The On-Ramp Cracked: Proof Culture Meets a Tougher Job Market | PAPER CUT | EBN

The On-Ramp Cracked: Proof Culture Meets a Tougher Job Market | PAPER CUT | EBN

Graduates are struggling to break in as hybrid becomes a career filter and AI work shifts into a blame-and-proof culture. We cover the broken on-ramp, token-driven measurement, WFH surveillance, labour market strain, and The Cut List of layoffs and restructures. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 [https://ebn.to/sub25] 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 [https://ebn.to/lin25] ⸻ Sources & Links The early-career on-ramp * https://www.hrdive.com/news/remote-work-may-be-hurting-college-grads/822018/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all [https://www.hrdive.com/news/remote-work-may-be-hurting-college-grads/822018/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/01/remote-work-youth-unemployment-new-york-fed.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/01/remote-work-youth-unemployment-new-york-fed.html] * https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/young-canadians-are-entering-one-of-the-toughest-summer-job-markets-amid-a-technical-recession-hows-your-experience/ [https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/young-canadians-are-entering-one-of-the-toughest-summer-job-markets-amid-a-technical-recession-hows-your-experience/] * https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/28/young-people-struggle-to-find-work-milburn-report [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/28/young-people-struggle-to-find-work-milburn-report] * https://theconversation.com/hybrid-work-is-not-always-the-golden-compromise-employees-expect-even-as-more-companies-implement-it-283015 [https://theconversation.com/hybrid-work-is-not-always-the-golden-compromise-employees-expect-even-as-more-companies-implement-it-283015] AI blame + caste system * https://fortune.com/2026/05/28/ai-employees-org-chart-human-workers-blame-errors-bcg-study/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/28/ai-employees-org-chart-human-workers-blame-errors-bcg-study/] * https://www.thestateofbrand.com/news/ai-employees-caste-system [https://www.thestateofbrand.com/news/ai-employees-caste-system] * https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/more-exhausted-than-ever-ai-creates-unrealistic-expectations-drives-aussie-employee-burnout/news-story/c261dee1d10f9b6451f31610812a62a9 [https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/more-exhausted-than-ever-ai-creates-unrealistic-expectations-drives-aussie-employee-burnout/news-story/c261dee1d10f9b6451f31610812a62a9] * https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/amazon-launches-ai-worker-robot-that-takes-conversational-instruction/577835?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all [https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/amazon-launches-ai-worker-robot-that-takes-conversational-instruction/577835?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all] * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/amd-ceo-lisa-su-at-mit-commencement-companies-do-not-need-people-who-know-how-to-use-ai-tools-they-need-people-who-know-/articleshow/131431407.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/amd-ceo-lisa-su-at-mit-commencement-companies-do-not-need-people-who-know-how-to-use-ai-tools-they-need-people-who-know-/articleshow/131431407.cms] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/03/amazon-engineers-in-seattle-slam-employer-for-ai-data-amid-layoffs.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/03/amazon-engineers-in-seattle-slam-employer-for-ai-data-amid-layoffs.html] Proof culture + pay silence * https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-startup-mercor-spends-more-on-tokens-than-payroll-2026-6 [https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-startup-mercor-spends-more-on-tokens-than-payroll-2026-6] * https://fortune.com/2026/06/01/cognizant-ceo-ravi-kumar-s-hiring-entry-level-tokenmaxxing-vanity-metric/ [https://fortune.com/2026/06/01/cognizant-ceo-ravi-kumar-s-hiring-entry-level-tokenmaxxing-vanity-metric/] * https://fortune.com/2026/06/02/cognizant-ceo-ravi-kumar-s-ai-middle-managers-player-coaches/ [https://fortune.com/2026/06/02/cognizant-ceo-ravi-kumar-s-ai-middle-managers-player-coaches/] * https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-employee-survey-compensation-question-omitted-2026-6 [https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-employee-survey-compensation-question-omitted-2026-6] * https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-surveys-employees-sentiment-memo-2026-6 [https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-surveys-employees-sentiment-memo-2026-6] * https://www.fastcompany.com/91553359/employee-engagement-was-built-for-a-more-stable-era [https://www.fastcompany.com/91553359/employee-engagement-was-built-for-a-more-stable-era] * https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2026/06/03/why-some-employees-stop-speaking-up-even-when-they-see-problems/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2026/06/03/why-some-employees-stop-speaking-up-even-when-they-see-problems/] * https://recruitingheadlines.com/new-data-recruiter-interactions-with-candidates-and-clients-jump-60-yoy-number-of-ai-tools-used-grows/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all [https://recruitingheadlines.com/new-data-recruiter-interactions-with-candidates-and-clients-jump-60-yoy-number-of-ai-tools-used-grows/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all] * https://www.peoplematters.in/article/talent-management/the-cost-of-rebuilding-talent-now-exceeds-the-cost-of-retaining-it-chro-mohan-monteiro-50075 [https://www.peoplematters.in/article/talent-management/the-cost-of-rebuilding-talent-now-exceeds-the-cost-of-retaining-it-chro-mohan-monteiro-50075] * https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/software-company-artificial-intelligence-cancel-raises-b2989726.html [https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/software-company-artificial-intelligence-cancel-raises-b2989726.html] Surveillance + labour market mood * https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/australia-employers-are-asking-private-investigators-to-spy-on-wfh-staff-20260527-p601af.html [https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/australia-employers-are-asking-private-investigators-to-spy-on-wfh-staff-20260527-p601af.html] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/04/long-term-unemployment-economy-jobs.