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.

Episodes

  1. PAPER CUT - Brains, Bots, and the HR Plot Twist

    12/07/2025

    PAPER CUT - Brains, Bots, and the HR Plot Twist

    This week’s Paper Cut slices through AI agent hype, labour market whiplash, hybrid headaches, and the growing trust tax at work. No fluff, just the context HR and employer brand leaders need to act with confidence. This episode cuts through the spin to give HR, TA, and employer brand leaders the signal they actually need. We connect AI agents, uneven labour data, hybrid policy shifts, and rising privacy concerns into one clear story about trust, skills, and staying power. Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 Sources & Links: Agents, Anxiety, and the AI Reality Check https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-releases-ai-agents-it-says-can-work-for-days-at-a-time-79c82902 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/aws-ceo-matt-garman-ai-agents-cannot-be-replacements-for-employees-they-are-ways-to-/articleshow/125732718.cms https://fortune.com/2025/12/04/godfather-of-ai-geoffrey-hinton-massive-unemployment-warning-thanks-to-big-tech-replacing-workers-with-ai-senator-bernie-sanders-bill-gates-elon-musk-predictions-probably-right/ https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2025/12/people-outsourcing-their-thinking-ai/685093/ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-says-humans-cant-rely-on-brains-alone-to-succeed-at-workplace-they-need/articleshow/125709288.cms Labor Market Mirage: Sunny Data, Stormy Feels https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-weekly-jobless-claims-drop-lowest-level-more-than-three-years-2025-12-04/ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/03/us-private-payroll-jobs-decline-november https://www.aol.com/finance/companies-announced-more-71-000-124809294.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/12/02/private-sector-employers-warn-job-cuts-and-hiring-freeze/ https://fortune.com/2025/12/03/university-gen-z-graduates-pay-premium-lower-than-millennials-job-market-struggles-united-kingdom/ https://fortune.com/2025/12/04/gen-z-4-million-new-manufacturing-jobs-america-boomer-retire-one-trade-job-young-people-dont-want/ Hybrid, Happiness, and the House Rules https://theconversation.com/whats-working-from-home-doing-to-your-mental-health-we-tracked-16-000-australians-to-find-out-270356 https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/wellbeing/has-the-freedom-of-hybrid-work-made-us-happier https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/01/meta-instagram-rto-return-to-office.html https://www.thestreet.com/employment/leaked-memo-reveals-metas-harsh-work-policy-change https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/lifestyle/remote-work-hybrid-jobs-house-of-lords-b2876613.html https://www.hcamag.com/ca/specialization/employee-engagement/hr-manager-offers-tips-on-remote-first-success/558285 Culture, Privacy, and the Trust Tax https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/12/03/google-starts-sharing-all-your-text-messages-with-your-employer/ https://www.wsj.com/style/fashion/office-attire-changes-history-e6e9147b https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/580803/gen-z-workers-least-happy-40-percent-dread-going-to-work https://theconversation.com/ai-promises-efficiency-but-its-also-amplifying-labour-inequality-258772 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/ai-artificial-intelligence-asia-risk-widen-inequality-automation-5527671 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-adaptive-mind/202511/the-culture-gap-no-one-talks-about https://fortune.com/2025/12/04/nvidia-ceo-admits-he-works-7-days-a-week-including-holidays-in-a-constant-state-of-anxiety-out-of-fear-of-going-bankrupt/ #FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRTrends #AIandWork #HybridWork #TalentStrategy #WorkplaceCulture #PrivacyAtWork #LaborMarket

    6 min
  2. [26 OCT] PAPER CUT - The Productivity Mirage Meets The Pink-Slip Economy

