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  • 📈 AI Talent Surge, 2025's Onboarding Playbook, Workplace Romance Risks - Jul 21, 2025

📈 AI Talent Surge, 2025's Onboarding Playbook, Workplace Romance Risks - Jul 21, 2025

Why HR can’t ignore AI hiring tools, how onboarding is failing, and the hidden risks of workplace romance—plus more key HR insights.

July 21, 2025

Hello, People Leaders! ✹ AI’s taking over hiring faster than you can say “skills gap.” Let’s rethink how tech and talent can work together—no rĂ©sumĂ© scanning robots required.

On today’s agenda:

📈 AI talent surge

💘 Workplace romance risks

đŸ§© Zoho People review

WEEKLY GOODY
Employee Timesheet
In case you missed last week’s HR goody — for payroll accuracy minus the tech hassle.
ⓘ Available to email subscribers

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

📈 Smart Hires Ahead: The AI Talent Surge HR Can’t Ignore

With AI job listings spiking globally in the last year alone and companies expanding deeper into global markets like Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), HR leaders are facing a new kind of hiring heatwave—and it’s powered by algorithms, not ambition alone.

⚠ The situation: Robots are hiring (and being hired).

  • Global AI hiring is booming—Deel alone saw 60 YoY increase.

  • U.S. companies are chasing top tech talent across borders.

  • The demand for AI skills is outpacing supply—and quickly.

  • HR teams risk lagging if they don’t move quick enough and think at a global level.

Per Deel’s report via The Recursive, “AI-related senior job roles have tripled in the past year.” That’s not just a trend—it’s a talent war.

✅ What HR can do: Work with the bots.

  • Go global: Tap into emerging markets (like CEE) for tech talent.

  • Use AI smartly: Let AI screen resumes, not replace judgment.

  • Upskill now: Train current teams to work with (not fear) AI.

  • Review pay scales: AI skills = premium packages.

Don’t let AI hiring outpace your human strategy. See how Deel can help your recruitment team hire smarter and faster at scale:

TODAY’S CULTURE CUE
đŸ€ Boost Human-Bot Synergy â€” Audit your AI tools this week to check if they’re helping or hindering your team. Align usage with real HR needs, not just shiny features.

TOGETHER WITH iSPRING

🆕 Why Your Onboarding Is Broken, Even If It Looks Fine | iSpring’s Expert Onboarding Playbook

Ask any HR pro and they’ll tell you: onboarding should be clear. But once you add in disengaged managers, scattered tools, and a lack of consistency — it gets complicated fast.

The iSpring team interviewed 10+ HR and L&D leaders across industries to get to the root of what’s really going wrong — and how to fix it. 

Download the 2025 Onboarding Playbook to learn: 

⚡ 6 mistakes that ruin the new hire experience from day 1 

⚡ The true cost of onboarding for your company 

⚡ Real-world onboarding challenges and how top HR leaders solve them 

⚡ A proven framework to onboard and retain top talent 

THE HR PULSE

🍟 Wage Hike, Job Dip? - HR Grapevine

  • What’s unfolding: Fast food job losses in California are being linked to the recently implemented $20/hour minimum wage.

  • Why it matters: This is a red flag for multi-state HR leaders managing wage strategy—prepare for automation impacts, budget shifts, and workforce planning if other states follow suit.

🏱 Target Tightens RTO Rules - HR Dive

  • What’s unfolding: Target is requiring corporate employees near its Minneapolis HQ to work in-office three days a week, marking a sharper stance after previous flexibility and comes amid similar trends at other major employers.

  • Why it matters: HR professionals should note the cultural and retention ripple effects of stricter RTO mandates. If your org is considering RTO shifts, communication and change management are key.

🐠 HR-Themed Phishing Bait Clicks - HCA Mag

  • What’s unfolding: In Q2, phishing attacks posing as HR emails were among the most clicked. Subject lines about “reimbursements,” “dress codes,” and more tricked users at alarming rates. HR-themed scams have become prime bait for cybercriminals, exploiting employees’ instinct to trust internal HR updates.

  • Why it matters: HR is now a cybersecurity frontline. It’s essential to educate staff on spotting phishing attempts. Partner with IT to run simulated phishing drills and update policies on email authentication.

