Breaking news, Acquisitions, Research, and Funding is The BARF. A look back into last week’s most talked about news in the world of work, what’s happened, what does it mean, and why should you care. Analysis that you can understand without a Ph.D. Proudly brought to you by WRKdefined with hosts William Tincup and Ryan Leary.
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The BARF | AI Isn’t Replacing Recruiters. It’s Exposing Bad Hiring.
Friday, May 8, 2026 • Duration 35:27
Everyone wants AI in HR. Almost nobody knows what “good” looks like yet.
From opportunity cost to fake productivity, Ryan Leary and William Tincup unpack why AI adoption in recruiting is moving faster than leadership can measure it.
A bad hire costs money. An empty seat costs more. That’s the part most companies still miss. We go straight at the real problem: AI, recruiting, HR tech, productivity, and leadership teams chasing efficiency without knowing what they’re actually optimizing for.
In this episode…
We break down the hidden cost of unfilled roles, why AI adoption metrics are mostly nonsense right now, and how recruiting teams are getting buried under tool fatigue.
Key Takeaways :
One company reportedly lost $4M a month in bookings because they couldn’t hire enough Java developers fast enough
Most leaders still measure recruiting by activity, not business impact
AI adoption means nothing if quality drops
A team converting 50% of outreach into calls is still failing if only 3% are quality conversations
HR teams may need to rethink their AI stack every 90 days
“Bring your own AI” is already happening whether companies allow it or not
Opportunity cost in hiring is still massively underrated
Productivity theater is becoming the new corporate disease
SaaS updates used to happen yearly. AI changes weekly
Leadership wants AI speed. Practitioners still need accuracy and trust
Recruiting teams are drowning in tools while still being asked to do more with less
Bad actors exist. Technology doesn’t magically remove human behavior
Connect with Us :
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
WRKdefined :
Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined
Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/
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Workplace Loneliness Is Killing Productivity. Job Security Is the New Ambition. AI Is Rewriting the Rules.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 • Duration 38:42
Employee engagement is wobbling. Loneliness is up. Job security now beats title chasing. And AI plus robotics are quietly reshaping talent management whether we like it or not. This one hits workplace reality from every angle - retention, discretionary effort, grooming habits, and the human side of work that rarely makes it into the board deck.
In this episode, Ryan and William unpack how loneliness is dragging down productivity, why employees are clinging to stability over ambition, and what that means for retention strategies in an AI-driven world. They challenge outdated talent practices like hoarding high performers and dig into how robotics in manufacturing is forcing leaders to rethink workforce design.
This episode is sponsored by FAMA. Fama helps employers make safer, smarter hiring decisions by using AI to screen public online content and identify risk and fit before day one.
Key Takeaways:
Loneliness isn’t some soft HR buzzword. Cigna calls it a hidden cost, and they’re right. When people feel disconnected, they don’t quit. They just stop trying. Discretionary effort disappears. That’s not a feelings problem. That’s a performance problem.
Monster’s 2026 report basically says what most of us already feel. People aren’t chasing shiny titles right now. They’re chasing stability. After years of layoffs and whiplash, job security is the new flex. You want retention? Make people feel safe.
McDonald’s had that internal no-poach setup across franchises. You couldn’t just move stores even if it was better for you. That’s talent hoarding in a uniform. Managers do the same thing every day. If someone’s good, reward them and move them up. Don’t cage them.
Boston Dynamics and Hyundai aren’t playing around. These humanoid robots are being trained with VR and motion capture, powered by Nvidia chips, to lift, move, and handle heavy manufacturing work. Humans don’t vanish. They shift. You train the machine. You manage the machine. You fix the machine. That’s the new layer of work.
HR Dive nailed it. Companies say they’re hiring, but only if everything lines up perfectly. CFOs are squeezing. Hiring managers want unicorns. HR is stuck holding half-approved reqs. That’s not a talent shortage. That’s a confidence problem dressed up in better PR.
Chapters
00:00 Kicking ish off
03:02 Hair Care and Personal Grooming
06:02 Employment Practices and Talent Hoarding
08:58 Loneliness in the Workplace
12:04 Employee Engagement and Productivity
17:48 Job Security and Employee Retention
28:59 AI and Robotics in Manufacturing
36:00 Conclusion and Future Considerations
Connect with Us
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network
Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined
Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/
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Burnout, compliance pressure, and the communication breakdown reshaping modern work
Friday, December 19, 2025 • Duration 37:16
Work feels louder, faster, and less predictable than it did even a few years ago. AI is accelerating change, job security feels fragile, and the way people communicate is shifting in real time. Leaders are expected to adapt instantly while still holding culture, trust, and performance together.
