Summer HR Pilots, AI Staff Value, Gusto Review - Jun 9, 2025

Hello, HR Champs! ☀️ While most are chasing beach days, savvy HR pros are piloting bold strategies that’ll set the stage for a stronger fall. Let’s turn this “slow season” into a launchpad!

On today’s agenda:

🌴 Summer HR pilots

🦾 AI staff delivers more value

🧐 A review of Gusto

📌 Roundup of HR resources

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

Summer HR Shakeup: Turn a Slow Season into Strategic Pilots That Deliver

With fewer distractions and a lighter meeting load, summer is the ideal time for HR to test bold ideas before year-end planning begins. Think of it as your off-season on-ramp for innovation. 🌴

The situation: Quiet quarters, big chances. From late June to August, the pace slows. Leaders go on holidays, inboxes shrink (a little), and decision cycles ease. But while business chills, employee needs and org goals don’t.

Ignoring this window? That’s like skipping leg day at the gym…

What’s the urgency?

• HR leaders are easily swamped towards Q4. The mid-year slump is timely for piloting breakthrough ideas.

• Summer is also known as DEI winter in the workforce—engagement and productivity drops.

• Early adopters of summer pilots often scale company-wide by fall.

What HR can do: Pilot smart, Not hard. Use summer to quietly shake things up:

• 🌱 Peer coaching circles – build leadership muscle without formal training expenses

• 🧘 Async-first workflows – reduce burnout and Zoom fatigue

• 🌞 4-day workweek tests – boost retention and attract talent (like this UK pilot)

• 🧠 DEI micro-learning series – keep inclusion on the radar

• 🤖 Breakout HR tech or AI tools – test with a small group before scaling

Don’t just coast this summer—strategize.

Ready to kickstart your summer pilot? These strategies are worth considering:

🌍 Deel Hits $1B Run Rate - Businesswire

• What’s unfolding: Deel, a global HR and payroll platform, just surpassed a $1B annual run rate, fueled by demand for cross-border hiring and streamlined compliance tools. That’s a lot of paychecks with passports.

• Why it matters: Global hiring is becoming the norm. HR teams must be fluent in international compliance, onboarding, and payroll management. Master EOR platforms and build global talent pipelines before your org goes global without you.

• What’s unfolding: The HR tech market is booming—set to hit $62.6B by 2032. AI, analytics, and automation are driving massive investments across HR systems and platforms.

• Why it matters: Staying low-tech = falling behind. From performance reviews to DEI dashboards, smart HR teams have started auditing legacy systems. Begin vetting scalable, AI-ready tools this summer for smoother digital transformation later.

• What’s unfolding: Nissan is planning major global restructuring, including job cuts and potential plant closures, as it pivots to electrification and expense reduction.

• Why it matters: This signals another wave of transformation-driven workforce shifts. HR should prep for upskilling, redeployment, and transparent internal comms. A proactive talent mobility strategy is your layoff-proofing play.

COMPLIANCE CORNER

• What’s unfolding: The U.S. Supreme Court just made it easier for employees to claim reverse discrimination in Title VII cases.

• HR implications: Bias claims—of every kind—just got easier to file. HR must tighten documentation, ensure fairness in promotions, and retrain managers on consistent evaluation standards.

• What’s unfolding: Oregon’s 2025 employment law updates include updated leave entitlements, workplace safety rules, and remote work provisions.

• HR implications: If you operate in Oregon, start updating handbooks and compliance processes. They take effect at various points between May 1 and Sept. 30.

HR TECH WATCH

A Review of Gusto - Smart, Simple HR & Payroll Solution for Growing Teams

Why we selected it: Gusto is a top‑rated all‑in‑one payroll and HR platform trusted by over 400,000 businesses for its intuitive UI, automated tax filings, and seamless benefits management.

Key features:

• Full-Service Payroll – Limitless runs, auto tax filing, and direct deposits.

• Hiring & Onboarding – Job posts, applicant tracking, offer letters, e-signatures.

• Time & Benefits – Integrated time tracking, PTO, health, 401(k) administration.

• Global Pay & Compliance – Pay contractors in 120+ countries; built‑in state tax compliance.

HRAddict rating: ★★★★☆ 4.6 
Gusto streamlines payroll, benefits, and hiring with clarity and compliance—ideal for growing small and mid‑size businesses.

This is an independent review using aggregated insights and publicly available data.

BREAKROOM

📬 Missed Friday’s issue on ‘Microbreaks’? Read it.