The EBN Dispatch

Employer Branding News (EBN)

Employer Branding News (EBN) comes to your ears with the same dry wit and disruptive insights you’ve come to expect from our articles and videos. We tackle the world of work, employer branding, recruitment, culture and everything in between, with a raised eyebrow and a data-backed argument. If you’re a company leader, HR rebel, or just someone who thinks ”culture fit” is a lazy excuse, you’re in the right feed. Each episode unpacks real-world employer brand moves, cuts through corporate speak, and challenges tired talent narratives. Less fluff, more facts. Occasionally funny. Always unfiltered.

  1. 18H AGO

    Perks, Proof, Pressure: The New Workplace Bargain | PAPER CUT

    The workplace bargain is shifting. Benefits tighten, measurement grows, and AI becomes a benchmark for hiring and expectations. This week covers culture as an operating system, AI framing and job design, burnout boundaries returning, hidden risk from shadow IT and workplace comms, plus The Cut List. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ Sources & Links Culture as operating system * https://employerbranding.news/employer-brand-culture-operating-system/ * https://employerbranding.news/what-i-learned-doing-recruitment-marketing-for-a-brand-nobody-wants-to-work-for/ * https://employerbranding.news/employer-branding-2026-new-bargain/ * https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-executives-jane-fraser-culture-transformation-investor-day-2026-5 * https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-investment-banking-vis-raghwavan-talent-hiring-2026-5 * https://www.ft.com/content/83d514d0-5553-4341-a225-02d8dd28ade3?syn-25a6b1a6=1 AI expectations and job design * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/linkedin-co-founder-reid-hoffman-has-a-reminder-for-everyone-on-ai-layoffs-its-important-not-to-ignore-/articleshow/130896300.cms * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-admits-that-company-is-slowing-hiring-and-the-reason-is-ai-says-if-every-person-at-this-company-can-increase-their-productivity-by-/articleshow/130901246.cms * https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/tesla-former-hr-chief-ai-133000481.html * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/as-accenture-announces-rolling-out-microsoft-copilot-to-743000-employees-ceo-julie-sweet-says-our-teams-are-/articleshow/130729934.cms * https://hbr.org/2026/05/research-why-you-shouldnt-treat-ai-agents-like-employees * https://www.cio.com/article/4165040/you-cant-train-your-way-out-of-the-ai-skills-gap.html * https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/06/five-architects-of-the-ai-economy-explain-where-the-wheels-are-coming-off/ * https://fortune.com/2026/05/07/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-two-people-wont-survive-ai-era-pure-people-managers-workers-resist-change/ * https://fortune.com/2026/05/04/google-employee-backlash-pentagon-ai-contract-power-waned-since-project-maven/ * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/google-uk-employees-in-letter-to-the-company-you-have-10-working-days-to-voluntarily-recognise-/articleshow/130868256.cms * https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/07/no-one-has-done-this-in-the-wild-study-observes-ai-replicate-itself Boundaries and pressure * https://www.fastcompany.com/91522203/the-end-of-the-always-available-professional-workplace-burnout-boundaries * https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2026/05/08/why-getting-more-done-at-work-is-creating-more-workplace-pressure/ * https://fortune.com/europe/article/what-gen-z-workers-say-is-on-time-vs-baby-boomers/ * https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/never-fall-in-love-with-your-work-gen-z-employee-shares-post-after-working-till-1-am-on-notice-period-13905318.html * https://www.economist.com/business/2026/05/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-commuting * https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/07/deepseek-and-alibaba-rescue-chinas-office-landlords * https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/dont-get-too-comfortable-your-quality-of-life-depends-on-it-a4440a85 Quiet risks * https://venturebeat.com/technology/hidden-it-problems-are-quietly-creating-risk-shadow-it-and-lost-productivity * https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-trial-exposes-truth-about-workplace-texts-2026-5 * https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/2026/05/07/use-of-artificial-intelligence-among-senior-civil-servants-increasingly-common/ * https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/fractional-future-work * https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543 The Cut List * https://fortune.com/2026/05/05/coinbase-layoffs-14-of-employees-ai-tech-ai-job-anxiety-crypto/ * https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-cuts-hundreds-of-jobs-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-2026-5 * https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-internal-document-shows-buyout-offers-to-us-employees-2026-5 * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/meta-hr-head-on-will-there-be-more-layoffs-after-8000-job-cuts-on-may-20-we-will-continue-to-/articleshow/130671338.cms

