Happy World Humanitarian Day, Culture Guardians! 😇 This is a timely reminder to care for the humans doing the heavy lifting. If top performers keep inheriting “just one more thing,” it’s time to fix unpaid role creep.
In this issue:
🧩 Workforce planning [e-book]
🧑💻 Hiring strategy problem
◉ WEEKLY GOODY
Strategic Workforce Planning [e-book]
This week’s HR goody — move from reactive hiring to proactive workforce architecture.
Only available for download to subscribers.
◉ THE HR SPOTLIGHT
Correcting Unpaid Scope Creep Before Your Top Performers Quit
Top performers are often the first to say yes—and the first to take on “just one more thing.” A recent study on employee motivation found that 76％ of managers assign additional tasks monthly.
The Scope Creep Trap & How HR Can Correct It — High performers are prone to scope creep because they’re trusted, capable, and eager to prove themselves. But “stretch” work can become a second job. Warning signs: priorities pile up, ownership gets fuzzy, and goals slip.
HR and managers can:
Audit role scope quarterly. Ask, “What are you doing currently that wasn’t part of the original role?”
Trade, don’t stack. When adding a responsibility, remove, delegate, or delay something else.
Make growth explicit. If expanded duties are permanent, update the job description, goals, title, pay, or development path.
Watch the praise trap. “You’re the lone person who can do this” is flattering—but it’s not a workload strategy.
Pop in with top performers regularly to get a pulse before burnout makes the conversation a must.
Protecting your strongest people isn’t about limiting opportunities. You’re simply making sure it doesn’t become unpaid role creep and a reason for them to think about leaving.
◉ TOGETHER WITH - iSpring
Scenario-Based Learning: How to Create Decision-Driven Training with Branching
Scenario-based learning gives employees a safe way to practice workplace decisions, explore different responses, and learn from the outcomes.
Discover how to plan realistic scenarios, write credible choices and feedback, build them in iSpring Suite, and track learner performance.
◉ CULTURE CUE
Give Everyone One Growth Nudge 🌱 — Ask team members what skill they’d like to use more. Match one person with a project where they can practice it.
◉ THE HR PULSE - What’s shaping the workplace
🧑💻 Labor Shortage, a Hiring Strategy Problem? — WashingtonExaminer
What’s unfolding: The labor shortage is forcing employers to rethink traditional hiring approaches rather than simply competing harder for the same talent pool.
Why it matters: HR can respond by widening talent pipelines, reassessing rigid job requirements, and investing in skills development instead of relying on “post and pray” recruiting.
🏦 BofA Tightens WFH Rules — PeopleMatters
What’s unfolding: BankOfAmerica will stop eligible employees from taking remote days back-to-back starting mid-September, while keeping its three-days-in-office hybrid model.
Why it matters: HR teams should expect more scrutiny of hybrid rules and focus on clear, consistent scheduling policies that balance collaboration with employee flexibility.
👨💼 Young Men are Leaving the Workforce — WSJ
What’s unfolding: July data analyzed by Indeed shows women currently hold 176,000 more U.S. payroll jobs than men, reversing a long-standing gap.
Why it matters: Recruiters should examine where male participation is falling and whether their sourcing, job design, flexibility, or career pathways are unintentionally narrowing the talent pool.
◉ FLASH VOTE - The community weigh-in
Where does your team need the most guidance on managing AI?
LAST WEEK’S POLL:
◉ WEEKLY GOODY
Building a Resilient Talent Strategy: The Workforce Planning E-Book
Move from reactive hiring to proactive workforce architecture—without getting bogged down in theory. From scaling operations globally to leveraging the right metrics, uncover practical frameworks to align talent with business goals, navigate unpredictable market shifts, and build a strategy that holds up when real challenges hit.
Only available for download to subscribers.
◉ UPCOMING EVENTS - To learn, network & thrive
Aug 26-27, In-Person (Tokyo) - Gartner
Gartner Digital Workplace Summit 2026
The premier conference to help workplace leaders enhance digital employee experience.
Learn more »
Aug 30-Sept 2, In-Person (Florida) - SHRM FL
HR Florida Conference & Expo
Convene with HR pros and industry-leading vendors from across the US & around the world.
See details »
Sept 15-16, In-Person (Texas) - M-Media
Future of Work USA
Gather ideas, strategies & solutions for the changing world of work.
Attend event »
◉ BREAKROOM - Your virtual watercooler
◉ SMART READS - Worth bookmarking
🎓 How Employers View Non-Traditional Education
💻 Virtual Training Tips for Trainers
🚪 How to Fire an Employee Gracefully
— Created with care by Vivienne Ravana
P.S. How about a choose-your-own-adventure training module? iSpring’s got the guide you need.
