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Shopify Requires AI Assessment for Applicants 

Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke has made it clear: in the age of AI, traditional headcount justifications won’t cut it. In a memo recently shared with employees—and posted publicly— Lutke announced that Shopify staff must prove that they can’t accomplish a task using AI before requesting additional resources or headcount. This move reflects a broader shift […]

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Revisiting Your Recognition System? 5 Psychological Pitfalls to Avoid

If you’re reevaluating your employee recognition system, you’re not alone. Many HR leaders are confronting a hard truth: the traditional models of praise and reward aren’t landing the way they used to—or worse, they’re demotivating the very people they were meant to inspire. As a social psychologist, I’ve spent my career studying emotional needs, motivation, […]

Developing, Maintaining, and Nurturing Company Culture in a Remote Workplace

With remote and hybrid models as part of the workplace norm, companies face the challenge of how to sustain—and evolve—company culture without the daily rituals of shared office life. With employees dispersed across cities, time zones, and even continents, many organizations are working to redefine how connection, trust, and shared values show up in a […]

Faces of HR: Cyril Boisard’s Journey to People Leadership

Cyril Boisard‘s career is a testament to the power of curiosity and adaptability. His journey began in the realm of electronic engineering and R&D, but a thirst for deeper knowledge led him to pursue a master’s degree in computer science. Boisard’s early career saw him thrive as a software engineer across diverse landscapes, from multinational […]

Washington Supreme Court Limits Duty of Loyalty Exception to Anti-Moonlighting Law

The Washington Supreme Court recently limited when an employer can restrict low-wage workers from moonlighting. The court ruled such agreements are presumptively invalid for low-wage workers unless they are reasonable and narrowly tailored. Washington’s Anti-Moonlighting Law Since 2020, Washington has restricted employers from prohibiting their low-wage workers from moonlighting—having an additional job, supplementing their income […]

4 Steps to Foster Internal Promotions and Career Advancement

In many companies, “career advancement” is a buzzword thrown around in onboarding packets, only to gather dust as employees linger where they are. The promise of upward mobility—promotions, new responsibilities, a clear path forward—often clashes with reality: opaque processes, favoritism, or a simple lack of opportunity. But fostering internal growth isn’t just a perk; it’s […]

All-Female Spaceflight Highlights Ongoing Shifts in DEI Policies

Last week, the most recent Blue Origin flight went to space. Unlike past voyages, all passengers were female, including a couple of celebrities. Like with anything these days, some hailed it as progress while others criticized it as a publicity stunt. What I find interesting as a labor employment attorney is the publicity and promotion […]

How Neglecting Culture Hurts Retention, Engagement, and Performance

Leaders understand financial debt and technical debt. But many overlook a more subtle, equally corrosive liability: culture debt. Culture debt accumulates when leadership delays difficult conversations, ignores misaligned behaviors, or fails to reinforce company values. It’s not always visible right away—but it compounds. Left unchecked, it erodes trust, weakens engagement, and increases turnover. What Culture […]

Tech Needs Older Workers: 3 Ways to Hire and Retain Them

Tech companies are battling for talent. With innovation accelerating and AI reshaping roles across every function, demand for skilled professionals has never been higher. But while employers scramble to fill roles, they may be overlooking a critical solution in plain sight: older workers. Amid rising living costs and economic uncertainty, many professionals are extending their […]

Be Anxious About ADA Anxiety Claims

A very recent case from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (the federal appeals court over Texas) explains how a seemingly common condition in a stressed-out world is deserving of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protection. Lawyer Sues Under ADA Jamilah Way was a lawyer for the city of Missouri City, Texas, from August […]