526151* https://vulcanpost.com/911395/meta-layoff-singapore-2026/* https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/technology/meta-reassigns-7000-employees-ai.html* https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/intuit-cut-17-global-jobs-streamline-operations-memo-shows-2026-05-20/* https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/intuit-cut-17-global-jobs-streamline-operations-memo-shows-2026-05-20/* https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/standard-chartered-reduce-7000-roles-2030-6129761?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_19052026_cna* https://nypost.com/2026/05/19/business/panic-in-california-as-linkedin-announces-hundreds-of-layoffs/* https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/meta-lays-out-plans-for-may-20-layoffs-restructuring-internal-document-says-191547511.html* https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-cuts-hundreds-of-jobs-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-2026-5

Low unemployment can hide a labour crisis. Underemployment is rising, AI is reshaping wages and expectations, monitoring is becoming normal, and engagement is sliding as the employee bargain tightens. Plus The Cut List of major layoffs.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksUnderemployment and insecurity* https://employerbranding.news/the-rise-of-the-underemployed-the-labour-crisis-hidden-behind-low-unemployment-rates/* https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/why-underemployment-deserves-attention-even-if-it-voluntary* https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/modern-worker-trouble* https://theconversation.com/worried-about-your-job-youre-not-alone-but-there-are-proven-ways-to-ease-job-insecurity-281128* https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-men-employment-data-ec4d6d68* https://www.businessinsider.com/college-grad-landed-full-time-job-unemployment-guilty-2026-5AI reshaping work, wages, and monitoring* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/anthropic-cfo-krishna-rao-says-while-ai-now-writes-90-of-the-companys-code-we-have-hired-a-lot-more-people-because-/articleshow/131092558.cms* https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/08/cloudflare-says-ai-made-1100-jobs-obsolete-even-as-revenue-hit-a-record-high/* https://www.indiatoday.in/jobs/story/cloudflare-fires-1100-employees-due-to-ai-use-read-full-memo-here-tchc-2908463-2026-05-08* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/07/cloudflare-net-q1-2026-stock-earnings-layoffs.html* https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-layoffs-job-cuts-challenger-report-april-2026/* https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/10/tech/ai-taking-jobs* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/08/this-company-made-headlines-for-its-aggressive-ai-driven-layoffs-citi-says-its-paying-off.html* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/05/ai-use-work-employee-monitoring-tech-surveillance.html* https://news.mit.edu/2026/study-firms-often-use-automation-control-certain-workers-wages-0507Remote work and productivity* https://apnews.com/article/remote-work-virtual-office-a90bba3ecff9548a92efa10e3d061c38* https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-work-driving-us-productivity-boom-stanford-professor-nicholas-bloom-2026-5* https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543* https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/11/america-is-experiencing-a-productivity-miracle* https://www.ft.com/content/8ee0d3ef-9548-422d-8ff1-ebd48ad4b2ca?syn-25a6b1a6=1Engagement, success, and quitting* https://www.forbes.com/sites/aparnarae/2026/05/13/employee-engagement-hit-a-10-year-low-the-problem-isnt-people—its-organizational-systems/* https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/employees-quitting-trends-work-institute-research-center/91340127* https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2026/05/13/how-gen-zs-and-millennials-are-redefining-success-at-work/* https://www.inc.com/bruce-crumley/why-gen-z-is-happier-running-small-businesses-than-working-traditional-jobs/91341108* https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/fractional-future-work* https://fortune.com/2026/05/09/companies-abandoning-peanut-butter-raises-future-of-work-american-workers/* https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/this-ai-startup-is-giving-every-employee-a-10-raise-every-year-without-any-performance-review-2908710-2026-05-08* https://www.fastcompany.com/91522203/the-end-of-the-always-available-professional-workplace-burnout-boundaries* https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/dont-get-too-comfortable-your-quality-of-life-depends-on-it-a4440a85The