Hi, People Leaders! ๐ We're almost halfway through the year. Between engagement goals and meeting overload, itโs the ideal time for a quick momentum calibration before Q3 sneaks up.
In this issue:
๐ฎ Predictive interviewing
๐งฉ The overlooked sandwich generation
CULTURE CUE
๐งญ Pre-Q3 Alignment โ Run a "Keep, Cut, Create" exercise. Ask your team to identify one process to keep, one to eliminate, and one fresh idea to try in Q3.
THE HR SPOTLIGHT
Mid-Year Pit Stop: Is Your Team Running on Momentum or Muscle Memory?
Mid-year is more than a calendar milestoneโit's a pit stop. According to Gallup's latest State of the Global Workplace 2026 report, employee engagement fell to 20๏ผ globally in 2025, its lowest level since 2020, with declining manager engagement driving much of the drop. If engagement is slipping, itโs the time to catch it before Q3 arrives. Read the study:ย
The Mid-Year Blind Spot โ Many organizations spend weeks planning annual goals, then don't pause to see whether those goals still make sense six months later:
Priorities have shifted, but objectives haven't.
Teams are busy but unsure what matters most.
Managers are stretched thin and running on autopilot.
Employee feedback sits in survey reports instead of conversations.
Think of it as a GPS that hasn't recalculated after three unexpected detours.
The Momentum Reset โ A mid-year HR check-in doesn't need another lengthy survey. Instead:
Revisit goals and remove what's no longer relevant.
Ask managers where teams are feeling friction.
Review engagement, turnover, and absenteeism trends.
Identify one or two priorities for the second halfโnot ten.
Sometimes the most productive thing HR can do is stop adding initiatives and start clearing clutter.
TOGETHER WITH SHRM
82๏ผ of Engaged Leaders Outperform the Company Average
Are you seeing inconsistent leadership and slow execution across your organization?ย
SHRMโs research confirms leadership and manager development as the top HR priority for 2026, yet many companies still develop leaders one at a timeโleading to fragmented impact and missed opportunities.ย
The SHRM Linkage Leadership Institute offers aย cohort-based experienceย designed for teams.ย Attendees gainย actionable insights, shared frameworks, and practical skillsย through immersive assessments and peer learning. When teams attend together, they returnย aligned, energized, and ready to drive results.ย
THE HR PULSE
๐ AI-Fluent Employees Climb Faster โ Randstad
Whatโs unfolding:ย Recent research found that U.S. professionals with AI skills are earning promotions 3.5 times faster than their peers, making AI fluency a growing career advantage.
Why it matters: HR teams that don't expand AI learning opportunities risk widening skill and advancement gaps. Building AI development into training plans can help keep talent competitive.
๐งฉ Benefits Missing the Sandwich Generation โ LegalShield
Whatโs unfolding: Many benefits programs still overlook employees caring for both children and aging parents, leaving a growing group under increased pressure.
Why it matters: Caregiving strain can fuel burnout and turnover in organizations with affected employees. Reviewing flexibility, leave, and caregiver support can help retain experienced employees.
๐ Employers Eye Benefits Changes โ YahooFinance
Whatโs unfolding: Nearly half of large employers are considering benefits changes as healthcare costs continue to rise.
Why it matters: Poorly communicated changes can hurt trust. For businesses considering the move, HR should prioritize clear messaging and employee education before rolling out updates.
FLASH VOTE
If you could solve one HR challenge tomorrow, what would it be?
FUTURE FOCUS
The Rise of Predictive Interviewing
Whatโs emerging: Hiring assessments are moving beyond measuring current skills to predicting future performance. Criteria Corp has expanded its Talent Signal platform with predictive interviewing tools designed to evaluate candidates' likelihood of success in increasingly AI-driven workplaces. The broader trend points toward more data-backed hiring decisions that blend human judgment with predictive analytics.
Why it matters: As hiring becomes more competitive and costly, organizations are looking for ways to improve quality-of-hire while reducing bias and guesswork. Predictive interviewing could help HR teams identify high-potential candidates who may be overlooked by traditional screening methods.
How it will impact HR: HR professionals will need to become more comfortable interpreting hiring data and validating AI-assisted recommendations. Recruiting processes may shift toward skills, potential, and future adaptability rather than relying heavily on resumes, experience, or interview impressions alone.
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 23, Virtual - FromDayOne
Hiring in a Resource-Constrained World
Improve hiring outcomes and help teams make better use of limited resources.
Attend webinar ยป
June 24, In-Person (Leeds) - EBClub
The Employer Branding Club
Community, conversation and content to inspire and elevate the HR profession.
Event details ยป
July 13-15, In-Person (Boston) - WB Research
HR Healthcare Conference
Gain insights from healthcare HR practitioners sharing real strategies to strengthen workforces.
Read more ยป
BREAKROOM
SMART READS
๐ต Effects of Poor Management at Work
๐ฏ How to Navigate HR Budgeting
๐ก 20 Fun Team Meeting Ideas for Engagement
โ Created with care by Vivienne Ravana
P.S. Unlock our HR Prompts collection when you refer a friend to subscribe to HRAddict. Click to share ยป
