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
7 hours ago
Oracle’s 6AM Email Economy | PAPER CUT
7 hours ago
7 hours ago
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
Sunday Mar 29, 2026
Welcome to Managed Work | PAPER CUT
Sunday Mar 29, 2026
Sunday Mar 29, 2026
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
Sunday Mar 22, 2026
Meta’s AI Layoff Moment | PAPER CUT
Sunday Mar 22, 2026
Sunday Mar 22, 2026
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
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
The New Hiring Risk No One Budgeted For | PAPER CUT
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
Hiring is getting noisier and riskier. AI has flooded recruitment with “resume slop”, pushed candidates to hide experience, and opened the door to deepfake candidates and remote work fraud. Plus: why AI rollouts still need humans, process, and proof.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksHiring noise and pay • https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-managers-arent-reading-resumes-slop-2026-3 • https://www.ndtv.com/feature/why-are-job-seekers-hiding-years-of-experience-on-their-cvs-a-growing-workplace-trend-11172812 • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/09/switching-jobs-used-to-mean-big-raises-but-the-pay-bump-is-smaller-now.htmlAI rollout reality • https://openai.com/index/frontier-alliance-partners/ • https://www.mckinsey.com/about-us/new-at-mckinsey-blog/mckinsey-and-openai-scale-ai-driven-transformations-with-new-frontier-alliance • https://www.capgemini.com/news/press-releases/capgemini-joins-forces-with-openai-to-accelerate-new-era-of-ai-powered-enterprise-transformation-with-frontier-alliance/ • https://hbr.org/2026/03/how-deep-industry-research-agents-can-change-your-organizationWork intensity and AI trust • https://www.activtrak.com/resources/state-of-the-workplace/ • https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/activtrak-productivity-lab-analyzes-443m-140000864.html • https://www.hrdive.com/news/employees-dont-see-ai-as-a-co-worker/814585/ • https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/mar/10/ai-impact-professors-students-learning • https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-brain-fryDeepfake candidates and remote hiring fraud • https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/06/north-korean-agents-using-ai-to-trick-western-firms-into-hiring-them-microsoft-says • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/06/30/jasper-sleet-north-korean-remote-it-workers-evolving-tactics-to-infiltrate-organizations/ • https://cyberscoop.com/microsoft-north-korea-ai-operations/ • https://employerbranding.news/ai-fakers-deepfake-candidates-the-hiring-crisis-no-one-saw-coming/The Cut List • https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/12/atlassian-layoffs-software-technology-ai-push-mike-cannon-brookes-asx • https://www.techspot.com/news/111661-oracle-prepares-new-round-layoffs-while-doubling-down.html⸻#FutureOfWork #HR #Recruiting #EmployerBrand #AI #Hiring #TalentAcquisition #CyberSecurity
Sunday Mar 08, 2026
AI Is Making People Work Longer | PAPER CUT
Sunday Mar 08, 2026
Sunday Mar 08, 2026
AI was meant to save time. For many teams, it’s stretching the day instead. This week: why AI can lengthen work hours, why L&D is being pushed to prove impact, how remote work is moving into law, and what the latest job cuts say about where the pressure is landing.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻Sources & LinksAI and longer work hours • https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-developers-using-ai-are-working-longer-hours/ • https://metr.org/blog/2025-07-10-early-2025-ai-experienced-os-dev-study/ • https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.09089Skills decay and proving impact • https://www.hcamag.com/asia/specialisation/learning-development/ai-skills-decay-and-proof-of-impact-the-new-2026-mandate-for-ld/567592 • https://theconversation.com/ai-can-slowly-shift-an-organisations-core-principles-how-to-spot-value-drift-early-276511Culture and work expectations • https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/smart-leaders-are-ditching-hustle-culture-for-this-new/500782 • https://www.fastcompany.com/91501039/discomfort-is-a-pivot-momentRemote work rights • https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0305/1561735-remote-working-code/ • https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/what_you_should_know/codes_practice/code-of-practice-for-employers-and-employees-right-to-request-flexible-working-and-right-to-request-remote-working/ • https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australian-state-to-enshrine-work-from-home-rights-in-lawThe