The Purple Acorn HR Morning Show

#95 - When AI Picked the Layoffs: Meta’s Lawsuit - Presented by CalendarPA

In Episode 95 of The HR Morning Show on the Purple Acorn Network, hosts Brian Fink and Mike Peditto unpack the legal, ethical, and operational friction arising from artificial intelligence in modern workforce management. The headlines segment examines legal landmines across Big Tech, beginning with a landmark lawsuit where 26 Meta employees allege that uncalibrated, AI-driven activity metrics disproportionately targeted workers taking FMLA, ADA, and parental leave. The discussion dives into notable moments regarding the fallacy of "human-only" decision-making when flawed algorithmic scores drive layoffs, followed by an analysis of 4,500 Google employees petitioning for standardized job protections and voluntary buyout options as capital reallocates heavily into AI initiatives. Transitioning from Big Tech friction to operational scaling, guest Anna Fedosova joins the show to address the painful compliance challenges companies face when expanding across European geographies. Anna highlights how HR professionals waste 60% to 70% of their bandwidth on repetitive administrative tasks and demonstrates how Corbey’s all-in-one AI agent automates region-specific workflows to solve adoption hurdles. Thanks to our sponsors CalendarPA.com and Talent Tech PR! Check 'em out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#94 - Unmasking RTO Motives & Social Media Bias - Presented by CalendarPA

In Episode 94 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Adam Posner, Brian Fink, and Danielle Farage break down the rapidly shifting dynamics of talent acquisition and organizational leadership. This jam-packed episode tackles everything from critical regulatory updates to a total paradigm shift in how we view the HR function and executive alignment. Plus, the team previews their upcoming presence at the NAHCR conference. Key Special guest Jackye Clayton joins the headlines segment to discuss the EEOC’s newly released draft Strategic Plan (FY 2026–2030) and the fast-approaching public comment deadline on July 19, 2026. The expert interviews kick off with JD Robinson, who challenges traditional norms by arguing that people pros are business levers, not employee advocates. Next, seasoned CHRO Angela Cheng-Cimini breaks down the executive "triumvirate" (CEO, CFO, CHRO) and shares practical wisdom on swapping standard "employee engagement" metrics for true "employee inspiration". Finally, Namrata Kamdar dives straight into frontline recruiting crises, discussing "skillfishing," AI screening, resume imposters, and recruiter burnout. Notable Thanks to our sponsors CalendarPA.com and Talent Tech PR! Check 'em out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#93 - Unmasking RTO Motives & Social Media Bias - Presented by CalendarPA

Welcome to Episode 93 of The HR Morning Show, part of the Purple Acorn Network! In this packed episode, hosts Joel Lalgee, Danielle Farage, and Serge Boudreau pull back the curtain on the real motivations behind five-day return-to-office (RTO) mandates, exposing how executive ego and "CEO groupthink" often overrule data-driven productivity metrics. The team also breaks down the heavy legal and compliance implications of highly subjective corporate social media policies, using a recent high-profile lawsuit involving an Alaska Airlines flight attendant to highlight how inconsistent disciplinary enforcement can trigger costly Title VII discrimination claims. Later in the broadcast, the hosts dive into a fascinating discussion on technical architecture and scaling operations with industry veteran Alan Seales, Founder and CTO of the Broadway Podcast Network and the creator behind the AI-first scheduling platform CalendarPA.com. Seales shares his journey from managing a performance-and-compensation review system for over 180,000 employees at Google to building an enterprise-grade AI assistant that aims to eradicate the interview-scheduling "black hole" for talent acquisition teams. To round out the morning, Serge delivers a special weather report detailing LinkedIn’s new Creator Marketplace ecosystem and its potential to revolutionize brand-to-creator connections across the professional network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#92 - Court Blocks $100K H-1B Fee, a Massive Win for Skilled Talent - Presented by CalendarPA

Hosts Serge Boudreau and Dan Riley tackle the massive legal and technological shifts disrupting the workforce in mid-2026. The episode kicks off with two major headline stories. First, the team breaks down the recent nationwide block of a $100K H-1B fee, which a federal court struck down as an unconstitutional tax—delivering immediate relief to tech, healthcare, and higher education employers. Next, they dive into "The Great Regret," exploring a new report revealing that 55% of employers regret their AI-driven layoffs, with nearly a third quietly rehiring human workers after automated systems failed to manage complex workflows and triggered costly public relations crises. The core of the episode features a deep-dive interview with Chris Russell, the Founder of RecTech Media and the "Mad Scientist of Online Recruiting". Chris brings his extensive expertise to the table to discuss the erosion of traditional job search widgets in favor of conversational ChatGPT-driven interfaces, the flaws of rigid Applicant Tracking System (ATS) architectures in talent acquisition analytics, and how federal contractors can navigate OFCCP compliance amidst heightened scrutiny on automated screening tools. He also breaks down why talent attraction must be treated as a marketing function and analyzes the shift toward automated AI sourcing campaigns. Closing out the show, Serge delivers the Weather Report segment, examining the 2026 landscape of Talent Acquisition careers based on recent ERE insights. Sponsored by CalendarPA.com and Talent Tech PR, this episode offers a highly tactical look at the balancing act between automation and human judgment in modern HR. Presented by Talent Tech PR and CalendarPA.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#91 - The Deprioritization of SHRM & Uber’s Big HR Overhaul - Presented by CalendarPA.com

In Episode 91 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Adam Posner, Brian Fink, and Robin Schooling break down major structural shifts shaking up the HR profession. The team dives into findings from HR Dive’s 2026 Identity of HR survey, revealing a massive pivot away from traditional credentials like SHRM and HRCI in favor of niche, skills-based certifications in areas like artificial intelligence, executive coaching, and workplace neurodiversity. The headlines segment, featuring guest Trish Steed during the "Talk Nerdy with iCIMS" block, also addresses Uber’s massive operational overhaul—a restructuring push cutting 23% of its People and Places division. Strikingly, Uber explicitly stated that AI was not a factor in these senior-level layoffs, choosing instead to target internal fragmentation while simultaneously rolling back remote-work privileges by enforcing a strict three-day in-office mandate for remaining HR staff. The episode's guest lineup provides deep operational and recruitment insights, starting with Brittany Truszkowski, who explains why organizational dysfunction is an operational warning sign rather than a personality problem, urging growing companies to audit their people and systems instead of just their numbers. Next, JJ Owen of the Skilled Careers Coalition challenges traditional talent acquisition methods by discussing how community, narrative, and hands-on mentorship are capturing Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Highlighting data from a successful @SkillsJam TikTok pilot that generated over 466,000 career-exploration visits, Owen argues that America doesn't have a worker shortage but a connection shortage, proving that HR must leverage platforms like TikTok and YouTube to meet the next generation at the point of career formation. Sponsored by CalendarPA.com and Talent Tech PR, this episode underscores the vital role of employer branding as a corporate necessity for modern talent acquisition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]