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Research Agenda: Changing Workplace Dynamics & The Future of Work in 2026

“The old system is gone. The new one has not yet formed,” said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the 2025 ASEAN Summit. While this is truer than ever for geopolitics, it’s also true for how we work. For the second (or even third) time this decade, the concept of “work” is changing, and AI is a big reason for it. Layoffs have begun at major tech companies driven by automation and a shift towards AI-driven work models, and within HR technology, there’s been significant consolidation and acquisition as vendors make investments that only the big players can handle. Offerings, messaging, pricing, and AI use are in flux, and we’ve yet to see how things will land. My research aims to help HR leaders make […]

#HRTechChat: Jeff Smith of 15Five on Building Better Managers in the Age of AI

In this episode of #HRTechChat, Nicole Roberts sits down with Jeff Smith, COO of 15Five, to unpack what it really takes to build better managers in an era of AI, constant change, and overflowing HR to-do lists. A psychologist by training with deep R&D and product experience, Jeff brings a rare lens on how organizations can redesign systems, expectations, and technology to truly support people leaders—not just measure them. They dig into the mounting pressure on HR and managers, the shift from “HR owns all people issues” to shared accountability, and why management has to be treated as a daily practice, not a one-time promotion. Jeff explains how tools like 15Five and Kona AI can turn everyday one-on-ones into continuous performance data, simplify review cycles, […]

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Analyst Insight: What Makes a Certified Great Place To Work Company

Many careers pages today seem to carry a badge: “Great Place To Work Certified.” But to the job market, what does it typically signal, and where does it fall short? As an analyst engaging with HR leaders, employees, and HR tech vendors, it seems like Great Place To Work certification is seen less as the sole indicator of a “good company” and more as part of a body of evidence that includes retention statistics, internal mobility metrics, cultural trends, and employee feedback initiatives. Taking a Closer Look Great Place To Work (GPTW) is a workplace culture consultancy that has spent over 30 years researching employee experience and positioning itself as a global authority on workplace culture. GPTW says more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries […]

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Council Guest Post: HR Transformation: Effective Communication Strategies

Building Trust and Engagement through transparent and effective communication Introduction The landscape of Human Resources (HR) is continuously evolving, driven by technological advancements, globalization, and changing workforce dynamics. As organizations seek to stay competitive, HR transformation has become a vital process. However, any transformation journey can be fraught with challenges, and one of the most critical aspects of navigating these challenges is ensuring transparent and effective communication. Effective communication strategies not only facilitate the smooth implementation of changes but also build trust and engagement among employees. The Importance of Communication in HR Transformation Initiative Communication is the lifeblood of any organizational change. In the context of HR transformation, it ensures that all stakeholders are informed, engaged, and aligned with the transformation goals. Transparent communication helps […]

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Video: Executive Turnover Is Disrupting Business – Here’s How to Keep Momentum

In this video Nicholas Biron explores the rising challenge of short executive tenures, now averaging around 18 months, and how this trend disrupts organizational strategy, marketing plans, and product execution. Drawing on research and firsthand observations, Nicholas emphasizes the importance of leadership retention and institutional knowledge for business success. He cautions that frequent executive changes can stall momentum, create strategic uncertainty, and ultimately hinder organizational growth.

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Monthly Research Recap | November 2025

Recent Research: Research Agenda: 2026 Go-to-Market B2B This 2026 Go-to-Market B2B Research Agenda explores how efficiency, authenticity, and AI collaboration are reshaping modern revenue organizations. Building on insights from 2025, this year’s focus highlights five major shifts: the move toward efficiency as the dominant GTM operating model, the growing importance of human-centered advocacy supported by AI, the evolution of precision demand creation, the rise of Customer Success as a revenue engine, and the transformation of search and discovery driven by generative AI. Together, these themes capture the key questions and opportunities facing GTM leaders in 2026 and invite continued community input to refine and validate their real-world impact. Market Alert: Dayforce Expands Its Single AI Platform to Strengthen Enterprise HCM Capabilities Dayforce, Inc. is strengthening […]

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Analyst Insight: California Labor Laws and Compliance – Burden, Benchmark, or Competitive Advantage?

In more than one phone call with customers, vendors, or other analysts in the HR technology industry, I’ve heard the claim that it’s hard to do business in the state of California. According to these conversations, the state is riddled with unnecessary compliance, too many hoops to jump through, a mountain of litigation risk, and constant changes to the rules. Business groups frequently cite labor, wage, and climate regulations as part of a broader, burdensome business environment. So, I decided to take a look. Is the situation in California really as out of control as people claim? Fact vs Fiction To start, there is a significant kernel of truth behind these claims, especially when compared to the rest of the United States. California’s 2025 statewide […]

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California Labor Laws and Compliance: Burden, Benchmark, or Competitive Advantage? | Perception, Future Trends, and the Role of HR Tech

Part 3 of 3: Perception, Future Trends, and the Role of HR Tech In this final installment, we shift from diagnosis to implications. After situating California within the US and global context, we’ll explore why the “impossible to operate” narrative persists and how HR technology can transform high-compliance environments into lasting advantages. High wages, aggressive enforcement, litigation exposure, and complex rules do create real operational friction, and business-oriented groups consistently highlight these burdens. But in practice, part of this also stems less from irrational rules but more from the collision of California’s modern workforce standards with outdated, under-resourced HR teams and fragmented systems. For many companies, these laws and their internal resources are like oil and water. Multi-jurisdiction employers face friction, especially if their HR […]

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California Labor Laws and Compliance: Burden, Benchmark, or Competitive Advantage? | Global Context & Real-World Impacts