    10/26/2025

    [26 OCT] PAPER CUT - The Productivity Mirage Meets The Pink-Slip Economy

    This week’s lead story: AI agents scale while layoffs surge. We unpack the cultural signal in the cuts, why middle managers decide AI success, and how to rebuild early-career rungs and remote strategy. This week’s Paper Cut slices through the spin to give HR and employer brand leaders the insight they actually need. No fluff, just facts. 📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ 📌 Sources & Links: The Cuts Are Strategic. The Signal Is Cultural. Target eliminating 1,800 positions, laying off 1,000 workers https://www.startribune.com/target-la... Exclusive: ConocoPhillips to lay off Canada employees in November, company memo shows https://www.reuters.com/business/worl... Charter to Lay Off 1,200 Workers https://broadbandbreakfast.com/charte... Meta layoffs tied to AI priorities https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/meta-... Rivian layoffs reported https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/23/rivia... Graphic of the day: Layoffs accelerate in 2025 https://www.forbesindia.com/article/u... US federal layoffs threaten the backbone of community support https://thenewstack.io/how-block-got-... Middle Managers Feel the Least Psychological Safety at Work https://hbr.org/2025/10/middle-manage... Amazon To Lay Off 15 Percent Of HR Employees After Jassy Said AI Will ‘Reduce Our Total Corporate Workforce:’ Report https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/2025/a... AI might be creating a ‘permanent underclass’ but it’s the makers of the tech bubble who are replaceable https://www.theguardian.com/commentis... Deloitte's Global AI Leader Nitin Mittal warns job loss to AI is ‘inevitable’, but engineers should….. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/t... The Broken Rungs — Early Careers Are A Meat Grinder A City exec says Gen Z is nearing breaking point as AI turns graduate hiring into a 'meat grinder' https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-br... KPMG: Half of banks experiencing uptick in Gen Z staff quitting https://www.cityam.com/kpmg-half-of-b... At least 4 in 5 tech talents could face limited opportunities as job market cools https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/comp... UK tech grad jobs slump, placements cut https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/1... Gen Z is stuck at the bottom rung. Citi Foundation pledges $25 million https://fortune.com/2025/10/21/gen-z-... ‘They want us to work but there is no work’: meet the NEETs https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/job... Remote Reality Check — Demand Is Lopsided Remote companies like Dropbox and Atlassian say they're getting flooded with applications, as other firms RTO https://www.businessinsider.com/remot... Woman wins right to work from home every day in landmark case https://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo... Employers want hybrid. Workers want flexibility. https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjourna... The quiet migration behind remote work https://www.thehill.com/opinion/techn... ⸻ #WorkDesign #EmployerBrand #AIatWork #FutureOfWork #GenZ #RemoteWork #Layoffs

    6 min
  3. [15 JUN] PAPER CUT - Talent Whiplash: Million-Dollar Coders vs Mass Layoffs

    06/14/2025

    [15 JUN] PAPER CUT - Talent Whiplash: Million-Dollar Coders vs Mass Layoffs

    The talent market snapped this week: Meta offers million-dollar packages while Google hands out buy-outs. Paper Cut slices through the spin so HR and employer-brand leaders see the real scoreboard. No fluff, just facts. 📰 Subscribe to the free Paper Cut newsletter: https://ebn.to/sub25 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ 📌 Sources & Links Elite Brains, Empty Rungs https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/zuckerbergs-fantastic-50-worlds-2nd-richest-man-is-hiring-elite-coders-with-million-dollar-offers-to-build-the-most-powerful-ai-brain/articleshow/121776198.cms https://www.inc.com/bruce-crumley/new-research-finds-that-ai-is-creating-more-jobs-and-higher-pay/91199930 https://decrypt.co/323916/ai-coming-jobs-faster-anyone-though Cost Cuts Meet Code Frenzy https://apnews.com/article/google-layoffs-tech-869f86eb6b53044de2cf22a932b0213f https://qz.com/layoffs-us-job-cuts-challenger-gray-2025-tech-services-1851783674 Soft Power or Bust https://www.hrdive.com/news/3-in-5-employers-say-soft-skills-are-more-important-than-ever/750424/ https://www.straitstimes.com/business/sense-of-belonging-at-work-why-it-isnt-just-a-nice-to-have https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers/quiet-cracking-at-work/990726 Well-Being Mirage https://www.businessinsider.com/deloitte-employee-wellbeing-policy-offers-1000-dollars-for-lego-2025-6 https://www.computerworld.com/article/3998244/ai-chatbots-see-fast-adoption-but-deliver-minimal-productivity-gains-study-finds.html https://slate.com/life/2025/05/happy-hour-drinks-office-work-co-worker-colleague.html ⸻ #FutureOfWork #Layoffs2025 #EmployerBrand #TalentStrategy

