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Hello, HR Heroes! 😄 With April Fool’s Day just around the corner, this is no laughing matter — workplace surveillance is on the rise. But is it boosting productivity or just fueling paranoia? Let’s dive into the fine line between oversight and overreach…

On the agenda: 

📷 Workplace Surveillance: Big brother or productivity booster?

✨ 20+ HR Templates: For better workforce management.

🤬 Microaggressions: Work relationships can be repaired.

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

Workplace Surveillance: Big Brother or Productivity Booster?

As companies push return-to-office (RTO) policies, many are stepping up workplace surveillance — but what is the actual impact of doing so?

What’s Happening: According to Wired, tools like RFID badges, biometric scanners, keystroke monitors, and AI-driven cameras are tracking everything from attendance to “idle time.” While employers say this boosts security and efficiency, employees (and HR teams) are raising privacy and trust concerns.

The HR Dilemma: Surveillance is not an innovative practice — recent data indicates that 96% of remote companies have put in place kind form of monitoring, with 85% extending these practices to in-person workers. But the rise of AI-driven tracking has HR pros walking a tightrope between company security and employee morale.

🔹 Trust vs. Transparency: Will employees accept monitoring if it’s communicated upfront?
🔹 Engagement or Micromanagement? Studies show excessive tracking can actually decrease productivity by making employees feel distrusted.
🔹 Legal Risks: Some EU and U.S. states are already cracking down on invasive surveillance.

The Big Question: Is HR watching out for employees or just watching employees?

To best implement workplace monitoring the right way, read our guide:

FRIDAY’S STEAL

20+ Excel Templates for Better HR & Workforce Management

Unlock the full potential of your HR department with our 20+ HR Analytics Excel Template Collection — ideal for HR professionals looking to streamline processes and make data-driven decisions. 

With our HR Analytics Templates collection, you'll be able to:

• ​Enhance your HR reporting, making it easier to present actionable insights to leadership

• ​Drive strategic decision-making with data-backed evidence, enabling smarter, more informed choices that positively impact your organization’s growth and results.

• ​Streamline workforce management, improving both productivity and engagement.

This community promo ends March 23 — midnight EST.

TREND WATCH

Work Relationships Can Be Repaired After Microaggressions, Research Shows

HR Dive — Microaggressions in the workplace are harming relationships and negatively impacting culture. However, research from MIT Sloan and Harvard Business School suggests that reconciliation is possible. Factors such as prior positive interactions and mutual interest in maintaining the relationship can facilitate repair. Leaders can promote openness and support a collaborative environment to address these issues effectively.

You found global talent. Deel’s here to help you onboard them

Deel’s simplified a whole planet’s worth of information. It’s time you got your hands on our international compliance handbook where you’ll learn about:

• Attracting global talent

• Labor laws to consider when hiring

• Processing international payroll on time

• Staying compliant with employment & tax laws abroad

With 150+ countries right at your fingertips, growing your team with Deel is easier than ever.

Get the guide

🕵️‍♂️ HR Tech Firms Accuse Each Other of Espionage — Rippling sues competitor Deel over alleged corporate spying involving a planted mole, highlighting intense competition in HR tech. ​[Fortune]

⚖️ Law Firms Uphold DEI Amid Presidential Criticism — Major U.S. law firms maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives despite President Trump's EO challenging such practices. [HR Brew]

👩‍💼 Women Still Face Work Disparities in 2025 — Studies reveal ongoing challenges for women in the workforce following the pandemic, underscoring the need for targeted HR interventions. [HR Dive]

🏦 BofA Targets Disturbing Workplace Trend — The institution handles emerging workplace issues, reflecting broader concerns in corporate environments. [TheStreet]

HR WISDOM

The 20 Best Recruitment Strategies to Attract Top Talent

Every company, whether big or small, shares the same goal when it comes to recruiting: hire the finest talent.

This, however, can be challenging, considering — among many other factors — the demand and supply for top talent, and the competition that companies are constantly in for said top talent.

It takes some ingenuity and creativity, as well as careful and thorough planning, to make sure that your company is meeting its hiring goals.

WEEKLY HR GOODY

An Employee Warning Notice

Issuing a warning can feel a little awkward, yet it’s necessary to convey the seriousness of the situation and encourage a change in behavior. Our complimentary goody this week is an Employee Warning Notice Template that can make drafting your letter more straightforward, ensuring you take a record of vital information.

BREAKROOM