    4 min
  2. MAY 2

    Perks Down, Tracking Up: The New Deal at Work | PAPER CUT

    Benefits are being trimmed, AI adoption is being measured, and HR is stuck managing the fallout. This week: the perks rollback, scorecards and monitoring, the widening career divide for graduates, and The Cut List. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ Sources & Links Benefits rollback and work design * https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/28/parental-benefits-slashed-deloitte-zoom-impact * https://www.inc.com/kaylawebster/the-great-rollback-has-begun-deloitte-and-zoom-take-the-lead-in-slashing-the-most-coveted-benefits/91333534 * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/starting-january-1-deloitte-is-cutting-parental-leave-annual-pto-pension-plan-and-ivf-funding-for-some-employees-in-the-us-company-says-that-it-is-tailoring-benefits-to-better-align-/articleshow/130500258.cms * https://www.businessinsider.com/readers-weigh-in-story-parental-leave-pto-reduction-2026-4 * https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/26/four-day-workweek-employment * https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/5839816-hybrid-work-endures-2026/ * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/28/office-demand-real-estate.html AI measurement, monitoring, and leadership load * https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-tracks-ai-use-engineers-internal-friction-2026-4 * https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/metas-ai-experiment-shows-why-monitoring-employees-backfires-especially-with-gen-z/91337051 * https://hbr.org/2026/04/when-creating-an-ai-strategy-dont-overlook-employee-perception * https://fortune.com/2026/04/26/how-ai-causes-brain-drain-cognitive-load-neuroleadership/ * https://fortune.com/2026/04/28/nvidia-executive-cost-of-ai-is-greater-than-cost-of-employees/ * https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/why-replacing-workers-with-ai-may-be-the-biggest-mistake-leaders-can-make/91333175 Careers and the widening divide * https://www.hrdive.com/news/1-in-5-recent-grads-say-theyre-overqualified/818244/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all * https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2026/04/27/the-new-ai-career-divide-is-already-starting-to-show/ * https://www.inc.com/netta-jenkins/why-skilled-trades-are-becoming-more-secure-careers-in-the-age-of-ai/91329211 * https://www.businessinsider.com/cs-professor-explains-changes-software-engineering-ai-2026-4 * https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-04-28/uk-graduates-turn-to-emergency-degrees-to-ride-out-jobs-crisis * https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/04/27/most-degrees-obsolete-upon-graduation-singapore-academic-says * https://fortune.com/2026/04/26/meta-salesforce-exec-ai-agents-gen-z-jobs-nonprofit/ * https://www.businessinsider.com/how-aging-ai-reshaping-job-market-2026-4 HR accountability and governance * https://www.hrdive.com/news/4-lawsuits-alleging-next-level-hr-misbehavior/818578/ * https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/ceos-downplay-staff-discontent-leaving-hr-to-manage-the-fallout/572574 * https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/are-companies-quiet-quitting-dei-2026-04-28/ * https://fortune.com/2026/04/27/hr-leaders-are-going-quiet-on-the-topics-that-matter-most-this-author-has-a-fix/ * https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/workplace-ikigai/how-are-kpis-scorecards-for-chros-evolving/130567659 * https://www.fastcompany.com/91529962/no-you-cant-upskill-your-culture-but-you-can-upskill-your-leaders * https://www.businessinsider.com/brene-brown-interview-silicon-valley-bad-bosses-2026-4 * https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/i-am-a-human-not-a-robot-employees-simple-reply-to-extra-work-hours-leaves-boss-speechless/articleshow/130496297.cms * https://www.smartbrief.com/original/why-managers-feel-stuck-between-process-and-people The Cut List * https://www.wsj.com/cfo-journal/kpmg-to-lay-off-4-of-u-s-advisory-workforce-ed166153 * https://fortune.com/2026/04/26/why-did-microsoft-do-buyouts-layoffs-tech-workers/ * https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/technology/ai-exposed-firms-cut-4-jobs-car-sector-hardest-hit-morgan-stanley-report * https://www.businessinsider.com/us-job-market-disturbing-pattern-corporate-profits-jim-paulsen-2026-4 * https://www.fastcompany.com/91532920/jpmorgan-chase-data-center-gets-tax-breaks-creates-1-full-time-job

