PAPER CUT - The Overcapacity Era: AI, Layoffs and the Culture Recession

The overcapacity era is here. We cut through hype versus headcount and map the moves that keep your employer brand credible when AI agents rise, entry routes shrink, and culture confidence slides.

This week’s Paper Cut slices through the spin and gives HR and employer brand leaders the context and checklists they actually need. No fluff, just facts and practical moves.

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SOURCES & LINKS

Overcapacity is a strategy, not a surprise

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/allianz-to-cut-up-to-1800-jobs-due-to-ai-advances-says-source

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/hp-cut-thousands-jobs-due-ai-adoption-5490266

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-24/apple-aapl-cuts-jobs-across-its-sales-organization-in-rare-layoff

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-government-shed-317000-workers-this-year-trumps-hr-chief-says-2025-11-24/

https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/26/workday_cross_selling/

Agents are useful, inside

https://hbr.org/2025/11/ai-agents-arent-ready-for-consumer-facing-work-but-they-can-excel-at-internal-processes

https://www.zdnet.com/article/3-ways-ai-agents-will-make-your-job-unrecognizable-in-the-next-few-years/

https://fortune.com/2025/11/25/why-ai-wont-take-your-job-partnership-agents-robots-mckinsey/

https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/26/workday_cross_selling/

The culture recession is here

https://www.unleash.ai/employee-experience-and-engagement/how-the-push-for-efficiency-sparked-a-corporate-culture-recession/

https://hbr.org/2025/11/leaders-assume-employees-are-excited-about-ai-theyre-wrong

https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/23/bossware_monitor_remote_employees/

https://fortune.com/2025/11/25/half-of-workers-are-revenge-quitting-walking-out-on-their-jobs-without-notice-or-resignation-letter-majority-are-loyal-staff-whove-been-there-over-2-years-monster-report/

https://www.fastcompany.com/91433435/great-leaders-boost-motivation-quiet-quitting

https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-employees-open-letter-artificial-intelligence-layoffs/

Policy whiplash: rules, dress codes, and rankings

https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/24/spains-new-remote-work-rules-what-changes-and-what-it-means-for-you/

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-introduces-new-corporate-dress-code-what-workers-must-wear-now/articleshow/125609007.cms

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/economy/singapore-leads-world-in-talent-competitiveness-dethroning-switzerland-for-the-first-time-4986753.html

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/dei-changes-benefits-workplace-04f0adb8

https://www.businessinsider.com/shrm-johnny-taylor-dei-workplace-lawsuits-layoffs-2025-11

https://www.efinancialcareers.co.uk/news/unemployment-uk-graduates

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/nov/25/ai-could-replace-3m-low-skilled-jobs-by-2035-research-finds

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