Hola, culture catalysts! ๐ Happy Hispanic Heritage Month. We know culture isnโt just salsa nights and team lunchesโitโs the heartbeat of engagement. Letโs explore how culture drives connection, retention, and real results.
On todayโs agenda:
๐ Engagement through culture
๐ฅ Friendships > paycheck
๐ Walmartโs AI certification
WEEKLY GOODY
Employee Resignation Checklist
In case you missed last weekโs HR goody โ make every exit smooth, professional, and stress-free.
Only available for download to subscribers.
THE HR SPOTLIGHT
๐ Culture That Connects: Turning Recognition into Engagement
Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off today! Itโs more than a calendar eventโitโs a chance for HR leaders to use cultural recognition as a springboard for year-round inclusion and engagement.
๐ง The situation: ย
One-off cultural nods can feel performative. Recognition without follow-through erodes trust. This midyear 2025, only 32๏ผ of U.S. employees are engaged at work, with engagement levels hitting a 10-year low. (Gallup)
๐ก What HR can do:
Listen first: Ask Hispanic/Latinx employees what real recognition looks like. Use ERGs, surveys, and feedback loops.
Go beyond the month: Mix cultural learning into meetings, L&D, and recognition programs.
Measure impact: Track how inclusion links to retention and promotionsโthen act on the gaps.
Empower managers: Train leaders to recognize, empathize, and model inclusivity daily.
Culture isnโt built on brochuresโitโs built on trust, empathy, and action.
๐ Get more ideas on creating real, lasting company culture: How to Build a Great Company Culture ยป
TOGETHER WITH HR PARTNER
โ๏ธ Free workbook: A simpler way to choose the right HR system for your SMB
If you handle HR (or part of it) in an SMB, you know how much time manual admin tasks can steal from your day. This free workbook makes choosing a new HR system simpler, showing you what your team really needs, how to pick the right solution, and the first steps to get it running.
TODAYโS CULTURE CUE
๐ค 5-Min Story Swap - Start your next team meeting with a 5-minute story share where one member highlights a cultural tradition or value. Builds inclusion, fast!
THE HR PULSE
๐ค AI + Humans = Best Customer Service โ HR Grapevine
Whatโs unfolding: Gartner predicts no Fortune 500 company will be fully agentless by 2028โAI will handle basics, but humans remain vital for complex, emotional work.
Why it matters: HR must reskill staff for high-value roles and highlight emotional intelligence as a differentiator in customer experience.
๐ Smart Upskill: OpenAI + Walmart AI Certs โ The HR Digest
Whatโs unfolding: OpenAI and Walmart will roll out an AI certification for associates in 2026 to build workforce AI fluency.ย ย
Why it matters: HR should treat AI literacy as core, offering upskilling programs that improve retention and career growth opportunities.
๐ Cut the Jargon: Federal Job Title Clean Up โ Fed News Network
Whatโs unfolding: OPM is urging agencies to replace jargon-heavy job titles with clear, private-sector-friendly terms.
Why it matters: Simpler titles attract more diverse applicants, improve employer branding, and make roles easier to understand.
RESOURCE ROUNDUP
Peas in a Pod Consulting
Creating a Neuro-Inclusive Workplace
Support neurodivergent individuals and ensure a fair and inclusive environment for everyone.
Explore the free guide ยป
AvaHR
Ultimate List of Interview Questions
A detailed list of questions to refine your interviewing process
Download ebook ยป
Zoho
360-Degree Performance Appraisals
See how you can use 360-degree performance reviews to help your workforce thrive.
Get a copy ยป
COMPLIANCE CORNER
๐งโโ๏ธ Tribunal Hits Sainsburyโs for Sex Discrimination โ HR Mag
Whatโs unfolding: A former Sainsburyโs manager was awarded ~ยฃ60,000 after a tribunal found sheโd suffered repeated verbal abuse from a male colleague, linked to sex discrimination and whistleblowing.
HR implications: HR leaders should audit their workplace behaviour standards and grievance procedures, especially for gender-based harassment, ensuring investigations are taken seriously; waiting until claims escalate can cost dearly in compensation and reputation.