Cut List* https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/cisco-to-cut-about-4000-jobs-in-ai-focused-restructuring-as-orders-surge* https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cisco-to-cut-about-4000-jobs-in-ai-focused-restructuring-as-orders-surge-200934836.html* https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/08/cloudflare-says-ai-made-1100-jobs-obsolete-even-as-revenue-hit-a-record-high/* https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-linkedin-planning-lay-off-140835735.html* https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/linkedin-is-planning-lay-off-5-staff-latest-tech-sector-cuts-source-says-2026-05-13/* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/paypal-to-lay-off-thousands-as-company-ceo-wants-to-spend-more-on-technology-tells-investors-first-we-will-remove-/articleshow/130885435.cms* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/11/gm-layoffs.html* https://www.wired.com/story/meta-layoffs-bad-vibes-mark-zuckerberg-ai/* https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/100-000-layoffs-later-meta-162613378.html* https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/meta-us-employees-organize-protest-against-mouse-tracking-tech-2026-05-12/* https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/walmart-layoffs-relocates-technology-jobs-23bbf322

The workplace bargain is shifting. Benefits tighten, measurement grows, and AI becomes a benchmark for hiring and expectations. This week covers culture as an operating system, AI framing and job design, burnout boundaries returning, hidden risk from shadow IT and workplace comms, plus The Cut List.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksCulture as operating system* https://employerbranding.news/employer-brand-culture-operating-system/* https://employerbranding.news/what-i-learned-doing-recruitment-marketing-for-a-brand-nobody-wants-to-work-for/* https://employerbranding.news/employer-branding-2026-new-bargain/* https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-executives-jane-fraser-culture-transformation-investor-day-2026-5* https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-investment-banking-vis-raghwavan-talent-hiring-2026-5* https://www.ft.com/content/83d514d0-5553-4341-a225-02d8dd28ade3?syn-25a6b1a6=1AI expectations and job design* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/linkedin-co-founder-reid-hoffman-has-a-reminder-for-everyone-on-ai-layoffs-its-important-not-to-ignore-/articleshow/130896300.cms* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-admits-that-company-is-slowing-hiring-and-the-reason-is-ai-says-if-every-person-at-this-company-can-increase-their-productivity-by-/articleshow/130901246.cms* https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/tesla-former-hr-chief-ai-133000481.html* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/as-accenture-announces-rolling-out-microsoft-copilot-to-743000-employees-ceo-julie-sweet-says-our-teams-are-/articleshow/130729934.cms* https://hbr.org/2026/05/research-why-you-shouldnt-treat-ai-agents-like-employees* https://www.cio.com/article/4165040/you-cant-train-your-way-out-of-the-ai-skills-gap.html* https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/06/five-architects-of-the-ai-economy-explain-where-the-wheels-are-coming-off/* https://fortune.com/2026/05/07/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-two-people-wont-survive-ai-era-pure-people-managers-workers-resist-change/* https://fortune.com/2026/05/04/google-employee-backlash-pentagon-ai-contract-power-waned-since-project-maven/* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/google-uk-employees-in-letter-to-the-company-you-have-10-working-days-to-voluntarily-recognise-/articleshow/130868256.cms* https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/07/no-one-has-done-this-in-the-wild-study-observes-ai-replicate-itselfBoundaries and pressure* https://www.fastcompany.com/91522203/the-end-of-the-always-available-professional-workplace-burnout-boundaries* https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2026/05/08/why-getting-more-done-at-work-is-creating-more-workplace-pressure/* https://fortune.com/europe/article/what-gen-z-workers-say-is-on-time-vs-baby-boomers/* https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/never-fall-in-love-with-your-work-gen-z-employee-shares-post-after-working-till-1-am-on-notice-period-13905318.html* https://www.economist.com/business/2026/05/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-commuting* https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/07/deepseek-and-alibaba-rescue-chinas-office-landlords* https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/dont-get-too-comfortable-your-quality-of-life-depends-on-it-a4440a85Quiet