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- đ Role Reversal Exercises, Employee Growth Plan, Criterion Review - Sep 8, 2025
đ Role Reversal Exercises, Employee Growth Plan, Criterion Review - Sep 8, 2025
Swap and learn from role reversals, your Employee Development Plan template, a review of Criterionâs HR tech, plus more workplace scoop inside ...
Hello there, HR Rockstars! đââïž Itâs National Boss & Employee Exchange Day. Ever wonder how it feels to swap shoes with your team (or your boss)? Role reversals reveal more than HR memosâletâs dig in.
On todayâs agenda:
đ Swapping roles and insights
đ A review of Criterion HCM
đ Manager shortage = productivity slowdown
 | WEEKLY GOODY |
THE HR SPOTLIGHT
đ Surprising Lessons from Role Reversal This Exchange Day
This National Boss/Employee Exchange Day is more than noveltyâitâs a reminder that empathy fuels productivity and retention. With unempathetic U.S. workplaces risking $180B in turnover costs this year (BusinesSolver), perspective matters.
â ïž The situation:
Employees are 1.5Ă more likely to quit under unsympathetic leaders, while empathetic managers boost productivityâespecially in hybrid teams (HR Dive).
đ What HR can do: Swap roles, swap insights
Pick pairs of managers and employees. Swap a task, meeting, or responsibility for 30 minutes. Afterward, debrief by sharing what was hardest, most surprising, and what could change.
đ HR lessons:
Hidden Workloads Surface: Managers see unseen challenges.
Fresh Ideas Spark: Employees spot new ways forward.
Trust Deepens: Both sides gain respect and accountability.
Champion empathy today. Because nobody ever learned how to leadâuntil they tried being led.
đŁïž Tap into smart leadership insights and learn How to be a Good Boss »
WEEKLY STEAL
đ Your Employee Growth Plan: The SMART Goals Toolkit for Team Success
Turn good intentions into real results with HRAddictâs SMART Goals Employee Development Plan â redesigned for the modern workplace.
â Ignite Engagement & Focus: Guide your team to set goals that inspire action and deliver measurable impact.
â SMART, Simplified: Break big ambitions into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound steps that stick.
â Fuel Career Growth: Build accountability, clarity, and momentum for lasting employee development.
â Fits Every Team: From fast-growing startups to established enterprises, this ready-to-use toolkit adapts to your needs.
đ Help your team stay sharp, aligned, and motivated.
TODAYâS CULTURE CUE
đĄLead by Listening - Invite team members to share what support they need most this week. Listening closely builds empathy and uncovers easy ways to help.
THE HR PULSE
đ€ OpenAI Plays Matchmaker - JoshBersin
Whatâs unfolding: OpenAI has launched "Jobs Platform" to shake up recruiting by pairing job search with AI skill-building and certificationsâall integrated into ChatGPTâs Study mode.
Why it matters: This signals a shift where HR must navigate AI-powered talent matchmaking. Lean into reskilling programs and AI fluency for both managers and employees.
â° Microsoftâs Wake-Up Call - HR Grapevine
Whatâs unfolding: A Microsoft engineer tragically passed away after collapsing on campus, prompting urgent calls to address overwork and crushing work hours.
Why it matters: Employee well-being isnât optional. For HR leaders, itâs critical to enforce boundariesâthink no-email hours and workload audits. Investing in preventive care now can avert deeper crises later.
đŒ The âGreat Stayâ Settles In - Entrepreneur
Whatâs unfolding: The buzz of the âGreat Resignationâ has all but vanished. Now, 2025 brings the âGreat Stay,â with low turnover everywhereâworkers are holding onto their roles instead of jumping ship.
Why it matters: Stability is good, but could spell stagnation. Reinvigorate internal mobility and engagement by celebrating internal promotions and spotlighting career pathwaysâso staying put feels like growth, not a rut.
RESOURCE ROUNDUP
 | Living HR |
 | Factorial HR |
 | HR Zone |
COMPLIANCE CORNER
đš Workers Detained During Hyundai-LG Raid - The Korea Herald
Whatâs unfolding: Hyundai & LG brands are scrambling after U.S. immigration agents detained dozens of direct employees and hundreds of contractor workers at a battery facility, raising labor and legal alarm.
HR implications: HR teams must urgently audit immigration documentation and reinforce compliance training to prevent operational disruption and reputational risk, while providing clear support channels to affected employees.
đ Green Card Rules Get Tougher - Economic Times
Whatâs unfolding: Further Trumpâera reforms set to take effect in 2026 will redefine what constitutes a âbona fide job offerâ for employerâsponsored green cards, increasing scrutiny and compliance burdens for companies.
HR implications: HR leaders should review their visa sponsorship processes now, prepare for more documentation and potential audits, and consult immigration counsel to ensure smooth continuation of foreign talent hiring.
âïž Gender Pay Gap Sparks Equal Pay Lawsuit - HRâŻMorning
Whatâs unfolding: A senior business analyst in Memphis claims she was paid $18,000 less than a similarly situated male colleague, prompting an EEOC equal-pay complaint and calling attention to a significant pay disparity.
HR implications: This case underscores the urgent need for HR to proactively audit pay equity, adjust compensation gaps swiftly, and reinforce transparent salary structures to avoid legal exposure and morale issues.
TREND WATCH
đ Middle Managers Shortage Threatens Productivity
Digesting the data: Recent research from Firstup warns that slimming down middle management layers is leading to a communication crisis. When managers vanish, their teams lose more than oversightâthey lose clarity, trust, and guidance.
A Korn Ferry survey found that 41ïŒ of companies are actively trimming those crucial layers. One fallout: senior leaders get pulled into day-to-day firefighting, diverting their energy from strategy and innovationâeven as employee turnover risks mount.
Outlook for HR: For HR leaders, the message is clear: donât let âleanâ equate to âlost.â Preserving middle management roles can restore crucial connection and consistency. Build stronger communication bridges to support structures that keep your frontline aligned with leadership. Remember, people donât quit jobsâthey quit managers.
đ° Read the full reportâbefore your managers do a vanishing act.
UPCOMING EVENTS
 | Sept 11, Virtual - HR Solutions |
 | Sept 11, In-Person (Los Angeles, CA) - CenterForce |
 | Sept 15-17, In-Person (Fort Lauderdale, FL) - Appspace |
HR TECH WATCH
đ A Review of Criterion HCM: HR Power Meets Midmarket Flexibility
Why we selected it: Criterion HCM is a cloud-based HR platform designed for mid-sized organizations, offering a user-friendly interface and comprehensive features that streamline HR, payroll, and talent engagement processes.
Key features:
Unified Cloud Database: Centralizes HR, payroll, and talent data for seamless integration and access.
Advanced Analytics & Reporting: Provides customizable dashboards and real-time insights to inform decision-making.
Mobile Accessibility: Offers iOS and Android apps for on-the-go access to HR functions.
ch. ai HR Intelligence: Integrates AI tools to enhance efficiency and user experience.
Pros:
| Cons:
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HRAddict rating: â
â
â
â
â 4.4
Criterion HCM offers a flexible and scalable HR solution tailored for mid-sized companies, combining enterprise-level functionality with ease of use and affordability.
This is an independent review using aggregated insights and publicly available data.
BREAKROOM
SMART READS
đ§ââïž How to Fix Your Remote Teamâs Focus
đ° Compensation & Benefits: HRâs 2025 Guide
đ„ïž 2025âs Best HR Software
QUICK POLL
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