Part 2 of 3: Global Context & Real-World Impacts Having established California as a state with high compliance standards in the US, this second installment broadens the perspective to a global context. We’ll compare California with similar economies and analyze how its policies impact workers and employers in real-world situations. How Does California Compare Globally? Compared to other major Western economies, California is much less extreme. To start, most of these countries already have many of these workplace laws in place, but also have unique nuances. In Canada, the American concept of “at-will employment” is not recognized and broadly considered illegal. Unlike in the US, where employment can be terminated at any time for any legal reason, Canadian employers are required to provide proper notice […]

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California Labor Laws and Compliance: Burden, Benchmark, or Competitive Advantage? | Myths, Realities, and US Benchmarks

Part 1 of 3: Myths, Realities, and US Benchmarks In more than one phone call with customers, vendors, or other analysts in the HR technology industry, I’ve heard the claim that it’s hard to do business in the state of California. According to these conversations, the state is riddled with unnecessary compliance, too many hoops to jump through, a mountain of litigation risk, and constant changes to the rules. Business groups frequently cite labor, wage, and climate regulations as part of a broader, burdensome business environment. So I decided to take a look. In this opening installment, I outline the context: Is California’s situation truly as dire as they say? Why do so many executives say that California presents challenges for employers, and what does […]

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Market Alert: Dayforce Expands Its Single AI Platform to Strengthen Enterprise HCM Capabilities

Dayforce, Inc. is expanding its position in the HCM market with a series of AI-driven product enhancements designed to help large employers manage labor, compliance, and productivity more efficiently. The Minneapolis- and Toronto-based software company, which now counts many large-enterprise customers, along with the Government of Canada and federal agencies in the US, reports steady growth. With more than 7,000 customers using Dayforce, the company boasts a 98% customer retention rate and strong platform loyalty. Recent updates include Strategic Workforce Planning, Dayforce AI Workspace, and Dayforce AI Agents. All of these features are designed to help organizations connect workforce strategy to business outcomes within a single, AI-powered experience. Strategic Workforce Planning, accelerated by the acquisition of Agentnoon, enables the modeling and forecasting of skills, costs, […]

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Analyst Insight: AI Goes Nuclear

AI – and with it, HR tech – are going for the nuclear option. No, I don’t mean the whole industry is about to go belly up (or at least I hope not), but in the literal sense of the word. Late last year, major AI and technology companies announced their bold plans to invest in nuclear technology to meet the growing energy demands of their industry. There has already been an avalanche of negative press about the energy demands of AI, or even the energy demands of a single query on an AI platform. The infrastructure that powers AI, such as servers and data centers, is placing a significant strain on the energy grids of many states, leading to increased market-rate controlled energy prices […]

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Case Study Vignette: Amdocs Streamlines Contingent Workforce Operations through Papaya’s Contingent OS

Partnering with experts who can help you reach and stay ahead of technological advances is a must in today’s world. Amdocs Limited provides such expertise by managing information technology (IT) services in different disciplines, ranging from designing and optimizing networks for telecommunications customers such as Bell Canada, AT&T, T-Mobile, Telefonica and Claro to providing content adjustments to movies and series for customers like Netflix. The multinational corporation acquires 4-6 companies each year, and Shachar Teper, who heads Amdocs’ department of business services and procurement, is in charge of the technology services that Amdocs acquires in order to support projects. “What I am purchasing is two major products,” Teper explains. “There’s the time and materials (T&M), which is the resources based on time and material that […]

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Council Guest Post: HR Transformation – Continuous Improvement and Feedback Loops

Establishing Mechanisms for Ongoing Evaluation and Improvement Introduction In the ever-evolving landscape of human resources, continuous improvement and feedback loops are crucial components for ensuring sustained success and adaptation. As organizations strive to stay competitive and relevant, the establishment of mechanisms for ongoing evaluation and improvement becomes essential. The Importance of Continuous Improvement in HR Continuous improvement in HR refers to the ongoing efforts to enhance processes, policies, and practices within the human resources function. These efforts are driven by the recognition that the business environment is dynamic, and staying static can lead to obsolescence. Continuous improvement helps HR teams to: Increase Efficiency: By regularly evaluating and refining HR processes, organizations can eliminate redundancies, streamline workflows, and reduce waste, leading to greater efficiency and productivity. […]

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Council Guest Post: CHRO Briefing – Applying Generative AI to the Workforce

Generative AI is transforming how work gets done, but its impact will be uneven. For CHROs, the challenge is to look beyond product demos and hype to understand what AI truly changes in the workforce. In this CHRO Briefing, Steve O’Brien offers a practical framework to help HR leaders pace adoption, redesign roles, and govern responsibly. Inside the Briefing: Learn how work divides into three realities: task, system, and structural that determine AI’s true impact. Understand why most early value will come from acceleration and augmentation, not full automation. Explore how CHROs can partner with CIOs to align technology, governance, and workforce design. Get six clear imperatives for responsible GenAI adoption across the enterprise. Why It Matters:AI adoption is a workforce transformation—not just a technology […]

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Monthly Research Recap | October 2025

Recent Research: Market Alert: UKG and Google Cloud Deepen Partnership to Accelerate Agentic AI in HR, Pay, and Workforce Management UKG has expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate the deployment of agentic AI across its HR, payroll, and workforce management solutions. By integrating Google’s Gemini models, BigQuery, and AlloyDB into its UKG Bryte AI agents, the company aims to deliver real-time, data-driven insights that enhance productivity and simplify daily work for employees and managers alike. This move positions UKG at the forefront of a broader industry shift toward embedded, interoperable AI ecosystems—transforming AI from a support tool into an active collaborator in workforce operations while reinforcing its commitment to security, transparency, and ethical governance. Case Study: How Sparus Strengthens Compliance and Safety with […]