risks* https://venturebeat.com/technology/hidden-it-problems-are-quietly-creating-risk-shadow-it-and-lost-productivity* https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-trial-exposes-truth-about-workplace-texts-2026-5* https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/2026/05/07/use-of-artificial-intelligence-among-senior-civil-servants-increasingly-common/* https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/fractional-future-work* https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543The Cut List* https://fortune.com/2026/05/05/coinbase-layoffs-14-of-employees-ai-tech-ai-job-anxiety-crypto/* https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-cuts-hundreds-of-jobs-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-2026-5* https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-internal-document-shows-buyout-offers-to-us-employees-2026-5* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/meta-hr-head-on-will-there-be-more-layoffs-after-8000-job-cuts-on-may-20-we-will-continue-to-/articleshow/130671338.cms

Benefits are being trimmed, AI adoption is being measured, and HR is stuck managing the fallout. This week: the perks rollback, scorecards and monitoring, the widening career divide for graduates, and The Cut List.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksBenefits rollback and work design* https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/28/parental-benefits-slashed-deloitte-zoom-impact* https://www.inc.com/kaylawebster/the-great-rollback-has-begun-deloitte-and-zoom-take-the-lead-in-slashing-the-most-coveted-benefits/91333534* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/starting-january-1-deloitte-is-cutting-parental-leave-annual-pto-pension-plan-and-ivf-funding-for-some-employees-in-the-us-company-says-that-it-is-tailoring-benefits-to-better-align-/articleshow/130500258.cms* https://www.businessinsider.com/readers-weigh-in-story-parental-leave-pto-reduction-2026-4* https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/26/four-day-workweek-employment* https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/5839816-hybrid-work-endures-2026/* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/28/office-demand-real-estate.htmlAI measurement, monitoring, and leadership load* https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-tracks-ai-use-engineers-internal-friction-2026-4* https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/metas-ai-experiment-shows-why-monitoring-employees-backfires-especially-with-gen-z/91337051* https://hbr.org/2026/04/when-creating-an-ai-strategy-dont-overlook-employee-perception* https://fortune.com/2026/04/26/how-ai-causes-brain-drain-cognitive-load-neuroleadership/* https://fortune.com/2026/04/28/nvidia-executive-cost-of-ai-is-greater-than-cost-of-employees/* https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/why-replacing-workers-with-ai-may-be-the-biggest-mistake-leaders-can-make/91333175Careers and the widening divide* https://www.hrdive.com/news/1-in-5-recent-grads-say-theyre-overqualified/818244/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all* https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2026/04/27/the-new-ai-career-divide-is-already-starting-to-show/* https://www.inc.com/netta-jenkins/why-skilled-trades-are-becoming-more-secure-careers-in-the-age-of-ai/91329211* https://www.businessinsider.com/cs-professor-explains-changes-software-engineering-ai-2026-4* https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-04-28/uk-graduates-turn-to-emergency-degrees-to-ride-out-jobs-crisis* https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/04/27/most-degrees-obsolete-upon-graduation-singapore-academic-says* https://fortune.com/2026/04/26/meta-salesforce-exec-ai-agents-gen-z-jobs-nonprofit/* https://www.businessinsider.com/how-aging-ai-reshaping-job-market-2026-4HR accountability and governance* https://www.hrdive.com/news/4-lawsuits-alleging-next-level-hr-misbehavior/818578/* https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/ceos-downplay-staff-discontent-leaving-hr-to-manage-the-fallout/572574* https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/are-companies-quiet-quitting-dei-2026-04-28/* https://fortune.com/2026/04/27/hr-leaders-are-going-quiet-on-the-topics-that-matter-most-this-author-has-a-fix/* https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/workplace-ikigai/how-are-kpis-scorecards-for-chros-evolving/130567659* https://www.fastcompany.com/91529962/no-you-cant-upskill-your-culture-but-you-can-upskill-your-leaders* https://www.businessinsider.com/brene-brown-interview-silicon-valley-bad-bosses-2026-4* https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/i-am-a-human-not-a-robot-employees-simple-reply-to-extra-work-hours-leaves-boss-speechless/articleshow/130496297.cms* https://www.smartbrief.com/original/why-managers-feel-stuck-between-process-and-peopleThe