Hr Brew

The HR technology landscape is evolving towards practical, skills-based AI implementation, moving beyond initial hype. This shift demands high-quality data to power effective AI recommendations, challenging traditional hiring metrics and emphasizing operational efficiency. HR leaders must proactively manage technology risks and navigate evolving regulatory pressures, including state-level AI legislation and changing visa criteria, requiring a dual focus on internal alignment and external compliance.

Workforce planning is adapting to anticipated structural changes by 2026, with a renewed emphasis on accountability through performance review adjustments. Automation efforts are expanding, incorporating AI for tasks like expense filing based on employee communications. Simultaneously, critical priorities like healthcare cost management persist, with ongoing demands for transparency from Pharmacy Benefit Managers and exploration of direct-to-employer drug purchasing.

HR leaders are addressing nuanced operational challenges such as optimizing hybrid work models and ensuring equitable compensation practices, recognizing that broad pay ranges can deter applicants. New benchmarking tools are being developed to quantify qualitative aspects of roles, while learning and development systems are being modernized for frontline workers to support compliance and career growth. International payroll capabilities are also being enhanced through new partnerships, reflecting a sustained commitment to global operational reach.

Last updated April 19, 2026

Coverage

Jessica Hardeman, Indeed's global head of attraction, engagement, and culture, offers solutions for talent systems that are struggling to keep pace with the advancements in artificial intelligence.
A forthcoming regulatory change from the Trump administration that loosens gig worker classification standards may lead to reduced scrutiny from the Department of Labor during investigations into worker status.
A lawyer cautions private employers to exercise discretion when utilizing social media information during the reasonable accommodation process, particularly concerning determinations about granting remote work requests.
SAP has launched an integration connecting the SmartRecruiters hiring platform directly into its SuccessFactors suite, following SAP's acquisition of the hiring software in September.
Experts advise that many employers struggle to move beyond the conceptual stage of implementing skills-based transformation initiatives within their human resources frameworks.
To ensure effective recommendations in hiring decisions powered by artificial intelligence, it is crucial for organizations to validate the quality and integrity of the underlying data sets.
Talent acquisition leaders from major companies like Amazon and Marriott are sharing their insights on the evolving landscape concerning the integration of artificial intelligence into the hiring process.
The founder of Monster.com predicts the obsolescence of traditional résumés and job descriptions, prompting the launch of a new venture to address current hiring technology pain points.
The Department of Labor has established a framework intended to expedite the development of effective artificial intelligence skills nationwide, as announced by Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
The senior human resources executive at Nextdoor intends to utilize artificial intelligence capabilities to elevate the people function into a strategic advisory role that actively contributes to shaping the company's future direction.
Despite the advancement of artificial intelligence, Indeed is emphasizing greater human interaction in recruiting by introducing new Interview on Demand features that enable real-time conversations with job applicants.
New legislation recently enacted by Congress mandates that pharmacy benefit managers must disclose their pricing structures and pass any resulting rebates directly to the relevant health plans and workers.
Artificial intelligence is influencing workplace communication dynamics, and human resources leaders must be aware of potential pitfalls to guard against in these evolving interactions.
Industry analyst Josh Bersin forecasts that the year 2026 will bring significant restructuring to human resources teams, driven by the emergence of 'superagents' that are expected to elevate the function.
New research from Bain identifies the primary reasons why most organizational transformations fail to meet their objectives and suggests how human resources can facilitate better alignment between leadership and employees during restructuring.
Deloitte is implementing a significant overhaul of internal employee job titles, prompting workplace experts to share insights on the strategic importance of nomenclature changes for human resources departments.
AI-powered hiring platform Eightfold AI is facing litigation from job applicants who allege the recruiting software generates candidate evaluations comparable to credit reporting agency assessments.
Artificial intelligence is currently displacing more jobs in the United Kingdom compared to other nations, prompting some industry leaders, according to Morgan Stanley findings, to suggest increased focus on worker training programs to prepare for automation.
As corporate structures flatten, middle managers are experiencing increased operational pressure, and human resources departments are positioned to provide necessary support through people-management training.
Chief Human Resources Officers, Chief Financial Officers, and corporate board members share significant concern, with nearly three-quarters indicating moderate to extreme worry over unsustainable pharmacy costs despite legislative attempts to control them.
Amazon is instructing employees to document their impact in performance reviews, requiring human resources staff to understand the benefits and drawbacks associated with requiring employees to substantiate their achievements.
Human resources professionals suggest that the ongoing transformation driven by artificial intelligence should be reframed as a people transformation, emphasizing that while technology is a helper, critical human intuition remains essential.
A recent analysis by Aon determined that the growth rate of medical and pharmacy claim costs slowed for individuals utilizing GLP-1 medication compared to non-users in the years following initial prescription.
The Department of Homeland Security introduced a new policy altering the selection process for H-1B visas to favor applicants who have higher wage offerings.
Senior technology and human resources leaders emphasize that the effectiveness of artificial intelligence tools is entirely dependent on the quality of input data and the underlying organizational processes, asserting that technology cannot rectify fundamentally flawed workflows.
As labor turnover rates remain static, human resources leaders are required to reassess their talent acquisition and retention strategies within the current environment characterized by stable hiring and firing patterns.
Zillow's head of talent acquisition, Roz Harris, shared insights on how the real estate technology firm employs artificial intelligence, including prompt-a-thons and return on investment measurement, to enhance experiences for both recruiters and candidates.
According to an EY principal, fragile talent dynamics may impede overall business transformation efforts, suggesting that AI alone is insufficient without a corresponding focus on talent strategy.
HR Brew will attend the CES technology conference to observe emerging trends, particularly focusing on how advancements in AI and other new technologies might reshape the nature of people-related work.
As demand for weight loss medications rises, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are shifting strategy by allowing employers to purchase their drugs directly at a fixed price, bypassing Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
The current administration is challenging state-level Artificial Intelligence regulations, though employers will likely still be required to adhere to existing local laws.
Consultants from Protiviti advise that to fully realize the benefits of deeper investments in artificial intelligence, corporations must prioritize upskilling their Chief Human Resources Officers and HR leadership teams.
BambooHR has partnered with Xero Payroll to launch an integration aimed at simplifying payroll processes and ensuring single-source-of-truth recordkeeping as it expands its services into New Zealand, Australia, and the UK.