    4 min
  3. APR 25

    The Rework Tax: why workplace AI is losing trust | PAPER CUT

    Workplace AI is turning into a rework tax. Employees opt out, gains vanish into error-fixing, and leaders respond with dashboards, monitoring, and performance rules. Plus the early-career squeeze, remote work resistance, and this week’s Cut List. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ Sources & Links AI adoption, trust, and rework * https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/as-ai-use-increases-at-work-many-employees-still-choose-not-to-use-it-gallup-poll-10633705/ * https://hbr.org/2026/04/when-creating-an-ai-strategy-dont-overlook-employee-perception * https://www.cio.com/article/4157471/40-of-ai-productivity-gains-lost-to-rework-for-errors.html * https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/14/ai-productivity-workplace-errors * https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2026/04/12/why-ai-at-work-often-creates-more-work-instead-of-saving-time/ * https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-problem-is-not-ais-capability-what-wont-improve-on-its-own-is-the-human-side-major-study-claims-white-collar-workers-are-fighting-back-against-ai-in-the-workplace * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/amazon-internal-document-reportedly-points-to-an-ai-mess-says-ai-is-making-our/articleshow/130366600.cms AI in the employee lifecycle * https://www.businessinsider.com/ey-talent-chief-ai-changing-employee-recruitment-evaluations-promotions-careers-2026-4 * https://fortune.com/2026/04/13/duolingo-ceo-luis-von-ahn-ai-usage-requirement-employee-performance-evaluations/ * https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-ai-adoption-dashboard-tokens-tokenmaxxing-claude-cursor-josh-damaro-2026-4 * https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-enters-ai-training-market-challenges-startups-2026-4 Monitoring and governance * https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/meta-start-capturing-employee-mouse-movements-keystrokes-ai-training-data-2026-04-21/ * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-to-all-employees-in-america-we-are-installing-tracking-software-in-your-machines-as-we-need-your-help-to-/articleshow/130424722.cms * https://fortune.com/2026/04/13/ai-agents-governance-identity-risk-okta/ Early career and hiring * https://www.hrdive.com/news/1-in-5-recent-grads-say-theyre-overqualified/818244/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all * https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/12/college-graduates-job-market-ai * https://www.cbsnews.com/news/artificial-intelligence-entry-level-role-linkedin-study/ * https://theconversation.com/employment-data-shows-the-early-signs-of-ai-job-disruption-are-already-here-280273 * https://www.thehrdirector.com/business-news/recruitment/ghosting-become-illegal-ontario/ Work design and leadership * https://theconversation.com/as-the-world-faces-yet-another-crisis-why-are-leaders-still-resisting-remote-work-280870 * https://theconversation.com/the-old-adage-that-people-leave-managers-not-companies-is-true-but-only-up-to-a-point-280879 * https://www.inc.com/kaylawebster/the-great-rollback-has-begun-deloitte-and-zoom-take-the-lead-in-slashing-the-most-coveted-benefits/91333534 * https://fortune.com/2026/04/22/work-life-balance-bupa-fortune-500-ceo-barack-obama-work-weekend/ The Cut List * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/disney-layoffs-ceo-josh-damaro.html * https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-layoffs-memo-marketing-team-chief-brand-officer-asad-ayaz-2026-4 * https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-layoffs-severance-employees-marketing-team-josh-damaro-2026-4 * https://www.reuters.com/world/meta-targets-may-20-first-wave-layoffs-additional-cuts-later-2026-2026-04-17/ * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/23/microsoft-plans-first-voluntary-retirement-program-for-us-employees.html * https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-layoffs-ai-read-memo-snapchat-2026-4 * https://www.wsj.com/business/has-the-era-of-the-mega-layoff-arrived-928f061d * https://www.inc.com/bruce-crumley/if-ai-isnt-ready-to-replace-workers-why-are-companies-cutting-jobs-anyway/91320511

