HR BYTES NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2023
Hello HR Champions! September is here, and it's time to prepare for another exciting month of HR adventures. Get ready to explore fresh perspectives, best practices, and innovative approaches to HR excellence.
Welcome to the second edition of HR Bytes, the HR Geckos newsletter, where we share the latest news and trends in the field of HR. You can also join our HR Bytes podcast on your favorite channel!
HR Bytes Beyond Borders: Exploring Global HR News
Walmart Launches New AI Tool to Help Corporate Associates
Walmart has launched a new AI tool called My Assistant, designed to help corporate associates with tasks such as drafting documents, summarizing information, and finding benefits information. Generative AI powers the tool and is available to all US corporate associates. Walmart says My Assistant will not replace any workers but free them up to focus on more strategic tasks. The company is also exploring ways to use AI to streamline other HR processes in the future.
What are your thoughts on Walmart's new AI tool?
The UK’s first AI employee is now for hire
A UK software company has introduced 'Avery,' the UK's first AI employee. Avery helps developers with tasks like drafting documents and handling backlogs. While Avery is still in development, it shows potential to automate tasks traditionally done by humans. But, AI can't replace humans' unique skills like decision-making, creativity, and emotional intelligence. While AI may enhance productivity, it won't replace humans entirely anytime soon.
A new study has found that most employers are considering or implementing bans on using ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms in the workplace. The study, conducted by BlackBerry, found that employers are concerned about the potential risks of these platforms, such as the misuse of data, the spread of misinformation, and the creation of fake content.
The study by BlackBerry suggests that employers are becoming increasingly aware of the potential risks of generative AI platforms. As these platforms become more powerful, more employers will likely implement bans on their use in the workplace.
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HR BYTES ACROSS THE STATES: Exploring NATIONAL AND LOCAL HR NEWS
Employers, Get Ready for the New I-9 Form and Verification Rule Changes
Here are some of the key things to remember about the recent verification rule changes:
Employers must complete in-person physical document inspections for all employees, including those whose documents were inspected remotely during the COVID-19 flexibilities.
Employers enrolled in E-Verify can now remotely examine certain identity and employment authorization documents with the employee's consent.
Employers who fail to comply with the Form I-9 requirements may be subject to civil fines or criminal penalties.
The U.S. government is proposing to raise the salary threshold for overtime pay. This means more workers would be eligible for overtime pay for hours worked over 40 per week.
Currently, the salary threshold is $35,568 per year. The proposed rule would increase the threshold to $55,000 per year. This would mean an estimated 3.6 million more workers would be eligible for overtime pay.
The proposed rule would also create an automatic update provision for future overtime thresholds. This means the threshold would be adjusted every three years based on changes in the national median wage.
The public comment period for the proposed rule is open until October 30, 2023. If finalized, the new rule would take effect in January 2024.
HR Bytes Community Corner
Share Your HR Tips & Tricks
TikTok has been flooded with videos about the “September surge,” which is the idea that companies could up their hiring before hunkering down for the holiday season.
What do you think? Surge or not, could you share how you prepare for the fall recruiting season in the comments?
Fall is also a good time to start planning for annual performance reviews! This is a great opportunity to improve employee engagement and productivity.
Do share your top priorities for the upcoming performance review cycle. Do you still do annual performance reviews?
HR Bytes Digest
Must Read HR Tech Articles
72% of top CHROs see AI replacing jobs, and workers aren’t ready
An eye-opening survey by Gallup reveals that an impressive 72% of Fortune 500 CHROs predict that AI will take over certain jobs in their organizations within just 3 years. Conversely, the current scenario is quite different when we consider the employees. Only 10% use AI weekly, 20% use it occasionally, and 70% have never used it. Surprisingly, the study also highlights that 53% of workers feel they need more time to feel ready to work alongside AI and automation. Only 14% believe their job might be at risk due to technology in the next 5 years.
In his latest article, Josh Bersin explores the growing role of generative AI in HR. He argues that generative AI has the potential to revolutionize HR by automating tasks, improving decision-making, and creating more personalized experiences for employees. Bersin suggests that generative AI is still in its early stages of development, but it can potentially be a major force in HR in the coming years. He urges HR professionals to start learning about generative AI and how it can be used to improve their work.
A new study by Randstad finds that employees globally are more excited about the potential of AI at work than they are afraid of it. The study surveyed over 7,000 employees and found that 47% were excited about the prospect of AI, compared with 39% who said they were concerned about it. However, the study also found that some employees are still concerned about the potential risks of AI. These risks include AI's potential to discriminate against certain groups of people or automate jobs that humans currently do. It is important for businesses to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of AI before deploying it.
Generative AI is poised for a breakout year in 2023, potentially revolutionizing many industries
McKinsey's recent study on AI reveals some important findings relevant to business and HR professionals. These findings show how powerful generative AI has become and how some companies are ahead of the curve. These insights underline the importance of adapting to AI in business and preparing employees for this technology's impact.
40% of workers will need to reskill in the next three years
A new report by IBM found that 40% of workers will need to reskill in the next three years due to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). The study also found that AI is expected to create new jobs, but these jobs require different skills than those lost.
Geckos’ Ear Candy
HR Podcast Recommendations
We are listening to the HR Leaders podcast with Chris Rainey and Matt Burns this month. This is the perfect podcast if you are interested in the C-level world and want to explore the future of work with the world’s top experts and HR executives from leading global brands.
And, of course, we are excited for our very own HR Bytes, where we bring stories of HR trailblazers who are redefining HR with a global mindset and local impact. Check out our latest episode with Rajamma Krishnamurthy, Senior Director, AI Center for Excellence at Microsoft.
Geckos’ Top Tails
HR BOOKSHELF SELECTION
A few new reads we found to stay on top of the latest trends in HR and the future of work.
I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic (January 2023).
Bonus: Tune in to HR Bytes S3E3 to learn more about the book and Tomas’ thoughts on AI in HR here.
Introduction to HR Technologies: Understand How to Use Technology to Improve Performance and Processes by Stacey Harris (June 2023).
HR Bytes Reminders Mark Your Dates with HR Excellence
International Literacy Day (September 8)
Promote literacy and the importance of reading and writing. Encourage employees to participate in literacy programs or volunteer to help others learn to read and write.
National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15)
Celebrate the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States. Organize events and activities that celebrate Hispanic and Latino culture
September marks the beginning of a new season, and it's the perfect time to cultivate fresh HR ideas and approaches. Let's make this month one for the books by nurturing a culture of growth, inclusivity, and innovation.
Stay inspired, stay motivated, and we'll meet again in our next newsletter!
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Join the HR Bytes Community to share, learn, and grow! Look for us on LinkedIn and Facebook (search for HR Bytes)
Tune in to the HR Bytes Podcast at https://hrgeckos.com/podcast.html