This is the published version of Forbes’ Future of Work newsletter, which offers the latest news for chief human resources officers and other talent managers on disruptive technologies, managing the workforce and trends in the remote work debate. Click here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday!
And we’re back! After a two week vacation—the longest I’ve ever taken—I’m catching up on what I missed. One thing that hasn’t changed: the debate over the advantages and disadvantages to remote work shows no signs of slowing down. Fully remote work may be tied to less productivity on average, a new research review shows, but that’s just part of the story. Remote workplaces can save on real estate costs, increase diversity numbers and, if another new report is right, help with hiring.
I wrote recently about a new analysis which found that, over the last three months, companies that allow full-time remote work, or at least employee choice about office time or hybrid work, grew headcount by roughly twice as fast as those organizations that demand full-time in-office work. The analysis, from Scoop, a hybrid work management software company, appears to show a similar trend across all company sizes, suggesting that even if there are questions about remote work’s impact, people are being drawn to these firms.
For more on that data, check out my story here—as well as, below, news about former Google HR chief Laszlo Bock’s startup, Humu; a look at the growing use of chatbots for interviews and, of course, Taylor Swift’s mega bonuses to her tour workers.
TECH + AI
HR chatbots are increasingly being used in many industries to filter out unqualified applicants and schedule interviews with those who are. But they can be buggy — and there isn’t always a human to turn to when something goes wrong. Read more in our story here.
Roughly five years ago, human resources star Laszlo Bock—a veteran of Google and GE—unveiled “nudge engine” software startup Humu to the world. Now, amid growing consolidation of the H.R. tech market, Humu announced Wednesday it will be acquired by software firm Perceptyx, Forbes first reported exclusively. Read more from Emmy Lucas’s story here.
SKILLS + EDUCATION
The University of Texas and Coursera, the online learning platform, are launching a large-scale, industry-recognized micro-credential program, giving every student, faculty, staff and alumni access to Coursera’s Career Academy for no cost. In other workforce development headlines, Charter Communications said Tuesday it would pay all tuition costs for full-time employees who pursue select college degrees, in partnership with Guild.
DIVERSITY + INCLUSION
DEI controversies continue, with the district governing Walt Disney World abolishing its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives Tuesday, as Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to restrict access to DEI initiatives in the state, Forbes’ Ana Faguy reports.
HUMAN CAPITAL
The future of work is not just a topic that concerns office workers—or even front-line workers paid hourly wages. A new study published Monday in the journal Nature reports that many of the people who pick, prepare and process food in the U.S. may have been forced to do so, and that forced labor may be happening within our borders, William Skipworth writes.
FACTS + COMMENT
Taylor Swift was reported to have given large bonuses to crew members for her highly lucrative Eras Tour, including $100,000 thank you gifts to her truckers.
- $1.4 billion: the value of Swift’s Eras Tour, according to estimates from Pollstar.
- $740 million: What Forbes estimates Swift to be worth
VIDEO
How Cleveland’s Mayor Is Drawing Young Founders To The State
Watch
STRATEGIES + ADVICE
Here’s what Black Women’s Equal Pay Day can teach executives about being better allies.
Need to tackle transgender and nonbinary recruitment biases? Read this.
Why office-based leadership doesn’t work for hybrid work.
QUIZ
A Grammy Award-winning artist was sued this week this week for allegations that they subjected dancers to sexual harassment and created a hostile work environment. Who was the subject of the suit?
- Ed Sheeran
- Lizzo
- Dua Lipa
- Jimmie Allen
Check out the right answer here.
ACROSS THE NEWSROOM
As news of heat waves and ever-worsening extreme weather dominates headlines, our Current Climate newsletter covers the latest discoveries and innovation to address climate change. Sign up here for a curated rundown of the climate tech industry, from energy to biotech to electric cars.
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