    4 min
  4. APR 18

    AI Trust Collapse | PAPER CUT

    AI at work is turning into a trust problem. Employees are opting out, productivity gains are being lost to rework, and leaders are tying AI to pay and performance. Plus EU pay transparency rules, identity governance risks, and this week’s Cut List. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ Sources & Links Adoption, perception, and rework • https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/as-ai-use-increases-at-work-many-employees-still-choose-not-to-use-it-gallup-poll-10633705/ • https://hbr.org/2026/04/when-creating-an-ai-strategy-dont-overlook-employee-perception • https://www.cio.com/article/4157471/40-of-ai-productivity-gains-lost-to-rework-for-errors.html • https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/14/ai-productivity-workplace-errors • https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-problem-is-not-ais-capability-what-wont-improve-on-its-own-is-the-human-side-major-study-claims-white-collar-workers-are-fighting-back-against-ai-in-the-workplace AI in the employee lifecycle • https://www.businessinsider.com/ey-talent-chief-ai-changing-employee-recruitment-evaluations-promotions-careers-2026-4 • https://fortune.com/2026/04/13/duolingo-ceo-luis-von-ahn-ai-usage-requirement-employee-performance-evaluations/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-enters-ai-training-market-challenges-startups-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/deloitte-cuts-down-benefits-for-some-workers-big-four-ai-2026-4 • https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/how-this-company-is-using-mariah-carey-to-filter-out-excessive-job-applications/571948?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.inc.com/rebecca-hoeft/your-employees-experience-the-brand-before-customers-do/91328206 Transparency and work design • https://www.iamexpat.de/career/employment-news/new-eu-law-means-employers-must-disclose-salary-hiring-process • https://hbr.org/2026/04/whats-stopping-the-4-day-workweek • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202604/3-ways-remote-work-exposes-people-pleasing-habits Identity and integrity risk • https://fortune.com/2026/04/13/ai-agents-governance-identity-risk-okta/ • https://www.okta.com/blog/ai/ai-agent-identity-governance/ • https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/mercor-training-ai-human-jobs-hack • https://theconversation.com/industries-most-exposed-to-ai-are-not-only-seeing-productivity-gains-but-jobs-and-wage-growth-too-224487 • https://futurism.com/future-society/economist-ai-job-forecast • https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-automation-replacement The Cut List • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/disney-layoffs-ceo-josh-damaro.html • https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-layoffs-memo-marketing-team-chief-brand-officer-asad-ayaz-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-layoffs-severance-employees-marketing-team-josh-damaro-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-layoffs-ai-read-memo-snapchat-2026-4 • https://www.wsj.com/business/has-the-era-of-the-mega-layoff-arrived-928f061d • https://www.inc.com/bruce-crumley/if-ai-isnt-ready-to-replace-workers-why-are-companies-cutting-jobs-anyway/91320511 • https://www.peoplematters.in/news/strategic-hr/oracle-layoffs-targeted-employees-with-pending-stock-payouts-claims-former-worker-49216 • https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/business/ibm-settlement-dei-lawsuit • https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/ibm-agrees-pay-us-17m-164541919.html

