🎬 Summer Wrap-Up, HR Software Matches, Meta Pauses AI Hiring - Aug 22, 2025

In partnership with

Hello, HR Heroes! ⚡ As summer sunsets, let the lessons shine on retention, wellness & equity—while honoring the Int’l Day for Remembrance. Let’s wrap up, level up, and gear up for fall with sharper strategies.

On today’s agenda:

🎬 Wrapping up summer with HR lessons 

🔗 SSR’s HR software matching

🚪 Exit interview template

⏸️ Meta’s AI Hiring Pause

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

🎬 Summer Wrap-Up: Wins, Woes & Wisdom

Summer may be winding down, but HR never really takes a vacation. Between juggling PTO calendars, interns asking if shorts are “business casual,” and the eternal struggle to keep engagement up when half the team’s at the beach, there are plenty of lessons to take into fall. Let’s wrap up the season with what worked—and what fell flat—so you can sharpen your strategy before pumpkin spice season fully takes over.

📝 What worked (and what face-planted):

• Summer turnover spike: ADP’s data shows turnover soared to 3.56％ during summer vs. 3.14％ rest-of-year—prove it with data, shield future talent. (ADP)

• Campbell upskilling: SHRM reports that 81％ of employers currently use skills-based hiring, a jump from 56％ in 2022.  The best way to recruit smarter, not older résumés. (TestGorilla)

• Internships still key—but changing: NACE forecasts 7.3％ higher hiring for the Class of 2025 vs. ’24. (NACE) College talent still matters—just plan ahead.

Picture this: your intern hiring pitch is gold… until only 62％ got full-time offers—the lowest in 5 years (HR Dive). Ouch. But it screams: turn summer into conversion season.

📚 Summer lessons:

1. Turn data into power moves: use trends like summer turnover to front-load retention efforts

2. Level-up skills-based hiring = bigger talent pool, fewer degree gate-keeps

3. Internships are pipelines—don’t treat them like summer camp; convert, coach, commit

As sunburns fade, gear up for next season with these takeaways to strengthen your people strategies.

🎯 Ready to refocus and supercharge your team? Here are Simple but Effective Ways to Rebuild Your Team »

Tailored HR Software Recommendations for Your Organization

Choosing HR software can be overwhelming—with over 1,000+ tools on the market, it’s easy to spend days and still feel unsure.

That’s why thousands of HR teams rely on SSR’s HR software advisors. Instead of spending hundreds of hours on research and demos, you’ll get free 1:1 help from an HR software expert who understands your requirements and provides 2–3 tailored recommendations based on your unique needs.

Whether you're looking for an HRIS, ATS, or Payroll solution, we help you cut through the noise and make confident decisions—fast.

Why HR teams trust SSR HR Advisors:

✅ 100% free for HR teams
✅ Get 2-3 Tailored solutions from 1,000+ options
✅ 1:1 expert guidance from HR advisors
✅ Trusted by 15,000+ companies

From MIT to the Indianapolis Colts, smart HR teams trust SSR to find the right software—without the stress.

Get Your Free HR Software Matches

 💄 Beauty-Bootcamp Training - LBB Online

• What’s unfolding: NYX’s new campaign flips mandatory HR training on its head by adding fierce brows and sassy charm. This concept transforms dull compliance modules into Gen Z-friendly, fun beauty moments—because who says learning can’t come with style?

• Why it matters: HR pros should take notes: injecting personality and cultural relevance into compliance training can boost engagement and retention. When training feels expressive rather than obligatory, you get better participation.

• What’s unfolding: Meta has just frozen recruitment in its AI division following an aggressive, billion-dollar hiring and acquisition binge.

• Why it matters: Even bold hiring strategies need strategic pauses for evaluation. When talent budgets swell, it’s vital to assess fit, organizational structure, and long-term ROI to ensure sustainable growth and alignment.

• What’s unfolding: A recent report reveals that only 36％ of U.S. employees say their organization has a formal AI policy. Even fewer acknowledge their company actively monitors AI use.  

• Why it matters: This policy gap leaves organizations open to compliance breaches and data leaks. Establishing a clear AI usage policy plus clear communication is critical in balancing empowerment with protection.

COMPLIANCE CORNER

• What’s unfolding: A 59-year-old Amazon warehouse employee in NJ has filed an age bias lawsuit, alleging he was called “old man” and denied training—enough for a judge to allow parts of the case to move forward.

• HR implications: HR must proactively audit training access and workplace tone across age groups to prevent bias claims, ensuring inclusive development opportunities and respectful communication are in place.

• What’s unfolding: The DOL’s proposed FY 2026 budget aims to completely eliminate the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), shifting its enforcement duties to agencies like the EEOC and VETS.

• HR implications: Federal contractors must brace for compliance shifts—now is the time to stay vigilant, maintain affirmative action and veterans/disability reporting, and adapt to new monitoring channels.

• What’s unfolding: The DOL has quietly resurfaced discussions around joint-employer and independent-contractor rules, though concrete details remain hidden after relevant sections were taken offline.

• HR implications: HR leaders should monitor emerging guidance closely—reclassification risks may shift, so revisiting contracts and compliance frameworks now can safeguard against sudden enforcement changes.

WEEKLY GOODY

🚪Unlock Insights with Every Exit: HRAddict’s Exit Interview Form

Turn goodbye into growth! Our Exit Interview Form helps you capture honest feedback, streamline offboarding, and uncover actionable insights.

The more you understand departing employees, the better you can enhance the experience for your current team.

BREAKROOM

📬 Missed Wednesday’s issue on ‘Fall Roadmap’? Read it »