Cut List* https://www.wsj.com/cfo-journal/kpmg-to-lay-off-4-of-u-s-advisory-workforce-ed166153* https://fortune.com/2026/04/26/why-did-microsoft-do-buyouts-layoffs-tech-workers/* https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/technology/ai-exposed-firms-cut-4-jobs-car-sector-hardest-hit-morgan-stanley-report* https://www.businessinsider.com/us-job-market-disturbing-pattern-corporate-profits-jim-paulsen-2026-4* https://www.fastcompany.com/91532920/jpmorgan-chase-data-center-gets-tax-breaks-creates-1-full-time-job

Workplace AI is turning into a rework tax. Employees opt out, gains vanish into error-fixing, and leaders respond with dashboards, monitoring, and performance rules. Plus the early-career squeeze, remote work resistance, and this week’s Cut List.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksAI adoption, trust, and rework* https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/as-ai-use-increases-at-work-many-employees-still-choose-not-to-use-it-gallup-poll-10633705/* https://hbr.org/2026/04/when-creating-an-ai-strategy-dont-overlook-employee-perception* https://www.cio.com/article/4157471/40-of-ai-productivity-gains-lost-to-rework-for-errors.html* https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/14/ai-productivity-workplace-errors* https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2026/04/12/why-ai-at-work-often-creates-more-work-instead-of-saving-time/* https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-problem-is-not-ais-capability-what-wont-improve-on-its-own-is-the-human-side-major-study-claims-white-collar-workers-are-fighting-back-against-ai-in-the-workplace* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/amazon-internal-document-reportedly-points-to-an-ai-mess-says-ai-is-making-our/articleshow/130366600.cmsAI in the employee lifecycle* https://www.businessinsider.com/ey-talent-chief-ai-changing-employee-recruitment-evaluations-promotions-careers-2026-4* https://fortune.com/2026/04/13/duolingo-ceo-luis-von-ahn-ai-usage-requirement-employee-performance-evaluations/* https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-ai-adoption-dashboard-tokens-tokenmaxxing-claude-cursor-josh-damaro-2026-4* https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-enters-ai-training-market-challenges-startups-2026-4Monitoring and governance* https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/meta-start-capturing-employee-mouse-movements-keystrokes-ai-training-data-2026-04-21/* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-to-all-employees-in-america-we-are-installing-tracking-software-in-your-machines-as-we-need-your-help-to-/articleshow/130424722.cms* https://fortune.com/2026/04/13/ai-agents-governance-identity-risk-okta/Early career and hiring* https://www.hrdive.com/news/1-in-5-recent-grads-say-theyre-overqualified/818244/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all* https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/12/college-graduates-job-market-ai* https://www.cbsnews.com/news/artificial-intelligence-entry-level-role-linkedin-study/* https://theconversation.com/employment-data-shows-the-early-signs-of-ai-job-disruption-are-already-here-280273* https://www.thehrdirector.com/business-news/recruitment/ghosting-become-illegal-ontario/Work design and leadership* https://theconversation.com/as-the-world-faces-yet-another-crisis-why-are-leaders-still-resisting-remote-work-280870* https://theconversation.com/the-old-adage-that-people-leave-managers-not-companies-is-true-but-only-up-to-a-point-280879* https://www.inc.com/kaylawebster/the-great-rollback-has-begun-deloitte-and-zoom-take-the-lead-in-slashing-the-most-coveted-benefits/91333534* https://fortune.com/2026/04/22/work-life-balance-bupa-fortune-500-ceo-barack-obama-work-weekend/The Cut List* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/disney-layoffs-ceo-josh-damaro.html* https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-layoffs-memo-marketing-team-chief-brand-officer-asad-ayaz-2026-4* https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-layoffs-severance-employees-marketing-team-josh-damaro-2026-4* https://www.reuters.com/world/meta-targets-may-20-first-wave-layoffs-additional-cuts-later-2026-2026-04-17/* https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/23/microsoft-plans-first-voluntary-retirement-program-for-us-employees.html* https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-layoffs-ai-read-memo-snapchat-2026-4* https://www.wsj.com/business/has-the-era-of-the-mega-layoff-arrived-928f061d* https://www.inc.com/bruce-crumley/if-ai-isnt-ready-to-replace-workers-why-are-companies-cutting-jobs-anyway/91320511

