⏱ HR Time-Savers, Google’s 60-hr Workweek Push, AI Kills Busywork - Jul 11, 2025

Hey, HR Pros! 👋 It’s HR Time-Savers Friday—because who wants to be chasing timesheets on a Friday? Stay ahead before the weekend and save yourself from “Where’s that file?” moments…

On today’s agenda:

⏱ HR time-savers

🗓️ Google’s 60-hr push

👀 Employee warning template

🦾 AI kills busywork — report

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

⏱ HR Time-Savers: Simple Ways to Get More Done Before the Weekend

You made it to Friday—but is your to-do list still clinging to Monday? HR pros everywhere know the week can fly by in a blur of emails, approvals, and “quick chats.” Before the weekend sneaks up, here’s how to save time without cutting corners.

🚨 The situation: Endless admin, zero time… You’re not imagining it—HR is more manual than it should be. A 2025 workplace survey by Finch found that employees spend at least 4 hrs on manual tasks each week, which is inefficient and can lead to errors. This also contributes to operational costs rising and exceeding $8B each year. Yikes.

That’s time you could spend analyzing engagement data or, let’s be honest, actually taking your lunch break.

✅ What HR can do: Time-saving moves that work… Speed things up with tools and tactics that do the grunt work.

• Use automated workflows for onboarding and exit checklists (no more chasing forms)

• Add smart calendars and e-signature tools to your stack

• Try weekly “HR Power Hour” blocks for batch-processing routine tasks

• Leverage modern tech and tools to streamline and speed up work process

Don’t just work hard—work smart. Because no one wants to end Friday wondering where the week went.

👉 Explore 2025s top-rated HR tools »

👉 AI is transforming work—and redefining who gets hired, promoted, and paid

🚀 1 in 4 workers already earn more thanks to AI skills. Over half say AI fluency unlocked promotions, yet only 19% of companies have updated pay practices. Is your team ready? Get The AI Productivity Shift now.

🏥 VA Shrinks Staff by 30K - HR Katha

• What’s unfolding: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has quietly reduced its workforce by nearly 30,000 employees through natural attrition, early retirements, and a hiring freeze—far fewer than originally projected, but still significant.

• Why it matters: HR leaders should take note: gradual reductions can still trigger burnout, low morale, and service disruption. It’s critical to evaluate current workloads, gather employee feedback via pulse surveys, and proactively revise workforce planning before additional strain sets in.

• What’s unfolding: Google co-founder Sergey Brin is pushing for staff to commit to 60-hour workweeks and be in-office on weekdays to win the AI arms race against rivals.

• Why it matters: While some teams may see this as a rally cry, HR pros should treat it as a cautionary signal. It’s important to reexamine workweek expectations, reinforce healthy PTO use, and ensure employee wellness policies are active and enforced to avoid burnout.

• What’s unfolding: Recruit Holdings, a leader in HR tech, cut 1,300 jobs this year—including teams in HR, sustainability, and research—as part of a sweeping AI-first restructuring strategy.

• Why it matters: This marks a major shift in how AI is reshaping the HR tech industry—and internal HR functions. Now is the time to assess which roles are vulnerable to automation, invest in upskilling, and transparently communicate changes to maintain employee trust and engagement.

COMPLIANCE CORNER

• What’s unfolding: The IRS is losing contact representatives amid rising tax complexity due to tariffs and global changes, creating delays and increased error risk in business tax reviews.

• HR implications: Payroll and finance teams should expect slower responses from the IRS and more self-auditing pressure. HR should work closely with payroll/finance to ensure tax filings are watertight.

• What’s unfolding: Tennessee dissolves their Human Rights Commission and transfers duties to newly created bodies. Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED) will be handling civil rights claims after June 30.

• HR implications: HR pros now need to reroute state-level complaints to CRED and ensure any filings before July 1 remain active—review processes and update policies to reflect the oversight shift.

• What’s unfolding: In Trump v. Casa, the Supreme Court limits federal courts authority on issuing nationwide injunctions, which could increase compliance risks for employers operating in multiple states.

• HR implications: With compliance outcomes varying by jurisdiction, multi-state employers must review policies locally and enhance legal monitoring. HR should consult counsel on potential class-action exposure and stay alert to state-by-state regulatory shifts.

WEEKLY GOODY

👀 Employee Warnings Made Easy Easier

Giving a warning isn’t easy, but it’s key to addressing issues and driving change. This Employee Warning Notice Template makes it simple to document everything clearly and professionally. Grab your free download:

BREAKROOM

📬 Missed Wednesday’s issue on ‘Payroll Health Mini-Audit’? Read it »