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/04/long-term-unemployment-economy-jobs.html] * https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/01/economy/finding-new-job-challenges [https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/01/economy/finding-new-job-challenges] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/04/the-may-jobs-report-will-be-released-friday-heres-what-to-expect.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/04/the-may-jobs-report-will-be-released-friday-heres-what-to-expect.html] * https://theconversation.com/almost-3-million-workers-will-get-a-4-75-pay-rise-in-july-but-wages-cant-catch-up-with-inflation-284193 [https://theconversation.com/almost-3-million-workers-will-get-a-4-75-pay-rise-in-july-but-wages-cant-catch-up-with-inflation-284193] * https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93x0k194yno [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93x0k194yno] * https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy25x97wrxo [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy25x97wrxo] The Cut List * https://www.businessinsider.com/google-clouds-quiet-layoffs-hit-cybersecurity-teams-2026-6 [https://www.businessinsider.com/google-clouds-quiet-layoffs-hit-cybersecurity-teams-2026-6] * https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/oracle-workers-allege-company-changed-their-job-status-before-layoffs-to-avoid-certain-notice-requirements-13938489.html [https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/oracle-workers-allege-company-changed-their-job-status-before-layoffs-to-avoid-certain-notice-requirements-13938489.html] * https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-layoffs-ai-dara-khosrowshahi-2026-6 [https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-layoffs-ai-dara-khosrowshahi-2026-6] * https://www.businessinsider.com/list-companies-replacing-human-employees-with-ai-layoffs-workforce-reductions [https://www.businessinsider.com/list-companies-replacing-human-employees-with-ai-layoffs-workforce-reductions] * https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/06/04/tech-industry-loses-123000-jobs-this-year-ai-is-the-most-cited-reason-for-layoffs/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/06/04/tech-industry-loses-123000-jobs-this-year-ai-is-the-most-cited-reason-for-layoffs/] * https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/06/04/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor/ac27c740-6012-11f1-9c46-d6211372eede_story.html [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/06/04/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor/ac27c740-6012-11f1-9c46-d6211372eede_story.html] #FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HR #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentMarketing #AIatWork #HybridWork #CareerAdvice #GraduateJobs #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #Layoffs

Efficiency Got Expensive: The AI Bill Comes Due | PAPER CUT

AI is being used to justify restructures, expand monitoring, and compress entry-level pathways. This week’s Paper Cut covers the efficiency trap (Jevons Paradox at work), agents moving into HR and finance, the pipeline risk when entry work disappears, the rising control stack, and The Cut List of major job cuts. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 [https://ebn.to/sub25] 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 [https://ebn.to/lin25] ⸻ Sources & Links The Efficiency Trap * https://employerbranding.news/the-efficiency-trap-ai-the-jevons-paradox-and-the-future-of-the-human-workforce/ [https://employerbranding.news/the-efficiency-trap-ai-the-jevons-paradox-and-the-future-of-the-human-workforce/] * https://employerbranding.news/the-ai-bill-is-coming-its-big-hr-and-ta-will-pay-it/ [https://employerbranding.news/the-ai-bill-is-coming-its-big-hr-and-ta-will-pay-it/] * https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2026/05/24/why-ai-likely-means-more-work-for-humans/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2026/05/24/why-ai-likely-means-more-work-for-humans/] * https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/99-percent-ceos-workers-ai-survey [https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/99-percent-ceos-workers-ai-survey] * https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/microsoft-and-others-rethink-ai-use-cost-rising-fast-and-no-productivity-gains-2917319-2026-05-26 [https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/microsoft-and-others-rethink-ai-use-cost-rising-fast-and-no-productivity-gains-2917319-2026-05-26] * https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/hsbc-ceo-georges-elhedery-says-do-not-fight-ai-banks-cut-jobs-6131921 [https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/hsbc-ceo-georges-elhedery-says-do-not-fight-ai-banks-cut-jobs-6131921] Agents in HR and finance * https://www.ciodive.com/news/Google-Cloud-Workday-agentic-HR-finance/821405/ [https://www.ciodive.com/news/Google-Cloud-Workday-agentic-HR-finance/821405/] * https://newsroom.workday.com/2026-05-28-Workday-and-Google-Cloud-Expand-Strategic-Partnership-to-Bring-AI-Agents-for-HR-and-Finance-Into-Employees-Daily-Workflows [https://newsroom.workday.com/2026-05-28-Workday-and-Google-Cloud-Expand-Strategic-Partnership-to-Bring-AI-Agents-for-HR-and-Finance-Into-Employees-Daily-Workflows] * https://www.hrdive.com/news/when-technology-becomes-a-headache-instead-of-a-solution/821380/ [https://www.hrdive.com/news/when-technology-becomes-a-headache-instead-of-a-solution/821380/] * https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/the-old-hr-is-dead-heres-whats-replacing-it/576490 [https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/the-old-hr-is-dead-heres-whats-replacing-it/576490] * https://www.ibanet.org/IBA-global-employment-report-highlights-AI-skills-shortages-and-employee-wellbeing-as-defining-workplace-challenges [https://www.ibanet.org/IBA-global-employment-report-highlights-AI-skills-shortages-and-employee-wellbeing-as-defining-workplace-challenges] Pipeline and skills * https://fortune.com/2026/05/21/kenneth-arrow-learning-by-doing-entry-level-work-automation/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/21/kenneth-arrow-learning-by-doing-entry-level-work-automation/] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/27/these-5-ai-proof-skills-are-likely-to-increase-in-value-over-next-5-years-career-expert.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/27/these-5-ai-proof-skills-are-likely-to-increase-in-value-over-next-5-years-career-expert.html] * https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-jensen-huang-what-kids-should-study-ai-education-advice-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-jensen-huang-what-kids-should-study-ai-education-advice-2026-5] * https://fortune.com/2026/05/26/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-embrace-criticism-leadership-strategy-learned-from-taiwanese-parents-five-trillion-dollar-tech-firm/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/26/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-embrace-criticism-leadership-strategy-learned-from-taiwanese-parents-five-trillion-dollar-tech-firm/] * https://fortune.com/2026/05/22/indeed-chief-economist-svenja-gudell-entering-era-great-mismatch-generational-imbalance-workers/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/22/indeed-chief-economist-svenja-gudell-entering-era-great-mismatch-generational-imbalance-workers/] * https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/global-employment-forecast-downgraded-7-million-jobs-2025-amid-rising [https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/global-employment-forecast-downgraded-7-million-jobs-2025-amid-rising] * https://globalnews.ca/news/11864745/youth-living-at-home/ [https://globalnews.ca/news/11864745/youth-living-at-home/] Control stack and governance * https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/work-from-home-warning-after-private-investigator-reveals-wild-surveillance-request-from-aussie-boss-watching-you-190000189.html [https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/work-from-home-warning-after-private-investigator-reveals-wild-surveillance-request-from-aussie-boss-watching-you-190000189.html] * https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-proposes-non-disclosure-agreements-us-federal-workers-2026-05-26/ [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-proposes-non-disclosure-agreements-us-federal-workers-2026-05-26/] * https://www.wired.com/story/department-of-labor-tells-employees-to-report-anyone-prioritizing-dei/ [https://www.wired.com/story/department-of-labor-tells-employees-to-report-anyone-prioritizing-dei/] * https://hrsea.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace/the-hidden-psychological-cost-of-workplace-recognition/131245019 [https://hrsea.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace/the-hidden-psychological-cost-of-workplace-recognition/131245019] * https://www.ft.com/content/e126f744-3db9-4305-8871-31f83ebc4ed7?syn-25a6b1a6=1 [https://www.ft.com/content/e126f744-3db9-4305-8871-31f83ebc4ed7?syn-25a6b1a6=1] The Cut List * https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/25/what-clickups-mass-layoff-tells-us-about-the-future-of-work/ [https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/25/what-clickups-mass-layoff-tells-us-about-the-future-of-work/] * https://www.hcamag.com/ca/news/general/wix-axes-20-of-its-workforce-as-ai-layoffs-reshape-global-tech/576995 [https://www.hcamag.com/ca/news/general/wix-axes-20-of-its-workforce-as-ai-layoffs-reshape-global-tech/576995] * https://anz.peoplemattersglobal.com/amp/news/strategic-hr/after-saying-no-more-layoffs-in-2026-meta-plans-1400-more-job-cuts-in-washington-49942 [https://anz.peoplemattersglobal.com/amp/news/strategic-hr/after-saying-no-more-layoffs-in-2026-meta-plans-1400-more-job-cuts-in-washington-49942] * https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/22/wisetech-redundancies-australia-omits-ai-from-emails-to-chinese-employees [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/22/wisetech-redundancies-australia-omits-ai-from-emails-to-chinese-employees] * https://www.businessinsider.com/read-meta-layoff-email-employees-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/read-meta-layoff-email-employees-2026-5] * https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/intuit-cut-17-global-jobs-streamline-operations-memo-shows-2026-05-20/ [https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/intuit-cut-17-global-jobs-streamline-operations-memo-shows-2026-05-20/] * https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/h1anwq4lme [https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/h1anwq4lme] * https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy026x9jpd0o [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy026x9jpd0o] * https://www.wsj.com/opinion/how-i-choose-which-cloudflare-employees-to-replace-with-ai-40a197e5 [https://www.wsj.com/opinion/how-i-choose-which-cloudflare-employees-to-replace-with-ai-40a197e5] * https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/transformation/this-ceo-announced-huge-job-cuts-because-of-ai-threats-to-his-family-followed/576406 [https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/transformation/this-ceo-announced-huge-job-cuts-because-of-ai-threats-to-his-family-followed/576406] * https://www.ft.com/content/d82d2a5c-74ab-4eb9-a658-fd5467e71670?syn-25a6b1a6=1 [https://www.ft.com/content/d82d2a5c-74ab-4eb9-a658-fd5467e71670?syn-25a6b1a6=1] * https://www.ft.com/content/1b7625e7-e9ab-4660-aff5-c1e333c31a5c?syn-25a6b1a6=1 [https://www.ft.com/content/1b7625e7-e9ab-4660-aff5-c1e333c31a5c?syn-25a6b1a6=1]