AI at work is turning into a trust problem. Employees are opting out, productivity gains are being lost to rework, and leaders are tying AI to pay and performance. Plus EU pay transparency rules, identity governance risks, and this week’s Cut List.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksAdoption, perception, and rework • https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/as-ai-use-increases-at-work-many-employees-still-choose-not-to-use-it-gallup-poll-10633705/ • https://hbr.org/2026/04/when-creating-an-ai-strategy-dont-overlook-employee-perception • https://www.cio.com/article/4157471/40-of-ai-productivity-gains-lost-to-rework-for-errors.html • https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/14/ai-productivity-workplace-errors • https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-problem-is-not-ais-capability-what-wont-improve-on-its-own-is-the-human-side-major-study-claims-white-collar-workers-are-fighting-back-against-ai-in-the-workplaceAI in the employee lifecycle • https://www.businessinsider.com/ey-talent-chief-ai-changing-employee-recruitment-evaluations-promotions-careers-2026-4 • https://fortune.com/2026/04/13/duolingo-ceo-luis-von-ahn-ai-usage-requirement-employee-performance-evaluations/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-enters-ai-training-market-challenges-startups-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/deloitte-cuts-down-benefits-for-some-workers-big-four-ai-2026-4 • https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/how-this-company-is-using-mariah-carey-to-filter-out-excessive-job-applications/571948?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.inc.com/rebecca-hoeft/your-employees-experience-the-brand-before-customers-do/91328206Transparency and work design • https://www.iamexpat.de/career/employment-news/new-eu-law-means-employers-must-disclose-salary-hiring-process • https://hbr.org/2026/04/whats-stopping-the-4-day-workweek • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202604/3-ways-remote-work-exposes-people-pleasing-habitsIdentity and integrity risk • https://fortune.com/2026/04/13/ai-agents-governance-identity-risk-okta/ • https://www.okta.com/blog/ai/ai-agent-identity-governance/ • https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/mercor-training-ai-human-jobs-hack • https://theconversation.com/industries-most-exposed-to-ai-are-not-only-seeing-productivity-gains-but-jobs-and-wage-growth-too-224487 • https://futurism.com/future-society/economist-ai-job-forecast • https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-automation-replacementThe Cut List • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/disney-layoffs-ceo-josh-damaro.html • https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-layoffs-memo-marketing-team-chief-brand-officer-asad-ayaz-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-layoffs-severance-employees-marketing-team-josh-damaro-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-layoffs-ai-read-memo-snapchat-2026-4 • https://www.wsj.com/business/has-the-era-of-the-mega-layoff-arrived-928f061d • https://www.inc.com/bruce-crumley/if-ai-isnt-ready-to-replace-workers-why-are-companies-cutting-jobs-anyway/91320511 • https://www.peoplematters.in/news/strategic-hr/oracle-layoffs-targeted-employees-with-pending-stock-payouts-claims-former-worker-49216 • https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/business/ibm-settlement-dei-lawsuit • https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/ibm-agrees-pay-us-17m-164541919.html