    3 min
  4. [11MAY] Paper Cut - Weekly Employer Branding Headlines

    05/10/2025

    [11MAY] Paper Cut - Weekly Employer Branding Headlines

    📉 Layoffs, AI Disruption & HR Disconnect – This Week in Work From fresh layoffs to leadership trust slumps, the headlines are spinning—but we’re here to slice through the noise. In this week’s Paper Cut, we cover: ✂️ Job cuts rising across PwC, Panasonic, Telefónica and more 🤖 AI replaces HR teams, streamlines ops—and unsettles leadership 👩‍💻 Gender gaps emerge in GenAI adoption among HR leaders 🔥 Burnout spikes, trust dips, and remote workers fight for autonomy If you work in HR, employer branding, or recruiting, this one’s essential viewing. 📰 Subscribe to the Paper Cut newsletter – it’s free: https://ebn.to/sub25 📍 Follow Employer Branding News on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 ⸻ 🔗 Links From This Episode ✂️ Job Cuts & Economic Wobble • Canada adds jobs but unemployment rises: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-09/canada-adds-7-400-jobs-unemployment-jumps-to-6-9 • Panasonic to cut 10,000 jobs: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Electronics/Panasonic-to-cut-10-000-jobs-in-major-restructuring • Panasonic battery profit up 39%: https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/panasonic-expects-battery-units-annual-profit-soar-39-2025-05-09/ • Telefónica could cut 5,000 roles: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/telef%C3%B3nica-could-cut-up-to-5000-jobs-in-spain-report/ • PwC to slash 1,500 jobs: https://www.internationalaccountingbulletin.com/news/pwc-slash-1500-jobs/ • US jobs outlook (JPMorgan): https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/outlook/economic-outlook/jobs-report-april-2025 • Changing jobs is risky in 2025: https://www.businessinsider.com/changing-jobs-risky-move-now-recession-economic-uncertainty-tariffs-2025-5 ⸻ 🤖 AI: From Buzzword to Budget Line • IBM replaces HR staff with AI: https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/ibm-ceo-ai-replaced-hundreds-of-human-resources-staff/491341 • CrowdStrike cuts 500, cites AI efficiency: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/may/09/crowdstrike-to-cut-jobs-and-use-ai • CEOs fear being replaced by AI: https://fortune.com/2025/05/09/ceos-fear-losing-jobs-ai-survey/ • Alternate take on AI job impact: https://www.thestreet.com/technology/legendary-tech-expert-has-unexpected-view-of-ai-impact-on-jobs ⸻ 👩‍💻 The GenAI Gaps & Gender Questions • Gender gap in GenAI adoption (HR leaders): https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/gender-gap-in-gen-ai-use-includes-hr-leaders-report/535156 • CHROs prepare for AI redeployment: https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/hr-technology/chros-gearing-up-for-redeployment-reskilling-ahead-of-agentic-ai-adoption/534804 ⸻ 🔥 Trust, Burnout & Remote Work Realities • Burnout mentions on Glassdoor hit new high: https://www.hrdive.com/news/burnout-mentions-on-glassdoor-soar-past-pre-pandemi/747592/ • Leadership trust tied to company health: https://www.hrdive.com/news/leadership-trust-barometer-company-health/747654/ • Spotify’s HR chief on WFH autonomy: https://fortune.com/europe/2025/04/29/spotifys-hr-chief-remote-staff-arent-children-work-from-anywhere/ ⸻ 🧠 For jobs in employer branding and recruitment marketing: https://jobs.employerbranding.news/ ⸻ #FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRTrends #Layoffs #AIinHR #Burnout #GenAI #RemoteWork #PaperCut #TalentAttraction

    3 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.