The Memo That Changed the Mood | PAPER CUT

Pay is louder. Measurement is heavier. Cuts keep arriving. This week’s Paper Cut is about the bargain underneath it all: what employers are taking away, what they’re demanding in return, and why “efficiency” keeps landing as monitoring plus headcount reduction. We cover burnout and compensation pressure, AI turning into policy and proof culture, flexibility being renegotiated, HR’s expanding remit, and The Cut List. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 [https://ebn.to/sub25] 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 [https://ebn.to/lin25] ⸻ Sources & Links Burnout, confidence, and pay * https://www.hrdive.com/news/burnout-increasing-employee-confidence-at-a-record-low/820801/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all [https://www.hrdive.com/news/burnout-increasing-employee-confidence-at-a-record-low/820801/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all] * https://www.hrdive.com/news/7-stories-on-the-state-of-pay-in-the-workplace/820169/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all [https://www.hrdive.com/news/7-stories-on-the-state-of-pay-in-the-workplace/820169/?utm_source=ebn&utm_medium=news-feed&utm_content=story&utm_campaign=all] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/21/samsung-electronics-union-strike-suspended-wage-deal-bonuses.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/21/samsung-electronics-union-strike-suspended-wage-deal-bonuses.html] * https://www.ft.com/content/4837bb92-8db3-4fe6-ada5-7f83c6486a14 [https://www.ft.com/content/4837bb92-8db3-4fe6-ada5-7f83c6486a14] AI as policy and proof culture * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/18/ai-workforce-college-jobs.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/18/ai-workforce-college-jobs.html] * https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/accenture-exec-future-proofing-org-chart-indeed-university-michigan-ai/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/accenture-exec-future-proofing-org-chart-indeed-university-michigan-ai/] * https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/article/billionaire-block-founder-jack-dorsey-suggests-radically-reshaping-manager-roles-in-the-age-of-ai-131219450.html [https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/article/billionaire-block-founder-jack-dorsey-suggests-radically-reshaping-manager-roles-in-the-age-of-ai-131219450.html] * https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/linkedin-is-fighting-back-against-ai-slop-and-ai-comments [https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/linkedin-is-fighting-back-against-ai-slop-and-ai-comments] * https://www.ft.com/content/d022680e-f769-47c6-ae90-b1ff8a802dce?syn-25a6b1a6=1 [https://www.ft.com/content/d022680e-f769-47c6-ae90-b1ff8a802dce?syn-25a6b1a6=1] * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/salesforce-ceo-marc-benioff-who-said-that-we-will-not-hire-any-more-engineers-in-2025-sees-the-company-spending-millions-on-/articleshow/131161788.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/salesforce-ceo-marc-benioff-who-said-that-we-will-not-hire-any-more-engineers-in-2025-sees-the-company-spending-millions-on-/articleshow/131161788.cms] * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/linkedin-co-founder-reid-hoffman-has-a-reminder-for-everyone-on-ai-layoffs-its-important-not-to-ignore-/articleshow/130896300.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/linkedin-co-founder-reid-hoffman-has-a-reminder-for-everyone-on-ai-layoffs-its-important-not-to-ignore-/articleshow/130896300.cms] * https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/circle-ceo-says-ai-fueled-layoffs-are-only-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-174500668.html [https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/circle-ceo-says-ai-fueled-layoffs-are-only-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-174500668.html] Flexibility, four-day week, and time politics * https://theconversation.com/15-australian-companies-switched-to-a-four-day-work-week-it-went-surprisingly-well-283361 [https://theconversation.com/15-australian-companies-switched-to-a-four-day-work-week-it-went-surprisingly-well-283361] * https://apnews.com/article/remote-work-virtual-office-a90bba3ecff9548a92efa10e3d061c38 [https://apnews.com/article/remote-work-virtual-office-a90bba3ecff9548a92efa10e3d061c38] * https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-work-driving-us-productivity-boom-stanford-professor-nicholas-bloom-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-work-driving-us-productivity-boom-stanford-professor-nicholas-bloom-2026-5] * https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543 [https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543] * https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/05/14/remote-workers-are-happier-but-most-forced-back-to-office-feel-employer-was-justified/ [https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/05/14/remote-workers-are-happier-but-most-forced-back-to-office-feel-employer-was-justified/] * https://fortune.com/article/zillow-ceo-remote-work-model-talent-everywhere/ [https://fortune.com/article/zillow-ceo-remote-work-model-talent-everywhere/] * https://www.economist.com/business/2026/05/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-commuting [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/05/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-commuting] * https://www.ft.com/content/ef46bd8f-51ee-4c06-b5ab-1de23114f81a?syn-25a6b1a6=1 [https://www.ft.com/content/ef46bd8f-51ee-4c06-b5ab-1de23114f81a?syn-25a6b1a6=1] HR, culture, and operating systems * https://www.peoplematters.in/article/leadership/international-hr-day-2026-how-hr-became-the-fastest-rising-power-function-in-corporate-leadership-49824 [https://www.peoplematters.in/article/leadership/international-hr-day-2026-how-hr-became-the-fastest-rising-power-function-in-corporate-leadership-49824] * https://www.fastcompany.com/91544230/your-company-lives-inside-its-culture [https://www.fastcompany.com/91544230/your-company-lives-inside-its-culture] * https://www.inc.com/netta-jenkins/why-data-is-becoming-the-language-of-leadership-in-hr/91337316 [https://www.inc.com/netta-jenkins/why-data-is-becoming-the-language-of-leadership-in-hr/91337316] * https://www.inc.com/netta-jenkins/hr-isnt-just-support-anymore-its-running-the-show-behind-the-scenes/91337284 [https://www.inc.com/netta-jenkins/hr-isnt-just-support-anymore-its-running-the-show-behind-the-scenes/91337284] * https://fortune.com/2026/05/19/bolt-ceo-ryan-breslow-cut-hr-department-causing-problems-fintech-startup-turn-around/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/19/bolt-ceo-ryan-breslow-cut-hr-department-causing-problems-fintech-startup-turn-around/] * https://www.inc.com/sarah-lynch/inside-lucy-guos-workplace-strategy-for-building-retention/91339389 [https://www.inc.com/sarah-lynch/inside-lucy-guos-workplace-strategy-for-building-retention/91339389] The Cut List * https://www.reuters.com/world/meta-lays-out-plans-may-20-layoffs-restructuring-internal-document-says-2026-05-18/ [https://www.reuters.com/world/meta-lays-out-plans-may-20-layoffs-restructuring-internal-document-says-2026-05-18/] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/20/meta-layoffs-zuckerberg-says-success-isnt-a-given-in-memo.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/20/meta-layoffs-zuckerberg-says-success-isnt-a-given-in-memo.html] * https://www.ndtv.com/business-news/meta-layoff-job-cuts-final-email-fired-employees-tech-ai-disruption-mark-zuckerberg-h1b-visa-workers-11526151 [https://www.ndtv.com/business-news/meta-layoff-job-cuts-final-email-fired-employees-tech-ai-disruption-mark-zuckerberg-h1b-visa-workers-11526151] * https://vulcanpost.com/911395/meta-layoff-singapore-2026/ [https://vulcanpost.com/911395/meta-layoff-singapore-2026/] * https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/technology/meta-reassigns-7000-employees-ai.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/technology/meta-reassigns-7000-employees-ai.html] * https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/intuit-cut-17-global-jobs-streamline-operations-memo-shows-2026-05-20/ [https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/intuit-cut-17-global-jobs-streamline-operations-memo-shows-2026-05-20/] * https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/intuit-cut-17-global-jobs-streamline-operations-memo-shows-2026-05-20/ [https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/intuit-cut-17-global-jobs-streamline-operations-memo-shows-2026-05-20/] * https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/standard-chartered-reduce-7000-roles-2030-6129761?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_19052026_cna [https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/standard-chartered-reduce-7000-roles-2030-6129761?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_19052026_cna] * https://nypost.com/2026/05/19/business/panic-in-california-as-linkedin-announces-hundreds-of-layoffs/ [https://nypost.com/2026/05/19/business/panic-in-california-as-linkedin-announces-hundreds-of-layoffs/] * https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/meta-lays-out-plans-for-may-20-layoffs-restructuring-internal-document-says-191547511.html [https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/meta-lays-out-plans-for-may-20-layoffs-restructuring-internal-document-says-191547511.html] * https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-cuts-hundreds-of-jobs-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-cuts-hundreds-of-jobs-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-2026-5]

Layoffs, Logs, Lowballs: Work’s New Math | PAPER CUT

Low unemployment can hide a labour crisis. Underemployment is rising, AI is reshaping wages and expectations, monitoring is becoming normal, and engagement is sliding as the employee bargain tightens. Plus The Cut List of major layoffs. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 [https://ebn.to/sub25] 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 [https://ebn.to/lin25] ⸻ Sources & Links Underemployment and insecurity * https://employerbranding.news/the-rise-of-the-underemployed-the-labour-crisis-hidden-behind-low-unemployment-rates/ [https://employerbranding.news/the-rise-of-the-underemployed-the-labour-crisis-hidden-behind-low-unemployment-rates/] * https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/why-underemployment-deserves-attention-even-if-it-voluntary [https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/why-underemployment-deserves-attention-even-if-it-voluntary] * https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/modern-worker-trouble [https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/modern-worker-trouble] * https://theconversation.com/worried-about-your-job-youre-not-alone-but-there-are-proven-ways-to-ease-job-insecurity-281128 [https://theconversation.com/worried-about-your-job-youre-not-alone-but-there-are-proven-ways-to-ease-job-insecurity-281128] * https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-men-employment-data-ec4d6d68 [https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-men-employment-data-ec4d6d68] * https://www.businessinsider.com/college-grad-landed-full-time-job-unemployment-guilty-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/college-grad-landed-full-time-job-unemployment-guilty-2026-5] AI reshaping work, wages, and monitoring * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/anthropic-cfo-krishna-rao-says-while-ai-now-writes-90-of-the-companys-code-we-have-hired-a-lot-more-people-because-/articleshow/131092558.