#HRTechChat: The Economics of HR – Speaking the Language of Business with Maria Scarangella

In this episode of #HRTechChat, Nicole Roberts is joined by Maria Scarangella to tackle one of the most persistent challenges facing HR today: proving business value in a climate defined by cost pressure, efficiency mandates, and heightened executive scrutiny. Drawing on her 37-year career at GEICO—including leadership of a $2.5B P&L—and her current work building Marstella, Maria explains why HR risks losing its strategic seat when it speaks only in HR metrics instead of business outcomes. Together, they explore how quantifying the true cost of hiring, onboarding, training, and turnover can fundamentally change executive decision-making—from smarter workforce planning to more targeted investments in technology and development. Maria outlines why “a lot” is not a number, how lifecycle cost visibility creates accountability across leaders, and why […]

#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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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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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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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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Market Alert: UKG and Google Cloud Deepen Partnership to Accelerate Agentic AI in HR, Pay, and Workforce Management

In a move that underscores the accelerating convergence of HR tech and advanced AI, UKG and Google Cloud announced a major expansion of their partnership earlier this month, designed to bring agentic AI into the daily work experience of tens of millions of employees worldwide. UKG selected Google Cloud as its primary provider for AI and data analytics, integrating Gemini Enterprise, Gemini models, and BigQuery to power its UKG Bryte AI agents across the Workforce Operating Platform. The goal is to provide employees and leaders with conversational, data-driven insights that drive productivity, reduce administrative burdens, and create more adaptable workplaces. Why It Matters: The Bigger Picture in HR Tech UKG’s deep integration with Google Cloud positions it among a growing wave of HCM vendors investing […]

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Council Guest Post: HR Transformation – Developing Talent and Skills for the Future

Preparing the Workforce for Future Challenges and Opportunities Introduction In today’s rapidly evolving world, organizations must continually adapt to stay competitive. To do this successfully, they need to focus on developing talent and skills that will prepare their workforce for future challenges and opportunities. In my experience transforming HR, I have seen firsthand the importance of a strategic approach to talent development and skill building. Let’s explore on how organizations can achieve this goal. Understanding the Future of Work To effectively develop talent and skills for the future, it is essential to understand the changing nature of work. Technological advancements, globalization, and demographic shifts are reshaping the workforce landscape. Jobs that once required manual labor are now being automated, and new roles are emerging that […]

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GTM Innovators: The GEO Playbook – How Partner Marketing Fuels AI Discoverability with Michael Cole

In this episode of GTM Innovators, host Kyle James sits down with Michael Cole, SVP of Marketing at Everflow, to explore how Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is redefining the rules of search and discoverability. As AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini become the new front doors to information, long-tail SEO is giving way to a world driven by citations, partnerships, and authentic content. Michael shares how leading brands are adapting—building relationships with publishers, rethinking affiliate strategies, and creating human-led content that fuels visibility across AI-powered ecosystems. If you’ve ever wondered what replaces SEO in the age of AI, this conversation is your new playbook.  Subscript to GMT Innovators Series on the following platforms: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/research-859405782 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsoV6fwX4cpGR2Hg98rc1e1k2-cOqCbhb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gvDzcl0jxpPIfu9WYu6U4 iHeartReadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/258127960/ Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/gtm-innovators/PC:1001097038 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gtm-innovators/id1790738579 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1b000615-31cc-49dd-a5d8-f80d5098bf2d/gtm-innovators […]

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AT&T’s Market-Based Culture Shift and What It Reveals About the Future of Work – Part 1 of 2

Part 1 of 2: Inside John Stankey’s Memo and the Rise of Market-Based Management at AT&T One piece of workplace-related news that I haven’t been able to get out of my head is the memo AT&T CEO John Stankey sent out to his company this summer. Stankey’s memo has garnered numerous (mostly negative) hot takes from analysts and influencers alike. Admittedly, I’m late to the party on addressing it. However, the reason I am now is because it seems to be evolving into an artifact of corporate transformation in real-time. I dove into the entirety of Stankey’s message and pulled out a few key concepts. Keep in mind, the “memo” is in fact a 4000-word essay that takes about 15 minutes to read on its […]

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Analyst Insight: Payscale 2025 Salary Budget Survey

Payscale’s 2025 Salary Budget Survey reveals a cautious pay environment as employers prepare for 2026. Drawing on insights from 1,551 organizations across the U.S., Canada, and beyond, the findings show that salary increase budgets are flattening, even as inflation and wage expectations remain elevated. Payscale’s findings illustrate a shift in the employment landscape. Wage growth between 2021 and 2023 became more cautious, and employers are focusing on controlling costs amid consistently uncertain economic signs. Simultaneously, workers remain highly aware of inflationary pressures and expect wage increases to preserve their purchasing power. The ongoing friction between these forces will shape retention and engagement in 2026. For 2026, U.S. employers project average salary budget increases of 3.5%, slightly lower than the 3.6% they actually granted in 2025. […]

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Guest Podcast: Up Next @ Work, Episode 5 with Dylan Teggart of 3Sixty Insights

In this episode, Up Next @ Work host Kate Achille sits down with Dylan Teggart, Principal Analyst at 3Sixty Insights, to discuss the state of the employee experience in 2024. Taking a socio-political lens to what’s most often seen as an HR issue, Kate and Dylan consider what factors most influence engagement rates in today’s workplaces and what employers can do to understand and improve the connection to their workforce. This conversation also serves as a preview of Dylan’s forthcoming research on building the employee experience from a workforce management perspective.

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theHRDIRECTOR: Key takeaways from this year’s HR technology conference

My heart is full and my battery is drained, but in the most beautiful way. Prior to HR Technology Conference, my experience with conferences was from the practioner’s and blogger perspective. I had the opportunity to attend HR Tech as a learner and an analyst in an industry where I’ve been a customer, a decision maker, and a functionality geek. I got to see some amazing people I had not seen in years or even had never met IRL. I’ve always loved learning, attending demos, and seeing how people are looking to solve their business challenges with people tech solutions. It was fun to have the experience of being in HR for 20+ years and now having a different conversation with vendors, finding out from […]