    7 min
  5. APR 13

    Gen Z Sabotage Meets the Megamanager Era | PAPER CUT

    Gen Z backlash is colliding with flatter orgs and wider spans. Manager engagement is slipping, entry-level routes are tightening, and HR is experimenting with AI in pay decisions while fairness scrutiny rises. The trust gap is the story. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ Sources & Links Engagement, managers, and motivation • https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx • https://www.hrdive.com/news/engagement-among-managers-is-slipping-affecting-ai-use-gallup/817069/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.hrdive.com/news/us-workers-quitting-at-lowest-level-in-a-decade/817114/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.predictiveindex.com/learn/talent-optimization/resources/ebooks/motivation-at-work-report/ • https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/employees-start-motivated-but-meaning-trust-and-job-fit-are-quickly-eroding-that-spark/571290?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all Backlash, flattening, and AI trust • https://fortune.com/2026/04/08/gen-z-workers-sabotage-ai-rollout-backlash/ • https://fortune.com/2026/04/07/megamanager-era-how-many-direct-reports-ai-middle-management/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-block-managers-player-coaches-org-leads-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/mckinsey-ai-agents-mangement-leadership-great-flattening-2026-4 • https://www.businessinsider.com/anthropic-open-culture-employees-argue-ceo-dario-amodei-slack-2026-4 • https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-says-copilot-is-for-entertainment-purposes-only-not-serious-use-firm-pushing-ai-hard-to-consumers-tells-users-not-to-rely-on-it-for-important-advice Entry-level and education shifts • https://rankings.newsweek.com/americas-greatest-workplaces-for-entry-level-2026?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.businessinsider.com/college-students-changing-majors-because-of-ai-2026-4 • https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-college-students-homogenized • https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/07/economy/ai-job-losses-long-term-effects • https://fortune.com/article/yoshua-bengio-ai-replace-every-job-trade-jobs-plumbing-warning/ Pay, fairness, and HR systems • https://www.hrdive.com/news/hr-teams-cautiously-experiment-ai-setting-worker-pay/817015/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/diversity-inclusion/class-action-accuses-amazon-of-using-hr-systems-to-shortchange-women/571273?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.usbank.com/investing/financial-perspectives/market-news/effect-of-job-market-on-the-economy.html?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all The Cut List • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/disney-layoffs-ceo-josh-damaro.html • https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/tech-industry-lays-off-nearly-80-000-employees-in-the-first-quarter-of-2026-almost-50-percent-of-affected-positions-cut-due-to-ai • https://www.peoplematters.in/news/strategic-hr/amazon-to-cut-14000-jobs-across-aws-retail-and-hr-in-may-2026-report-49149 • https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/07/economy/ai-job-losses-long-term-effects ⸻ #EmployerBranding #HR #AI #GenZ #Leadership #Compensation #TalentStrategy #Layoffs

    4 min
  6. APR 4

    Oracle’s 6AM Email Economy | PAPER CUT

    Oracle’s “significant” job cuts have turned AI infrastructure into a global workforce story. This week: what the Oracle layoffs reveal about modern comms and control, why AI skills earn premiums while engagement slips, ILO “white-collar bypass” risk, and why identity may be the real AI threat at work. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ Sources & Links Oracle layoffs and AI spending • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm296jzzl9yo • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/31/oracle-layoffs-ai-spending.html • https://thenextweb.com/news/oracle-layoffs-march-2026 • https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/oracle-layoffs-ai-22175253.php • https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/2026/partners-oracle-layoffs-are-huge-channel-opportunity?itc=refresh • https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-03-31-2026/card/shares-in-oracle-jump-6-as-layoffs-begin-aSydyLjgHiUqenNig4UA • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/oracle-layoffs-employees-receive-email-from-oracle-leadership-at-6am-saying-we-have-made-the-decision-to-eliminate-your-role-as/articleshow/129922918.cms • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/oracle-layoffs-email-to-employees-has-a-reminder-you-are-prohibited-from-/articleshow/129954409.cms AI skills premiums and “best employers” narratives • https://www.hrdive.com/news/nearly-half-firms-willing-pay-premium-ai-skills-kpmg/816217/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://fortune.com/2026/04/01/best-companies-to-work-for-ai-revolution-perks/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://www.breeze.pm/articles/workplace-productivity-statistics ILO exposure and uneven impact • https://www.bwpeople.in/article/genai-to-reshape-global-jobs-but-impact-will-be-uneven-ilo-600087 • https://sea.peoplemattersglobal.com/news/economy-policy/30percent-of-global-jobs-exposed-to-genai-developing-countries-face-white-collar-bypass-risk-says-ilo-49009 Hiring pauses, career ROI, and work design • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/31/unilever-global-hiring-pause-us-iran-war-challenges-.html • https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/03/31/graduate-degree-earnings-study/ • https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesfinancecouncil/2026/03/27/why-a-retirement-system-built-for-stable-careers-doesnt-work-for-todays-workforce/ • https://hbr.org/podcast/2026/03/strategy-summit-2026-inventive-strategy-and-the-unbossed-organization • https://fortune.com/2026/03/28/employee-benefits-hold-workers-hostage-naval-war-game-designer/ • https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/remote-work-isnt-the-problem-poor-management-is-new-study-finds/91323926 • https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/soft-quitting-trend-workplace/ Employer brand and HR leadership • https://www.hcamag.com/ca/specialization/transformation/leading-hr-in-an-era-of-relentless-change/570401 • https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/chief-people-officer-appointments-globally/ • https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/the-4-shifts-in-global-talent-mobility-every-hr-leader-needs-to-track-as-shared-by-ocbc-s-joel-leong?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all • https://employerbranding.news/the-real-ai-threat-at-work-may-be-identity-not-redundancy/ ⸻ #EmployerBranding #HR #AI #Oracle #Layoffs #FutureOfWork #TalentStrategy