Cut List • https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/oracle-plans-thousands-job-cuts-180243222.html • https://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/202603059323/oracle-plans-thousands-of-job-cuts-bloomberg-reports-citing-sources • https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/morgan-stanley-lay-off-3-172256024.html • https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/banking-finance/morgan-stanley-lays-2500-employees-across-divisions-source-says • https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-cuts-more-jobs-time-212928733.html • https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/telcos-media-tech/amazon-cuts-more-jobs-time-robotics-unit⸻#FutureOfWork #HR #EmployerBrand #AI #Productivity #RemoteWork #LearningAndDevelopment #Layoffs
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
Your Promotion Now Requires AI | PAPER CUT
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
AI adoption is shifting from optional to enforced. This week: promotions tied to AI use, graduate hiring flooded by AI-enabled applications and AI screening, Teams-style location visibility, and why employer brand now depends on trustworthy systems, not messaging.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻AI use and progression • https://decrypt.co/358616/accenture-tracking-employees-use-ai-promotions • https://www.mercer.com/about/newsroom/mercer-s-global-talent-trends-2026-report/Graduate hiring and AI gatekeeping • https://www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2026/02/26/ai-is-turning-the-graduate-recruitment-market-upside-down/ • https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/uk-graduate-jobs-drop-below-10000-first-time-report • https://www.businessinsider.com/sc/what-the-job-market-freeze-means-for-workforce-in-2026 • https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/others/20260219/young-professionals-squeezed-as-ai-reshapes-white-collar-job-marketWorkplace visibility • https://www.pcworld.com/article/3003806/microsoft-teams-will-soon-snitch-on-your-location-to-your-organization.htmlCulture, wellbeing, inclusion • https://builtin.com/articles/social-media-employer-branding • https://www.fastcompany.com/91495319/the-future-of-team-culture-building-is-emotional • https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/leadership-and-workplace-relationships-matter/202602/quiet-quitting-isnt-just-for-employees • https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-effects-workers-psychological • https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-employment-of-disabled-people-2025/the-employment-of-disabled-people-2025The Cut List • https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/c3-ai-layoffs-21939617.php • https://www.hcamag.com/us/news/general/ebay-cuts-800-jobs-extending-techs-long-restructuring-cycle/566752⸻#EmployerBranding #HR #AI #GraduateJobs #Hiring #HybridWork #PeopleOps #WorkplaceCulture
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Productivity Promises, Performance Pressure. | PAPER CUT
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
AI is spreading fast. Measurable productivity gains are not. This week: why ROI is elusive, why “context” becomes the competitive edge, how PIPs and RTO are being read as pressure tactics, and how the student pipeline is already shifting.📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25🔗 LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25⸻📌 Sources & Links:AI productivity • https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/18/ai_productivity_survey/Context advantage • https://hbr.org/2026/02/when-every-company-can-use-the-same-ai-models-context-becomes-a-competitive-advantagePIPs, RTO, and pushouts • https://theindependent.sg/hr-product-manager-reveals-companies-use-ai-pips-and-rto-policy-as-an-excuse-to-push-out-employees/Student pipeline shift • https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/15/the-great-computer-science-exodus-and-where-students-are-going-instead/Automation claims • https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/microsofts-ai-boss-says-ai-can-replace-every-white-collar-job-in-18-months-were-going-to-have-a-human-level-performance-on-most-if-not-all-professional-tasks⸻#EmployerBranding #HR #AI #FutureOfWork #Hiring #TalentStrategy #RTO #PerformanceManagement
Sunday Feb 15, 2026
Your Employer Brand Can’t Be a Slogan Anymore | PAPER CUT
Sunday Feb 15, 2026
Sunday Feb 15, 2026
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.
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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