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/anthropic-cfo-krishna-rao-says-while-ai-now-writes-90-of-the-companys-code-we-have-hired-a-lot-more-people-because-/articleshow/131092558.cms] * https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/08/cloudflare-says-ai-made-1100-jobs-obsolete-even-as-revenue-hit-a-record-high/ [https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/08/cloudflare-says-ai-made-1100-jobs-obsolete-even-as-revenue-hit-a-record-high/] * https://www.indiatoday.in/jobs/story/cloudflare-fires-1100-employees-due-to-ai-use-read-full-memo-here-tchc-2908463-2026-05-08 [https://www.indiatoday.in/jobs/story/cloudflare-fires-1100-employees-due-to-ai-use-read-full-memo-here-tchc-2908463-2026-05-08] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/07/cloudflare-net-q1-2026-stock-earnings-layoffs.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/07/cloudflare-net-q1-2026-stock-earnings-layoffs.html] * https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-layoffs-job-cuts-challenger-report-april-2026/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-layoffs-job-cuts-challenger-report-april-2026/] * https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/10/tech/ai-taking-jobs [https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/10/tech/ai-taking-jobs] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/08/this-company-made-headlines-for-its-aggressive-ai-driven-layoffs-citi-says-its-paying-off.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/08/this-company-made-headlines-for-its-aggressive-ai-driven-layoffs-citi-says-its-paying-off.html] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/05/ai-use-work-employee-monitoring-tech-surveillance.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/05/ai-use-work-employee-monitoring-tech-surveillance.html] * https://news.mit.edu/2026/study-firms-often-use-automation-control-certain-workers-wages-0507 [https://news.mit.edu/2026/study-firms-often-use-automation-control-certain-workers-wages-0507] Remote work and productivity * https://apnews.com/article/remote-work-virtual-office-a90bba3ecff9548a92efa10e3d061c38 [https://apnews.com/article/remote-work-virtual-office-a90bba3ecff9548a92efa10e3d061c38] * https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-work-driving-us-productivity-boom-stanford-professor-nicholas-bloom-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-work-driving-us-productivity-boom-stanford-professor-nicholas-bloom-2026-5] * https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543 [https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543] * https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/11/america-is-experiencing-a-productivity-miracle [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/11/america-is-experiencing-a-productivity-miracle] * https://www.ft.com/content/8ee0d3ef-9548-422d-8ff1-ebd48ad4b2ca?syn-25a6b1a6=1 [https://www.ft.com/content/8ee0d3ef-9548-422d-8ff1-ebd48ad4b2ca?syn-25a6b1a6=1] Engagement, success, and quitting * https://www.forbes.com/sites/aparnarae/2026/05/13/employee-engagement-hit-a-10-year-low-the-problem-isnt-people—its-organizational-systems/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/aparnarae/2026/05/13/employee-engagement-hit-a-10-year-low-the-problem-isnt-people%E2%80%94its-organizational-systems/] * https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/employees-quitting-trends-work-institute-research-center/91340127 [https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/employees-quitting-trends-work-institute-research-center/91340127] * https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2026/05/13/how-gen-zs-and-millennials-are-redefining-success-at-work/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2026/05/13/how-gen-zs-and-millennials-are-redefining-success-at-work/] * https://www.inc.com/bruce-crumley/why-gen-z-is-happier-running-small-businesses-than-working-traditional-jobs/91341108 [https://www.inc.com/bruce-crumley/why-gen-z-is-happier-running-small-businesses-than-working-traditional-jobs/91341108] * https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/fractional-future-work [https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/fractional-future-work] * https://fortune.com/2026/05/09/companies-abandoning-peanut-butter-raises-future-of-work-american-workers/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/09/companies-abandoning-peanut-butter-raises-future-of-work-american-workers/] * https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/this-ai-startup-is-giving-every-employee-a-10-raise-every-year-without-any-performance-review-2908710-2026-05-08 [https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/this-ai-startup-is-giving-every-employee-a-10-raise-every-year-without-any-performance-review-2908710-2026-05-08] * https://www.fastcompany.com/91522203/the-end-of-the-always-available-professional-workplace-burnout-boundaries [https://www.fastcompany.com/91522203/the-end-of-the-always-available-professional-workplace-burnout-boundaries] * https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/dont-get-too-comfortable-your-quality-of-life-depends-on-it-a4440a85 [https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/dont-get-too-comfortable-your-quality-of-life-depends-on-it-a4440a85] The Cut List * https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/cisco-to-cut-about-4000-jobs-in-ai-focused-restructuring-as-orders-surge [https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/cisco-to-cut-about-4000-jobs-in-ai-focused-restructuring-as-orders-surge] * https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cisco-to-cut-about-4000-jobs-in-ai-focused-restructuring-as-orders-surge-200934836.html [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cisco-to-cut-about-4000-jobs-in-ai-focused-restructuring-as-orders-surge-200934836.html] * https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/08/cloudflare-says-ai-made-1100-jobs-obsolete-even-as-revenue-hit-a-record-high/ [https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/08/cloudflare-says-ai-made-1100-jobs-obsolete-even-as-revenue-hit-a-record-high/] * https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-linkedin-planning-lay-off-140835735.html [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-linkedin-planning-lay-off-140835735.html] * https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/linkedin-is-planning-lay-off-5-staff-latest-tech-sector-cuts-source-says-2026-05-13/ [https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/linkedin-is-planning-lay-off-5-staff-latest-tech-sector-cuts-source-says-2026-05-13/] * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/paypal-to-lay-off-thousands-as-company-ceo-wants-to-spend-more-on-technology-tells-investors-first-we-will-remove-/articleshow/130885435.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/paypal-to-lay-off-thousands-as-company-ceo-wants-to-spend-more-on-technology-tells-investors-first-we-will-remove-/articleshow/130885435.cms] * https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/11/gm-layoffs.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/11/gm-layoffs.html] * https://www.wired.com/story/meta-layoffs-bad-vibes-mark-zuckerberg-ai/ [https://www.wired.com/story/meta-layoffs-bad-vibes-mark-zuckerberg-ai/] * https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/100-000-layoffs-later-meta-162613378.html [https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/100-000-layoffs-later-meta-162613378.html] * https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/meta-us-employees-organize-protest-against-mouse-tracking-tech-2026-05-12/ [https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/meta-us-employees-organize-protest-against-mouse-tracking-tech-2026-05-12/] * https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/walmart-layoffs-relocates-technology-jobs-23bbf322 [https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/walmart-layoffs-relocates-technology-jobs-23bbf322]

Perks, Proof, Pressure: The New Workplace Bargain | PAPER CUT

The workplace bargain is shifting. Benefits tighten, measurement grows, and AI becomes a benchmark for hiring and expectations. This week covers culture as an operating system, AI framing and job design, burnout boundaries returning, hidden risk from shadow IT and workplace comms, plus The Cut List. 📰 Subscribe: https://ebn.to/sub25 [https://ebn.to/sub25] 🔗 Follow EBN on LinkedIn: https://ebn.to/lin25 [https://ebn.to/lin25] ⸻ Sources & Links Culture as operating system * https://employerbranding.news/employer-brand-culture-operating-system/ [https://employerbranding.news/employer-brand-culture-operating-system/] * https://employerbranding.news/what-i-learned-doing-recruitment-marketing-for-a-brand-nobody-wants-to-work-for/ [https://employerbranding.news/what-i-learned-doing-recruitment-marketing-for-a-brand-nobody-wants-to-work-for/] * https://employerbranding.news/employer-branding-2026-new-bargain/ [https://employerbranding.news/employer-branding-2026-new-bargain/] * https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-executives-jane-fraser-culture-transformation-investor-day-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-executives-jane-fraser-culture-transformation-investor-day-2026-5] * https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-investment-banking-vis-raghwavan-talent-hiring-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-investment-banking-vis-raghwavan-talent-hiring-2026-5] * https://www.ft.com/content/83d514d0-5553-4341-a225-02d8dd28ade3?syn-25a6b1a6=1 [https://www.ft.com/content/83d514d0-5553-4341-a225-02d8dd28ade3?syn-25a6b1a6=1] AI expectations and job design * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/linkedin-co-founder-reid-hoffman-has-a-reminder-for-everyone-on-ai-layoffs-its-important-not-to-ignore-/articleshow/130896300.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/linkedin-co-founder-reid-hoffman-has-a-reminder-for-everyone-on-ai-layoffs-its-important-not-to-ignore-/articleshow/130896300.cms] * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-admits-that-company-is-slowing-hiring-and-the-reason-is-ai-says-if-every-person-at-this-company-can-increase-their-productivity-by-/articleshow/130901246.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-admits-that-company-is-slowing-hiring-and-the-reason-is-ai-says-if-every-person-at-this-company-can-increase-their-productivity-by-/articleshow/130901246.cms] * https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/tesla-former-hr-chief-ai-133000481.html [https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/tesla-former-hr-chief-ai-133000481.html] * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/as-accenture-announces-rolling-out-microsoft-copilot-to-743000-employees-ceo-julie-sweet-says-our-teams-are-/articleshow/130729934.