    7 min
  7. MAR 28

    Welcome to Managed Work | PAPER CUT

    Work is getting more managed: skills gates, cautious hiring, monitoring, and tighter rules. This week: HR rebuilding foundations as engagement drops, workers using ChatGPT for wage guidance, the return of tougher RTO and monitoring, and the latest moves in layoffs, freezes, and restructuring. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ Sources & Links HR foundations and engagement • https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/ai-analytics-and-uncertainty-how-hr-is-rebuilding-its-foundations/569852 • https://www.hrdive.com/news/worker-engagement-lowest-level-in-a-decade/815821/ • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/22/companies-ai-work-job-skills.html • https://www.inc.com/andrea-olson/how-ai-automation-is-quietly-deskilling-white-collar-workers/91316067 • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/microsoft-hr-head-makes-it-clear-to-employees-that-its-time-to-change-says-get-rid-of-old-/articleshow/129814434.cms • https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2026/03/18/5-signs-your-leadership-is-fueling-the-great-pile-on/ Wages, leverage, and AI as a worker tool • https://www.hrdive.com/news/workers-send-messages-to-chatgpt-about-wages-openai/815689/ • https://openai.com/index/equipping-workers-with-insights-about-compensation/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/employees-taking-pay-cuts-huge-numbers-2026-3 • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/25/iran-war-low-hire-low-fire-job-market.html • https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-weekly-jobless-claims-increase-slightly-2026-03-26/ • https://finance.yahoo.com/news/75-resumes-never-reach-human-123000358.html Monitoring, RTO, and time design • https://fortune.com/2026/03/24/jpmorgan-monitoring-keystrokes-video-calls-meetings-junior-investment-bankers-its-for-employee-wellbeing/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/paramount-skydance-return-to-office-rto-mandate-remote-employees-relocate-2026-3 • https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/19/business/employees-microshifting-work-life-balance/ • https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_MRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fproperty%2Fcommercial%2Fproperty-boss-warns-staff-working-from-home-could-be-replaced-by-ai%2Fnews-story%2F512e53a796dab1810f3acc0c7dec54f4&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPA-Segment-2-NOSCORE Talent wars and AI layoffs narratives • https://www.techtimes.com/articles/315475/20260326/apple-offers-massive-bonuses-iphone-design-team-stop-talent-poaching-openai-rivals.htm • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/accenture-ceo-julie-sweet-to-companys-employees-if-you-want-a-promotion-you-need-to-learn-this-skill/articleshow/129560758.cms • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/perplexity-ceo-aravind-srinivas-wants-everyone-to-believe-that-ai-layoffs-are-not-so-so-bad-because-they-will-allow-people-to-/articleshow/129791486.cms • https://rte.ie/brainstorm/2026/0326/1565150-ai-investments-jobs-tech-sector-financialisation-economy/ • https://fortune.com/2026/03/22/gen-z-roleplay-chatgpt-difficult-conversations-work/ The Cut List • https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/microsoft-freezes-hiring-major-cloud-sales-groups-information-reports-2026-03-26/ • https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/meta-layoffs-hundreds-employees-five-divisions-vr-ai-who-rcna265127 • https://www.businessinsider.com/metas-reality-labs-shifts-to-ai-native-pods-efficiency-2026-3 • https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/many-employees-ibm-2026-layoffs-234003251.html • https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/epic-ceo-tim-sweeney-says-employers-will-see-a-stream-of-resumes-of-once-in-a-lifetime-quality-after-the-company-laid-off-more-than-1-000-people/ • https://defensescoop.com/2026/03/26/army-rebalancing-civilian-workforce-reassignments-separations/ • https://www.wsj.com/cfo-journal/block-cfo-says-deep-job-cuts-from-ai-are-an-inevitability-for-companies-672a7dc3 ⸻ #EmployerBranding #HR #AI #Hiring #RTO #Engagement #WorkplaceCulture #Layoffs

