Clock Out Confident, Recruitment Checklist & AI Work Hurdles - May 30, 2025

Happy Friday, HR champions! 💪 Time to wind down with your power trio: coffee, clear checklists, and audit-free vibes to clock out confident.

On today’s agenda:

✅ Clock out confident: 4 simple steps

😍 Your online recruitment checklist

🏴󠁣󠁬󠁡󠁩󠁿 AI at work: hope meets hurdles

✈️ U.S. business travel faces new barriers

👇 Read on…

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

Clock Out Confident: 4 Simple Steps to Wrap the Week Right

Fridays are for deep breaths, clean inboxes, and ideally — no fire drills. But for HR pros juggling compliance, payroll, and next week’s onboarding... let’s just say, it’s complicated. 😅 Below is how to wrap your week without the stress hangover.

The Situation: Friday fatigue is real.

• 95﹪ of HR leaders report an increase in their admin workload in the previous years, and this can easily eat up Fridays. (Sage, 2024)

• Missing deadlines — like today’s Payroll Compliance Deadline (quarterly/annual reports) — can cause fines and headaches.

• Last-minute requests often turn HR into the office’s unofficial emergency response team. 🚨

What HR can do: The confident clock-out checklist…

1. Pre-schedule payroll reviews on Thursday-Friday’s for follow-ups, not firefighting.

2. Create a “closeout checklist” for every Friday (compliance checks, benefits updates, PTO audits).

3. Use HR tech tools to automate tasks—automation can drive efficiency, which can help boost end-of-week clarity.

4. Set a recurring 3 PM “HR Happy Half-Hour” to review wins and prep Monday’s priorities. Snacks encouraged. 🍪

For more quick HR wins to finish Friday strong and start Monday sharper, read this:

🤖 IBM Slashes 50K Hours via Automation - OutsourceAccelerator

• What’s unfolding: IBM has implemented AI-powered tools to automate various HR functions. This initiative has reportedly reclaimed 50,000 manager hours globally, allowing HR teams to focus more on strategic initiatives and client-focused activities.

• Why it matters: It’s imperative for HR pros to explore automation tools to streamline routine tasks. However, implementation of such technologies must be accompanied by appropriate training and change management strategies.

• What’s unfolding: Research indicates that workplace surveillance technologies disproportionately target Black employees, particularly those in low-skilled or non-unionized jobs.

• Why it matters: HR leaders should critically assess the necessity and implementation of monitoring technologies, ensuring they do not inadvertently contribute to discriminatory practices.

• What’s unfolding: McKinsey & Company has reduced its global workforce by over 10﹪ in the past 18 months, bringing employee numbers down from over 45,000 in late 2023 to approximately 40,000.

• Why it matters: The reduction highlights the importance of agile workforce planning and the need to be prepared for industry fluctuations. Focus on developing flexible talent strategies and transparent communication during such transitions is vital.

He’s already IPO’d once – this time’s different

Spencer Rascoff grew Zillow from seed to IPO. But everyday investors couldn’t join until then, missing early gains. So he did things differently with Pacaso. They’ve made $110M+ in gross profits disrupting a $1.3T market. And after reserving the Nasdaq ticker PCSO, you can join for $2.80/share until 5/29.

Invest today for $2.80/share.

_{This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.}

COMPLIANCE CORNER

• What’s unfolding: Rumors link H-1B visa holders to Walmart layoffs, but the company denies it. No evidence supports foreign worker displacement.

• HR implications: Reinforces the need for clear, inclusive layoff communication. Mismanaged narratives can harm brand and employee trust — prep messaging accordingly.

• What’s unfolding: EHP Inc. has launched Compliance Concierge, a service designed to assist HR teams with the implementation of Special Interest Medical Expense Reimbursement Programs (SIMERP). 

• HR implications: With rising regulatory scrutiny, HR professionals must ensure wellness programs comply to avoid penalties. Services like Compliance Concierge can simplify setup and reinforce compliance.

• What’s unfolding: A recent Fourth Circuit ruling clarifies that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not protect employees from disciplinary actions for misconduct, even if the behavior is related to a disability. 

• HR implications: Conduct policies should be applied consistently to all employees. While accommodations should be provided for disabilities, misconduct should still be addressed appropriately to maintain standards.

WEEKLY GOODY

Your Online Recruitment Checklist 

This free and comprehensive tool can be used to streamline your entire online recruitment process. From creating effective online job posts to conducting interviews with shortlisted candidates, this checklist ensures an organized and efficient hiring process from start to finish.

Attract top talent, improve candidate selection and enhance interview effectiveness with our online recruitment checklist.

BREAKROOM

📬 Missed Wednesday’s issue on Innovative Benefits? Read it.