Gen Z backlash is colliding with flatter orgs and wider spans. Manager engagement is slipping, entry-level routes are tightening, and HR is experimenting with AI in pay decisions while fairness scrutiny rises. The trust gap is the story.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksEngagement, managers, and motivation • https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx • https://www.hrdive.com/news/engagement-among-managers-is-slipping-affecting-ai-use-gallup/817069/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.hrdive.com/news/us-workers-quitting-at-lowest-level-in-a-decade/817114/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.predictiveindex.com/learn/talent-optimization/resources/ebooks/motivation-at-work-report/ • https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/employees-start-motivated-but-meaning-trust-and-job-fit-are-quickly-eroding-that-spark/571290?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=allBacklash, flattening, and AI trust • https://fortune.com/2026/04/08/gen-z-workers-sabotage-ai-rollout-backlash/ • https://fortune.com/2026/04/07/megamanager-era-how-many-direct-reports-ai-middle-management/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-block-managers-player-coaches-org-leads-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/mckinsey-ai-agents-mangement-leadership-great-flattening-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/anthropic-open-culture-employees-argue-ceo-dario-amodei-slack-2026-4 • https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-says-copilot-is-for-entertainment-purposes-only-not-serious-use-firm-pushing-ai-hard-to-consumers-tells-users-not-to-rely-on-it-for-important-adviceEntry-level and education shifts • https://rankings.newsweek.com/americas-greatest-workplaces-for-entry-level-2026?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.businessinsider.com/college-students-changing-majors-because-of-ai-2026-4 • https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-college-students-homogenized • https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/07/economy/ai-job-losses-long-term-effects • https://fortune.com/article/yoshua-bengio-ai-replace-every-job-trade-jobs-plumbing-warning/Pay, fairness, and HR systems • https://www.hrdive.com/news/hr-teams-cautiously-experiment-ai-setting-worker-pay/817015/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/diversity-inclusion/class-action-accuses-amazon-of-using-hr-systems-to-shortchange-women/571273?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.usbank.com/investing/financial-perspectives/market-news/effect-of-job-market-on-the-economy.html?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=allThe Cut List • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/disney-layoffs-ceo-josh-damaro.html • https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/tech-industry-lays-off-nearly-80-000-employees-in-the-first-quarter-of-2026-almost-50-percent-of-affected-positions-cut-due-to-ai • https://www.peoplematters.in/news/strategic-hr/amazon-to-cut-14000-jobs-across-aws-retail-and-hr-in-may-2026-report-49149 • https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/07/economy/ai-job-losses-long-term-effects⸻#EmployerBranding #HR #AI #GenZ #Leadership #Compensation #TalentStrategy #Layoffs

Oracle’s “significant” job cuts have turned AI infrastructure into a global workforce story. This week: what the Oracle layoffs reveal about modern comms and control, why AI skills earn premiums while engagement slips, ILO “white-collar bypass” risk, and why identity may be the real AI threat at work.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksOracle layoffs and AI spending • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm296jzzl9yo • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/31/oracle-layoffs-ai-spending.html • https://thenextweb.com/news/oracle-layoffs-march-2026 • https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/oracle-layoffs-ai-22175253.php • https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/2026/partners-oracle-layoffs-are-huge-channel-opportunity?itc=refresh • https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-03-31-2026/card/shares-in-oracle-jump-6-as-layoffs-begin-aSydyLjgHiUqenNig4UA • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/oracle-layoffs-employees-receive-email-from-oracle-leadership-at-6am-saying-we-have-made-the-decision-to-eliminate-your-role-as/articleshow/129922918.cms • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/oracle-layoffs-email-to-employees-has-a-reminder-you-are-prohibited-from-/articleshow/129954409.cmsAI skills premiums and “best employers” narratives • https://www.hrdive.com/news/nearly-half-firms-willing-pay-premium-ai-skills-kpmg/816217/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://fortune.com/2026/04/01/best-companies-to-work-for-ai-revolution-perks/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.breeze.pm/articles/workplace-productivity-statisticsILO exposure and uneven impact • https://www.bwpeople.in/article/genai-to-reshape-global-jobs-but-impact-will-be-uneven-ilo-600087 • https://sea.peoplemattersglobal.com/news/economy-policy/30percent-of-global-jobs-exposed-to-genai-developing-countries-face-white-collar-bypass-risk-says-ilo-49009Hiring