    6 min
  8. MAR 22

    Meta’s AI Layoff Moment | PAPER CUT

    Meta’s reported 20% layoff plan has turned “AI efficiency” into a headline. This week: AI workplace friction, Gen Z’s growth gap, open model risk and token costs, and how layoffs are increasingly narrated as automation. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ Sources & Links AI workplace friction • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/16/ai-workplace-friction.html • https://www.metlife.com/about-us/newsroom/2026/march/metlife-study-finds-ai-acceleration-is-creating-new-concerns-in-todays-workplace/ • https://www.hrdive.com/news/employees-dont-see-ai-as-a-co-worker/814585/ • https://www.businessinsider.com/vibe-coding-ai-tools-underperforming-ramp-tech-2026-3 • https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/13/business/ai-brain-fry-nightcap • https://employerbranding.news/but-ai-will-make-us-all-more-productive-wont-it/ Gen Z, retention, and growth gaps • https://m.economictimes.com/jobs/hr-policies-trends/gen-z-career-priorities-highlight-gaps-in-hiring-and-growth-opportunities-report/articleshow/129653577.cms • https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/global-talent-shortages-are-getting-worse-as-employee-engagement-drops-study-shows/91317225 • https://adage.com/events-awards/gen-z-alpha-marketing/aa-what-agency-leaders-must-know-employee-retention/ • https://employerbranding.news/employer-branding-brief-templates/ Open models and AI costs • https://www.wsj.com/cio-journal/companies-say-the-risks-of-open-artificial-intelligence-models-are-worth-it-0d3ee664 • https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-tokens-productivity-d35c6bd8 Layoffs and restructuring • https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/meta-planning-sweeping-layoffs-ai-costs-mount-2026-03-14/ • https://www.theverge.com/business/895026/meta-laying-off-20-percent • https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/13/meta-layoffs-ai • https://www.9news.com.au/national/redundancies-coming-for-about-one-in-five-organisations/7ce1e25d-2458-4131-9cca-2cb2ee81d58e • https://theconversation.com/tech-companies-are-blaming-massive-layoffs-on-ai-whats-really-going-on-278314 • https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/16/ai-job-layoffs-push-for-shorter-working-hours • https://www.businessinsider.com/block-rehires-some-employees-after-layoffs-2026-3 Extra links from this week’s pack • https://www.economist.com/business/2026/03/12/in-praise-of-grunt-work • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/18/ai-data-center-buildout-jobs-salary-skilled-traders-worker-shortage.html • https://www.businessinsider.com/higher-gas-prices-affect-commute-rto-debate-2026-3 • https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-global-consumer-marketing-head-is-out-2026-3 • https://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/accenture-ceo-julie-sweet-to-companys-employees-if-you-want-a-promotion-you-need-to-learn-this-skill/articleshow/129560758.cms • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/nvidias-jensen-huang-becomes-one-of-the-first-ceos-to-offer-engineers-as-part-of-recruitment-strategy/articleshow/129652364.cms • https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/4-ways-ceos-break-employee-trust-and-how-to-rebuild-it/502871 • https://theconversation.com/job-performance-reviews-are-outdated-and-often-pointless-why-do-we-still-use-them-277366 • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2rmjnlm94o • https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-best-places-to-work-in-america-in-2026-ranked/ ⸻ #EmployerBranding #HR #AI #Layoffs #TalentStrategy #Recruiting #PeopleOps

    5 min

About

Employer Branding News (EBN) comes to your ears with the same dry wit and disruptive insights you’ve come to expect from our articles and videos. We tackle the world of work, employer branding, recruitment, culture and everything in between, with a raised eyebrow and a data-backed argument. If you’re a company leader, HR rebel, or just someone who thinks ”culture fit” is a lazy excuse, you’re in the right feed. Each episode unpacks real-world employer brand moves, cuts through corporate speak, and challenges tired talent narratives. Less fluff, more facts. Occasionally funny. Always unfiltered.