Hi, Workforce Wizards! ๐ช Everyone can claim star power, but can they perform? Find out how you can put AI skills to the test and separate confident claims from workplace-ready capability.
In this issue:
๐ Verifying AI skills
๐ผ More Americans polyworking
๐๏ธ Gartnerโs Xpoโข
โ WEEKLY GOODY
Employee Training Plan
This weekโs HR goody โ less guesswork, more time to focus on getting the details right.
Only available for download to subscribers.
โ THE HR SPOTLIGHT - People problems, solved
Self-Reported AI Skills vs. Reality: Can Your Workforce Deliver?
AI skills are becoming harder to verify. According to WGUโs 2026 Workforce Decoded Report, 60๏ผ of surveyed US hiring professionals say AI makes it harder to assess candidatesโ real skills. For HR, the challenge doesnโt end at hiring.
Turn Claims to Proven Skills โ Self-reported confidence and frequent AI use donโt always prove someone can use these tools well. HR can get a clearer picture by:
Measure outcomes, not logins. Track productivity, error rates, rework, and cycle timeโnot just AI usage or confidence.
Set a baseline. Record workflow performance before AI adoption to measure real improvements afterward.
Be transparent. Tell employees which AI skills youโll assess and how, so expectations are clear.
Use practical demos. Have employees complete a short, job-related task with AI to show their skills inaction.
Apply consistent standards. Use the same tasks and scoring criteria for everyone in the same role.
Keep humans involved. Combine test results with manager insights on workload, experience, and training.
Turn gaps into growth. Provide targeted training when assessments reveal skill gaps, helping employees build confidence and capability.
For leaders, your job isnโt to find out who can write the cleverest prompt; itโs to see who can use AI responsibly to improve real work.
๐ See the full verification guide ยป
โ TOGETHER WITH - iSpring
The Leadership Skill Nobody Trains For
Great leaders aren't just strategic โ they stay composed under pressure and read what's really happening in the room. In this free webinar on November 4th at 6:00 PM EST, behavioral scientist Dr. Abbie Maroรฑo shows how to regulate your own reactions before emotion overrides judgment, recognize shifts in engagement and resistance in others, and redirect tense conversations toward trust and better outcomesโฏ
โ CULTURE CUE
The Help-Me Map ๐บ๏ธ โ Have each teammate share one thing they can help others with and one area where they'd welcome help. Create a simple team skill-sharing list.
โ THE HR PULSE - Whatโs shaping the workplace
๐ผ More Americans Are โPolyworkingโ โ USAToday
Whatโs unfolding:ย More workers are taking multiple jobs to boost incomes, build skills, and gain financial security.
Why it matters: HR should review outside-work policies and consider whether pay, flexibility, and workloads are contributing to employee burnout.
โ Unions Muscling Their Way Back โ TheTelegraph
Whatโs unfolding: New UK rules are expanding unionsโ accessibility to workers, including through workplace meetings and digital communications.
Why it matters: US HR teams can take this as a cue to strengthen employee communication, address concerns early, and monitor evolving labor-relations trends.
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง Men Take More Caregiving Leave โ InsuranceBusiness
Whatโs unfolding: A report from The Standard reveals a gap between HRโs assumptions about caregiving leave and employeesโ reported experiences, with men reporting higher usage in several categories.
Why it matters: HR can review leave data, improve benefits communication, and plan staffing around actual usage rather than gender-based assumptions.
โ WEEKLY GOODY
Your Shortcut to a More Organized Employee Handbook
This free employee handbook template gives you a practical framework, essential policy sections, and adaptable language to help you create a handbook that reflects how your organization works. Simply customize the content to fit your company culture, day-to-day processes, and applicable compliance requirements.
Only available for download to subscribers.
โ FLASH VOTE - The community weigh-in
What's taking up the most space on your HR year-end to-do list?
โ UPCOMING EVENTS - To learn, network & thrive
| OCT |
| 25-28 |
Oct 25-28, In-Person/Virtual (Louisiana) - IFEBP
Employee Benefits Conference
A program centered on rewards topics relevant to today's workforce.
Join the conference ยป
| OCT |
| 26-28 |
Oct 26-28, In-Person (Florida) - Gartner
Gartnerโs HR Symposium/Xpoโข
Tackle priorities on the new human-AI workforce and navigate shifting skills requirements.
Explore the agenda ยป
| NOV |
| 4 |
Nov 4, In-Person (California) - FromDayOne
LA Live 2026: People & HR
Eplore new frontiers in talent management, L&D, employee well-being, total rewards, and inclusion.
See event details ยป
โ BREAKROOM - Your virtual watercooler
โ SMART READS - Worth bookmarking
๐ Navigating Global Payroll Pitfalls
๐ How Employers View Non-Traditional Education
๐ Signs & Examples of Toxic Work Culture
A note from the editor
We're halfway through the week! Take it as chance to pause, take stock, and adjust course where needed. We hope this issue gives you an encouraging nudge toward a more fruitful, people-centered rest of the week. Think we missed a beat? Drop us a reply.
โ Created with care by Vivienne Ravana
P.S. Master the behavioral science behind leadership. Join iSpringโs free webinar.
