HR Tech Week in Review, 22 December 2025

Candidates deploy 'counter-tech' scripts to reverse-engineer ATS parsers and flag scams

A new adversarial dynamic is forming where technical candidates are building home-brewed tools to defeat vendor filtering logic, rendering standard parsing metrics and keywords increasingly unreliable.

r/recruitinghell → HR Dive → r/recruitinghell → r/recruitinghell →

Vendors launch specialized AI agents for construction hiring and global leave complexity

AI product releases are shifting from generalist 'copilots' to vertical-specific engines (Propel for skilled trade, Mercans for global compliance) designed to solve distinct industry friction points rather than broad HR tasks.

HRTech Series → HRTech Series → HRTech Series → HRTech Series →

2026 'Extra Pay Period' creates immediate configuration urgency for payroll platforms

A cyclical calendar anomaly will force a 27th bi-weekly pay period in 2026, requiring payroll software vendors to push immediate configuration updates to prevent accrual errors and compliance breaches for clients.

HR Dive →

Oracle Recruiting Cloud deepens enterprise screening capabilities via Accio Data integration

Signals continued consolidation of background screening workflows directly into Tier 1 ERPs, pressuring standalone screening vendors to secure deep integrations with major HCM players to remain competitive.

HRTech Series →

Performance management platforms scrutinized for shifting from 'support' to 'manager displacement'

A growing debate questions whether performance software is bypassing human oversight entirely, creating potential liability risks and 'algorithm-as-boss' dynamics that buyers may begin to push back against.

HRTech Series →