[23 NOV] PAPER CUT - Pink Slips, Quiet Scripts, and RTO Flip-Flops

This week’s Paper Cut looks past the headlines on layoffs, AI checklist hiring, hybrid confusion, and culture awards to ask what they really signal about trust.

This edition of Paper Cut from Employer Branding News cuts through the spin to give HR, talent, and employer brand leaders the context they actually need. Clear patterns, practical implications, no fluff.

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📌 Sources & Links:

Layoffs In A Trust Recession

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/11/18/big-tech-layoffs-ai/

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/new-layoff-tactics-bring-new-blunders-beefbf56

https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/ey-oceania-cuts-90-from-consulting-arm-20251118-p5ng7z

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/19/world-health-organisation-to-cut-jobs-due-to-us-withdrawing-funding

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-canceling-octobers-employment-report-after-shutdown-prevented-data-collection-2025-11-19/

https://hbr.org/2025/11/how-leaders-can-build-stakeholder-trust-in-uncertain-times

https://employerbranding.news/2025-layoffs-employer-brand-outlook/

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/science/2025/11/19/csiro-restructure-minister

The AI Arms Race vs Hiring’s Doom Loop

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-19/mbas-seeking-jobs-in-consulting-must-be-ai-proficient

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/2025/11/18/ai-use-creating-a-recruitment-doom-loop-according-to-major-consulting-firm/

https://www.thehill.com/opinion/technology/5609124-ai-agents-fail-real-work/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/hessiejones/2025/11/18/harvard-got-it-wrong-ai-is-not-killing-entry-level-jobs/

https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/anglicare-report-reveals-australias-entrylevel-job-crisis-as-39-jobseekers-compete-for-every-vacancy/news-story/72feb4c5d75c08c817c0784753477b0e

Remote Reality: Rights, Rituals, and Surveillance

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/government-urged-to-strengthen-remote-work-rights-as-just-one-employee-complaint-upheld-by-wrc/a545915243.html

https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1118/1544498-remote-work-consultation/

https://www.financialexpress.com/trending/nothing-like-what-they-advertised-remote-employees-rejects-office-push-collaboration-day-ends-in-disaster/4044577/

https://theindependent.sg/is-it-ok-if-you-work-from-home-but-come-to-office-for-meetings-employer-offers-solution-after-her-staff-says-im-resigning-i-need-to-take-care-of-my-child/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2025/11/18/employees-companies-available-hr/87271509007/

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/remote-work-pandemic-coworkers-productive-b2865519.html

https://www.moneycontrol.com/technology/cognizant-begins-using-tool-to-track-employee-activity-employees-marked-idle-after-5-mins-of-inactivity-article-13682012.html

The Optics Economy: Lists, Standards, and Pay Power

https://www.livemint.com/companies/25-companies-including-adobe-nvidia-and-accenture-earn-spot-in-fortune-worlds-best-workplace-2025-list-11763051957502.html

https://dailyhive.com/canada/canada-top-100-employers-2026

https://www.livemint.com/industry/india-hr-standards-upgrade-services-sector-global-mobility-11763284608331.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2025/11/16/5-trends-that-will-shape-workplace-culture-in-2026/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2025/11/12/glassdoor-reveals-the-biggest-workplace-trends-for-2026/

https://www.thehill.com/lobbying/5605658-job-market-salary-negotiations/

https://www.theeverygirl.com/gen-z-career-minimalism-trend/

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#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRTrends #Layoffs #RemoteWork #AI #TalentStrategy #WorkplaceCulture #Compensation #Recruiting