๐ Uber Sued for Disability Discrimination โ HR Grapevine
Whatโs unfolding: The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Uber alleging systemic discrimination: refusing rides to people with service animals or mobility aids, imposing illegal fees and denying access in violation of the ADA.
HR implications: Any org with customer-facing roles must ensure accessibility policies are robust, staff training covers ADA compliance, and audits are in place; noncompliance risks large penalties and serious impact to brand trust.
๐ชช Visa Rule Shakeup for International Hires โ RN Law Group
Whatโs unfolding: As of September 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State ended โthird-country stampingโ for most non-immigrant visas, requiring applicants to interview in their country of nationality or legal residence.
HR implications: Global mobility and talent acquisition teams must adjust timelines and planning for international hires, communicate visa delays to new/existing employees, and revise immigration budgets; failing to anticipate new processing times could delay onboarding significantly.
TREND WATCH
๐ฅ Friendships Over Paychecks
Digesting the data: A recent KPMG survey of 1,019 full-time U.S. professionals reveals more than half would give up ~20๏ผ of salary to work alongside close friends; 57๏ผ would take a job paying 10๏ผ below market if it meant meaningful connection, rather than higher pay without it. Remote and tech/media/telecom workers report high isolation, nearly double 2024 levels, even as Gen Z places especially high value on workplace camaraderie.
Outlook for HR: HR leaders shouldnโt rely on pay alone to attract or retain talentโfostering meaningful relationships at work must be baked into culture, policies, and physical or virtual workspace design. Initiatives like peer-buddy programs, social time, team rituals, and manager training in relational leadership will become key levers for engagement, well-being, and performance.
๐ Check out KPMGโs full report and see how friendships are becoming a form of workplace currency.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sept 16, Virtual - AIHR
How To Leverage OKRs & KPIs To Drive HR Impact
Align HR strategy with business priorities, measure what matters, and demonstrate HRโs true value.
Register ยป
Sept 22, Virtual - Gartner
Building AI Literacy to Ensure AI Business Value Realization
Learn how to deliver an AI literacy program that drives true AI business value realization.
Sign up ยป
Sept 23, Virtual - HR Morning
Payroll Masterclass: Whatโs Next in 2025
Transform your payroll function from a compliance necessity to a data-driven strategic advisor.
Attend the webinar ยป
HR TECH WATCH
๐ง A Review of SAP SuccessFactors HCM: Powering People Potential
Why we selected it: SAP SuccessFactors HCM offers AI-enabled, cloud-based tools that manage everything from payroll to talent planning, used by thousands of orgs globally.
Key features:
Unified HR Core & Payroll โ central HRIS, payroll, time & attendance in one system.ย
Talent-Management Suite โ recruiting, onboarding, learning, performance, compensation all built in.ย
AI & People Analytics โ scenario modelling, skills-based recommendations, workforce insights.ย
Adaptive Compliance & Updates โ auto-updates for legal/regulatory changes; field workforce via Fieldglass.
Pros:
All-in-one features - comprehensive end-to-end HR / people lifecycle coverage.
Strong analytics - supports evidence-based decision-making.
AI-powered features - enhance employee development and self-service.
Global scale - supports many countries, legal environments.
Reliable vendor -ย proven customer stories from reputable brands.
Cons:
Cost - can be complex & costly to implement for smaller orgs.
Customization - may require dedicated internal resources or consulting for setup/customization.
Complexity - some features might have steep learning curves for HR teams new to integrated AI tools.
HRAddict rating: โ
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โ 4.0
SAP SuccessFactors HCM is a robust, globally trusted HCM suite that unifies HR, talent, analytics, and compliance so organizations can scale with insight and agility.
This is an independent review using aggregated insights and publicly available data.
BREAKROOM
SMART READS
๐จ Tips & Policies for Tattoos in the Workplace
๐ช Conducting an Effective Exit Interview
โจ Employee Relations: The Key Skills Required
QUICK POLL
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