Author: Jenna Estlick, Versique

Striking the Balance Between High Tech and Human Connection

HR leaders across industries are finding creative ways to integrate AI and other new technologies into their workflows. Some are carefully testing the waters, while others are jumping in with AI integration embedded throughout their workday. Regardless of adaptation level, all HR professionals are trying to balance new efficiencies with the heart and soul of […]

5 Ways AI Can Personalize Learning and Development

It’s always been important for employees to continue their learning and grow their skillset. But in today’s workplace, the demand for continuous learning and upskilling has never been more critical. As industries transform under the influence of technological advancements, globalization, and shifting market needs, employees must adapt to stay relevant. Human Resources (HR) departments lead […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Gen AI’s Secret Weapon for Coaching & Culture

Think AI is just for recruitment? Think again. Jennifer Kirkwood, CEO & Founder of Talvana Consulting, and speaker at SPARK Talent 2025, recently shared an unexpected but powerful insight: while generative AI is already changing many parts of HR, its biggest, most surprising impact is coming to employee coaching and feedback. This is huge, Kirkwood noted, especially […]

Faces of HR: The “Squiggly” Path to People Success—Meet Deel’s Alice Burks

Alice Burks, Deel‘s Director of People Success, is a leader with a mission: to make sure everyone at Deel thrives. With ten years of experience guiding teams, both within companies and as a consultant, Burks has worked with fast-growing companies like Danish tech giant Trustpilot, plus global clients in IT, manufacturing, and retail.  At Deel, […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: AI Helps You Do “More with Less”

At Spark HR 2025, Matthew Duncan, who leads Microsoft’s thinking on the future of work, shared a big truth from Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Report: people at work are hitting their limits. With people facing hundreds of interruptions each day and most feeling a constant time crunch, the old ways of boosting output simply don’t […]

EEOC Abortion Accommodations Vacated by Louisiana Federal Court

On May 21, 2025, a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana vacated a portion of the Biden-era U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) final rule implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) to require employers to reasonably accommodate employees who choose to have an abortion. Quick Hits U.S. […]

The AI Revolution: Your Workforce Isn’t Running Out of Work, It’s Running Out of Time

At SPARK HR 2025, Matthew Duncan, who leads Microsoft’s thinking on the future of work, didn’t just talk about AI – he showed us a new reality for workplaces everywhere. Based on Microsoft‘s latest Work Trend Index Report, which surveyed 31,000 people in 31 countries, Duncan pointed out a huge truth: people are reaching their limits. […]

Burnout Isn’t Just a Manager Problem, It’s a Business Imperative

Managers are not just feeling the pressure in workplaces across the country; they are cracking under it. Burnout is not something you throw a few PTO days at and hope for the best, and it’s certainly not an individual failing. It’s a business-critical workforce crisis with systemic roots; one that organizations can’t afford to ignore. […]

development

How to Craft Career Development Programs That Actually Work

For HR professionals, designing career development programs that deliver tangible results is critical to attracting top talent, boosting engagement, and reducing turnover. Everyone claims to be investing in career development for their employees. But let’s face it: not all programs are created equal. Many fall flat due to poor execution, lack of alignment with employee […]

Faces of HR: How Stephen Pearson Builds Collaborative Workforces

Stephen Pearson isn’t just an HR Manager at Matern Professional Engineering; he’s an architect of talent. With over two decades of experience in the technical and engineering sectors, Pearson has spent more than a decade at Matern cultivating a renowned culture of collaboration across multiple sites. He’s the force behind their highly effective Lunch & […]