RESOURCE ROUNDUP

Sprigg HR
Employee Vacation Tracker
Prevent pay errors and manage employee attendance better with this tracker.
Download tracker »

Employment Hero
Payroll Outsourcing Guide
Gain insights into the workings, advantages, and reasons for outsourcing your payroll.
Download guide »

WSMH
Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment
An assessment to help leaders improve communication, social intelligence, fairness and problem-solving.
See the assessment »

COMPLIANCE CORNER

đŸŠŸ Colorado AI Law Flex - HR Dive

  • What’s unfolding: Colorado’s groundbreaking AI law, taking effect next year, demands stringent risk-management controls on both AI developers and users—raising the bar well above typical state standards.

  • HR implications: HR teams must prepare for AI governance roles by updating internal policies and training staff in compliance best practices, while keeping an eye on similar laws popping up nationwide.

đŸ€° NYC Boosts Prenatal Pay - Nat Law Review

  • What’s unfolding: NYC has expanded on the state’s paid prenatal leave law—mandating updated policies, notices, records, and pay-stub tracking for the 20‑hour leave bank.

  • HR implications: HR leaders in NYC must revise leave policies, inform employees, and adjust payroll systems by mid-July to prevent compliance headaches and potential fines.

đŸŽŸïž H‑1B: Bye‑Bye Lottery? - The Register

  • What’s unfolding: The USDHS & USCIS may replace the traditional H‑1B visa lottery with a criteria-based (likely wage-driven) system—upending decades‑old selection dynamics.

  • HR implications: Missouri HR teams should start communicating changes, revise handbooks, and consider offering equivalent voluntary benefits to mitigate morale and retention risks.

TREND WATCH

💘 Office Affairs: Is the Romance Worth the Risk?

Digesting the data: In light of the recent KissCam scandal at a Coldplay concert, a Gulf News report takes a look at the prevalence of workplace affairs (despite the fact it’s a known conflict of interest) and its real consequences. These aren’t just Hollywood plotlines—shared stress, constant proximity, and emotional intimacy fuel a trend that’s as office‑real as coffee spills. But what does it cost everyone involved?

Outlook for HR: This trend isn’t fluff—it impacts productivity, trust, and retention. If you’re not ready to ban love in the breakroom, you must prepare for the repercussions. It’s time to update policies, train managers to handle romances fairly, and provide confidential counsel through EAPs. A mature stance can help navigate office love without it derailing careers or culture.

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 24, Virtual - Gartner
The Ripple Effects of AI on Organizational Structure and Work â€” Examine the ripple effects of AI across various job functions and industries.
Register for webinar »

July 30, Virtual - HR Morning
DEI Insights for a Changing World — Unpack the current state of DEI & its implications, and learn practice guidance for organizations of all sizes.
Reserve your seat »

On-Demand, Virtual - Herbein
Navigating Tax Changes: Updates from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Learn about the most significant tax updates and take advantage of new opportunities while avoiding costly pitfalls.
Watch the recording »

HR TECH WATCH

đŸ§© A Review of Zoho People: The Modular HR Sidekick

Why we selected it: A favorite among growing teams, Zoho People is an all-in-one HR software suite that's both economical and surprisingly flexible for businesses of any size.

Key features:

  1. Employee Self-Service Portal – Empowers staff to update info, request leave, and access documents.

  2. Custom Workflows – Automate everything from onboarding to performance reviews with drag-and-drop ease.

  3. Time & Attendance Tracking – GPS and IP-based clock-ins make hybrid and remote tracking seamless.

  4. Performance Management – Set goals, run appraisals, and track progress with ease.

Pros:

  • Ease of use: Intuitive dashboards empower non-technical HR users

  • Data visualization: Powerful visualizations simplify complex data 

  • Security: Strong security and enterprise-grade compliance 

  • Predictive analytics: Accelerates proactive talent decisions with predictive insight 

  • Scalability: Scalable across industries from finance to healthcare

Cons:

  • Extra features cost: Advanced features may require add-ons or higher-tier plans

  • Learning curve: Some learning curve for deep customization

  • Recruitment features: Limited in-built recruiting features

HRAddict rating: ★★★★☆ 4.4
A flexible, affordable HR toolkit that scales with your business.

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

BREAKROOM

SMART READS

✉ How to Write a Layoff Letter

🧠 Should You Use Aptitude Tests? Pros & Cons

🧐 Questions You Should Ask When Checking References

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