SmartBrief on Workforce

AI to reshape HR roles, job descriptions in 2026

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The meeting that should have been an email.

The mom who showed up with her adult son for his interview, then called you to follow up.

The sales rep who wants to know when enrollment starts – after it was announced in three emails, two Slack messages and last week’s company town hall.

We know this is your reality. And we want to help you stay ahead of the wily curve.

A few weeks back, I mentioned that we would be making some changes to this newsletter. That day is almost here.

Starting Monday, November 17, this daily newsletter will be relaunched as Go Ahead, Call HR. Don’t worry! It will still bring you smart, timely content about managing the modern workplace – and all the hassles, headaches and heartburn that entails. But, we are refreshing the format, renaming the sections and adding new content to ensure this brief keeps pace with changes in your field.

But wait! There’s more.

Please meet Matt Reitz, a veteran journalist with our Business Services and Finance teams. You are going to love him. He brings a fresh perspective and a smart, edgy voice to the brief. We are excited to produce this brief for you all.

Now it’s your turn. How can we serve you better? What issues matter to you? Do you want to hear from your peers and industry leaders? Tell us!

As always, we’re listening,

Kanoe and Matt

A SmartBrief subscription offers the news you need to stay ahead in your industry.

November 14, 2025

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Essential reading for HR professionals

In Today's Issue

Ahhh...the government shutdown is over, and federal workers will be getting back to work. And I'm thrilled to see that some TSA workers will receive $10,000 bonus checks for their efforts amid the shutdown. Nice! Get the details in our Leadership & Development story from TravelPulse. Also in this issue:

✅ Amazon faces class action over treatment of disabled workers
✅ Hidden gems: The true change agents on your team
✅ Job outlook for 2026 grads bleak as layoffs continue

Unprepared for AI: The Retail Transformation

AI is transforming retail, but most retailers are unprepared. Join EPAM, Stripe, and commercetools on November 12 at 12 PM EST to learn how AI is redefining the shopper journey and why composability is key to responsible adoption. Register now to build an AI-ready commerce foundation.

Top Story

Nike ends Wellness Week perk to "get back to winning"

(Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

Nike has decided to discontinue its annual Wellness Week, a program introduced in 2021 that gave employees a week off in August to focus on mental health. Chief People Officer Treasure Heinle cites the need to adapt to current operating conditions and "get back to winning" as the reason for the change.

Change is to be expected. Some practices we adopted during the pandemic are morphing or (in this case) ending. It’s the nature of the workplace beast. The better we get at pivoting, the better off we'll be over the long term. -- Kanoe

Full Story: HR Grapevine (11/14), Bloomberg (11/13)

Not All EWA Is Equal.

Too many "instant pay" tools create risk for HR, payroll, and employees alike. Learn how to evaluate providers the right way with The EWA Blueprint—your guide to safe, compliant, and growth-ready pay access. Explore the Guide

Recruiting & Retention

Skills gap prompts employees to self-fund training

A growing skills gap in the US is prompting employees, especially millennials and Generation Z, to seek education and training to improve job performance, with many self-funding these efforts due to insufficient employer support. A Harris Poll for the University of Phoenix indicates that 55% of workers have paid for their own training, but 72% have abandoned self-improvement plans because of cost and scheduling issues.

Full Story: Inc. (tiered subscription model) (11/11)

Transforming retail operations with mobile solutions

Retailers face labor shortages, rising customer expectations and unpredictable supply chains, which drive them to reinvent their operations. With mobile technology, retailers can provide real-time visibility, contactless payments, digital receipts and loyalty programs. This paper explores how mobile solutions transform retail operations and engage consumers.