pauses, career ROI, and work design • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/31/unilever-global-hiring-pause-us-iran-war-challenges-.html • https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/03/31/graduate-degree-earnings-study/ • https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesfinancecouncil/2026/03/27/why-a-retirement-system-built-for-stable-careers-doesnt-work-for-todays-workforce/ • https://hbr.org/podcast/2026/03/strategy-summit-2026-inventive-strategy-and-the-unbossed-organization • https://fortune.com/2026/03/28/employee-benefits-hold-workers-hostage-naval-war-game-designer/ • https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/remote-work-isnt-the-problem-poor-management-is-new-study-finds/91323926 • https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/soft-quitting-trend-workplace/Employer brand and HR leadership • https://www.hcamag.com/ca/specialization/transformation/leading-hr-in-an-era-of-relentless-change/570401 • https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/chief-people-officer-appointments-globally/ • https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/the-4-shifts-in-global-talent-mobility-every-hr-leader-needs-to-track-as-shared-by-ocbc-s-joel-leong?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://employerbranding.news/the-real-ai-threat-at-work-may-be-identity-not-redundancy/⸻#EmployerBranding #HR #AI #Oracle #Layoffs #FutureOfWork #TalentStrategy

Work is getting more managed: skills gates, cautious hiring, monitoring, and tighter rules. This week: HR rebuilding foundations as engagement drops, workers using ChatGPT for wage guidance, the return of tougher RTO and monitoring, and the latest moves in layoffs, freezes, and restructuring.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksHR foundations and engagement • https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/ai-analytics-and-uncertainty-how-hr-is-rebuilding-its-foundations/569852 • https://www.hrdive.com/news/worker-engagement-lowest-level-in-a-decade/815821/ • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/22/companies-ai-work-job-skills.html • https://www.inc.com/andrea-olson/how-ai-automation-is-quietly-deskilling-white-collar-workers/91316067 • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/microsoft-hr-head-makes-it-clear-to-employees-that-its-time-to-change-says-get-rid-of-old-/articleshow/129814434.cms • https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2026/03/18/5-signs-your-leadership-is-fueling-the-great-pile-on/Wages, leverage, and AI as a worker tool • https://www.hrdive.com/news/workers-send-messages-to-chatgpt-about-wages-openai/815689/ • https://openai.com/index/equipping-workers-with-insights-about-compensation/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/employees-taking-pay-cuts-huge-numbers-2026-3 • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/25/iran-war-low-hire-low-fire-job-market.html • https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-weekly-jobless-claims-increase-slightly-2026-03-26/ • https://finance.yahoo.com/news/75-resumes-never-reach-human-123000358.htmlMonitoring, RTO, and time design • https://fortune.com/2026/03/24/jpmorgan-monitoring-keystrokes-video-calls-meetings-junior-investment-bankers-its-for-employee-wellbeing/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/paramount-skydance-return-to-office-rto-mandate-remote-employees-relocate-2026-3 • https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/19/business/employees-microshifting-work-life-balance/ • https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_MRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fproperty%2Fcommercial%2Fproperty-boss-warns-staff-working-from-home-could-be-replaced-by-ai%2Fnews-story%2F512e53a796dab1810f3acc0c7dec54f4&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPA-Segment-2-NOSCORETalent wars and AI layoffs narratives • https://www.techtimes.com/articles/315475/20260326/apple-offers-massive-bonuses-iphone-design-team-stop-talent-poaching-openai-rivals.htm • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/accenture-ceo-julie-sweet-to-companys-employees-if-you-want-a-promotion-you-need-to-learn-this-skill/articleshow/129560758.cms • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/perplexity-ceo-aravind-srinivas-wants-everyone-to-believe-that-ai-layoffs-are-not-so-so-bad-because-they-will-allow-people-to-/articleshow/129791486.cms • https://rte.ie/brainstorm/2026/0326/1565150-ai-investments-jobs-tech-sector-financialisation-economy/ • https://fortune.com/2026/03/22/gen-z-roleplay-chatgpt-difficult-conversations-work/The Cut List • https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/microsoft-freezes-hiring-major-cloud-sales-groups-information-reports-2026-03-26/ • https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/meta-layoffs-hundreds-employees-five-divisions-vr-ai-who-rcna265127 • https://www.businessinsider.com/metas-reality-labs-shifts-to-ai-native-pods-efficiency-2026-3 • https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/many-employees-ibm-2026-layoffs-234003251.html • https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/epic-ceo-tim-sweeney-says-employers-will-see-a-stream-of-resumes-of-once-in-a-lifetime-quality-after-the-company-laid-off-more-than-1-000-people/ • https://defensescoop.com/2026/03/26/army-rebalancing-civilian-workforce-reassignments-separations/ • https://www.wsj.com/cfo-journal/block-cfo-says-deep-job-cuts-from-ai-are-an-inevitability-for-companies-672a7dc3⸻#EmployerBranding #HR #AI #Hiring #RTO #Engagement #WorkplaceCulture #Layoffs

Meta’s reported 20% layoff plan has turned “AI efficiency” into a headline. This week: AI workplace friction, Gen Z’s growth gap, open model risk and token costs, and how layoffs are increasingly narrated as automation.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksAI workplace friction • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/16/ai-workplace-friction.html • https://www.metlife.com/about-us/newsroom/2026/march/metlife-study-finds-ai-acceleration-is-creating-new-concerns-in-todays-workplace/ • https://www.hrdive.com/news/employees-dont-see-ai-as-a-co-worker/814585/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/vibe-coding-ai-tools-underperforming-ramp-tech-2026-3 • https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/13/business/ai-brain-fry-nightcap • https://employerbranding.news/but-ai-will-make-us-all-more-productive-wont-it/Gen Z, retention, and growth gaps • https://m.economictimes.com/jobs/hr-policies-trends/gen-z-career-priorities-highlight-gaps-in-hiring-and-growth-opportunities-report/articleshow/129653577.cms • https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/global-talent-shortages-are-getting-worse-as-employee-engagement-drops-study-shows/91317225 • https://adage.com/events-awards/gen-z-alpha-marketing/aa-what-agency-leaders-must-know-employee-retention/ • https://employerbranding.news/employer-branding-brief-templates/Open models and AI costs • https://www.wsj.com/cio-journal/companies-say-the-risks-of-open-artificial-intelligence-models-are-worth-it-0d3ee664 • https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-tokens-productivity-d35c6bd8Layoffs and restructuring • https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/meta-planning-sweeping-layoffs-ai-costs-mount-2026-03-14/ • https://www.theverge.com/business/895026/meta-laying-off-20-percent • https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/13/meta-layoffs-ai • https://www.9news.com.au/national/redundancies-coming-for-about-one-in-five-organisations/7ce1e25d-2458-4131-9cca-2cb2ee81d58e • https://theconversation.com/tech-companies-are-blaming-massive-layoffs-on-ai-whats-really-going-on-278314 • https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/16/ai-job-layoffs-push-for-shorter-working-hours • https://www.businessinsider.com/block-rehires-some-employees-after-layoffs-2026-3Extra links from this week’s pack • https://www.economist.com/business/2026/03/12/in-praise-of-grunt-work • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/18/ai-data-center-buildout-jobs-salary-skilled-traders-worker-shortage.html • https://www.businessinsider.com/higher-gas-prices-affect-commute-rto-debate-2026-3 • https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-global-consumer-marketing-head-is-out-2026-3 • https://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/accenture-ceo-julie-sweet-to-companys-employees-if-you-want-a-promotion-you-need-to-learn-this-skill/articleshow/129560758.cms • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/nvidias-jensen-huang-becomes-one-of-the-first-ceos-to-offer-engineers-as-part-of-recruitment-strategy/articleshow/129652364.cms • https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/4-ways-ceos-break-employee-trust-and-how-to-rebuild-it/502871 • https://theconversation.com/job-performance-reviews-are-outdated-and-often-pointless-why-do-we-still-use-them-277366 • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2rmjnlm94o • https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-best-places-to-work-in-america-in-2026-ranked/⸻#EmployerBranding #HR #AI #Layoffs #TalentStrategy #Recruiting #PeopleOps