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/as-accenture-announces-rolling-out-microsoft-copilot-to-743000-employees-ceo-julie-sweet-says-our-teams-are-/articleshow/130729934.cms] * https://hbr.org/2026/05/research-why-you-shouldnt-treat-ai-agents-like-employees [https://hbr.org/2026/05/research-why-you-shouldnt-treat-ai-agents-like-employees] * https://www.cio.com/article/4165040/you-cant-train-your-way-out-of-the-ai-skills-gap.html [https://www.cio.com/article/4165040/you-cant-train-your-way-out-of-the-ai-skills-gap.html] * https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/06/five-architects-of-the-ai-economy-explain-where-the-wheels-are-coming-off/ [https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/06/five-architects-of-the-ai-economy-explain-where-the-wheels-are-coming-off/] * https://fortune.com/2026/05/07/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-two-people-wont-survive-ai-era-pure-people-managers-workers-resist-change/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/07/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-two-people-wont-survive-ai-era-pure-people-managers-workers-resist-change/] * https://fortune.com/2026/05/04/google-employee-backlash-pentagon-ai-contract-power-waned-since-project-maven/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/04/google-employee-backlash-pentagon-ai-contract-power-waned-since-project-maven/] * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/google-uk-employees-in-letter-to-the-company-you-have-10-working-days-to-voluntarily-recognise-/articleshow/130868256.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/google-uk-employees-in-letter-to-the-company-you-have-10-working-days-to-voluntarily-recognise-/articleshow/130868256.cms] * https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/07/no-one-has-done-this-in-the-wild-study-observes-ai-replicate-itself [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/07/no-one-has-done-this-in-the-wild-study-observes-ai-replicate-itself] Boundaries and pressure * https://www.fastcompany.com/91522203/the-end-of-the-always-available-professional-workplace-burnout-boundaries [https://www.fastcompany.com/91522203/the-end-of-the-always-available-professional-workplace-burnout-boundaries] * https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2026/05/08/why-getting-more-done-at-work-is-creating-more-workplace-pressure/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2026/05/08/why-getting-more-done-at-work-is-creating-more-workplace-pressure/] * https://fortune.com/europe/article/what-gen-z-workers-say-is-on-time-vs-baby-boomers/ [https://fortune.com/europe/article/what-gen-z-workers-say-is-on-time-vs-baby-boomers/] * https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/never-fall-in-love-with-your-work-gen-z-employee-shares-post-after-working-till-1-am-on-notice-period-13905318.html [https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/never-fall-in-love-with-your-work-gen-z-employee-shares-post-after-working-till-1-am-on-notice-period-13905318.html] * https://www.economist.com/business/2026/05/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-commuting [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/05/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-commuting] * https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/07/deepseek-and-alibaba-rescue-chinas-office-landlords [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/07/deepseek-and-alibaba-rescue-chinas-office-landlords] * https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/dont-get-too-comfortable-your-quality-of-life-depends-on-it-a4440a85 [https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/dont-get-too-comfortable-your-quality-of-life-depends-on-it-a4440a85] Quiet risks * https://venturebeat.com/technology/hidden-it-problems-are-quietly-creating-risk-shadow-it-and-lost-productivity [https://venturebeat.com/technology/hidden-it-problems-are-quietly-creating-risk-shadow-it-and-lost-productivity] * https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-trial-exposes-truth-about-workplace-texts-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-trial-exposes-truth-about-workplace-texts-2026-5] * https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/2026/05/07/use-of-artificial-intelligence-among-senior-civil-servants-increasingly-common/ [https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/2026/05/07/use-of-artificial-intelligence-among-senior-civil-servants-increasingly-common/] * https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/fractional-future-work [https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/fractional-future-work] * https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543 [https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-collaborative-remote-work-environment-options-open-is-key-for-business-innovation-281543] The Cut List * https://fortune.com/2026/05/05/coinbase-layoffs-14-of-employees-ai-tech-ai-job-anxiety-crypto/ [https://fortune.com/2026/05/05/coinbase-layoffs-14-of-employees-ai-tech-ai-job-anxiety-crypto/] * https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-cuts-hundreds-of-jobs-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-cuts-hundreds-of-jobs-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-2026-5] * https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-internal-document-shows-buyout-offers-to-us-employees-2026-5 [https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-internal-document-shows-buyout-offers-to-us-employees-2026-5] * https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/meta-hr-head-on-will-there-be-more-layoffs-after-8000-job-cuts-on-may-20-we-will-continue-to-/articleshow/130671338.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/meta-hr-head-on-will-there-be-more-layoffs-after-8000-job-cuts-on-may-20-we-will-continue-to-/articleshow/130671338.cms]