In this episode, the conversation moves from mindset and social dynamics to AI compliance, productivity tradeoffs, and the burnout hitting senior-level women hardest. The throughline is clear. Technology keeps moving forward, but leadership, policy, and mental health are being stress-tested every step of the way.
What We Cover
Why positivity is less about vibes and more about discipline
How social behavior and communication norms are changing
AI compliance and why regulation always trails reality
The illusion of job security in modern organizations
Social media’s impact on communication skills
Burnout and stalled advancement for senior women
Key Takeaways
Job security is no longer something organizations can promise. Roles evolve constantly as automation, efficiency, and market pressure collide. Stability now comes from adaptability, not tenure.
AI is increasing productivity while quietly eliminating jobs. Companies celebrate speed and output but struggle to talk honestly about the human cost. Compliance frameworks are trying to catch up.
Communication skills are eroding as tools replace presence. Feedback, networking, and relationship-building require intentional effort or they disappear. Muscle memory matters.
Senior-level women are carrying disproportionate pressure. Leadership expectations, political tension around DEI, and limited advancement paths are fueling burnout at the top.
Chapters
00:00 Manifesting Positivity in Daily Life
02:50 Navigating Social Interactions at the Bar
05:59 The Impact of AI Regulations on WorkTech
08:51 The Future of AI Compliance
11:45 Debating Social Media Restrictions for Youth
14:38 Adapting to New Communication Norms
17:04 Building Muscle Memory in Feedback and Networking
19:57 The Impact of AI on Job Security and Productivity
24:53 Women in the Workforce: Burnout and Career Advancement
31:50 The Political Landscape of DEI and Women’s Leadership
Hosts
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
Connect with Us
Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/WRKdefined
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined
Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/
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The BARF: Emotional Labor, AI, and the Cracks in Work Nobody Wants to Own
Friday, December 12, 2025 • Duration 48:29
Modern work is asking more from people than it ever has, and almost none of it is being acknowledged. Beyond skills and output, workers are expected to absorb stress, regulate emotions, manage uncertainty, and stay productive through constant change. This emotional labor has become a silent requirement, baked into jobs without recognition, protection, or compensation.
At the same time, organizations are introducing AI into some of the most sensitive parts of work: feedback, performance reviews, scheduling, and support. The promise is efficiency. The reality is exposure. These tools don’t fix broken systems. They surface where accountability is weak, where expectations are unclear, and where trust has already started to erode.
What looks like isolated issues - a strike over scheduling, frustration with performance reviews, employees turning to AI for reassurance - are actually connected signals. They point to a growing gap between what work demands emotionally and what companies are willing or able to own. AI is not creating that gap. It’s accelerating it.
In this episode, we share our analysis on emotional labor at work, why AI is quietly stepping into human gaps, and what recent labor actions like the Starbucks strike reveal about control, predictability, and trust. We unpack where organizations are underestimating the emotional cost of modern work and why governance, not technology, is becoming the real leadership challenge.
Key Takeaways
Emotional labor is no longer the exception. It is the baseline. Work now expects people to manage stress, emotions, and ambiguity as part of the job, yet most organizations still treat this effort as invisible. That gap is one of the biggest drivers of burnout and disengagement, even in roles that appear stable on the surface.
AI is being used as emotional support because management systems are stretched thin. When employees turn to technology for clarity or reassurance, it usually signals that feedback loops are broken or leaders are overloaded. AI fills the space, but it also exposes who actually owns the human experience at work.
Performance reviews become fragile the moment AI influences outcomes. Algorithms do not remove bias or responsibility. They shift it. Without clear ownership and governance, trust in performance systems collapses quickly and employees stop believing the process is fair.
Scheduling is not an operational detail. It is power. The Starbucks strike made clear that unpredictability creates financial stress, emotional strain, and resentment, especially for hourly workers. Predictability is not a perk. It is dignity.
Technology does not change culture. It reveals it. Healthy organizations use AI as leverage. Fragile ones feel it as pressure. Ignoring emotional labor and accountability only makes the fallout faster and louder.
Chapters
00:00 Emotional labor hiding in plain sight
03:12 How job expectations quietly expanded
06:18 AI as emotional backup
10:42 Where accountability slips
15:07 Performance reviews and trust
19:58 Bias, credibility, and governance
24:36 Scheduling as control
27:02 Starbucks as an early warning
33:11 What leaders are underestimating right now
Connect with us
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network
Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined
Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/
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BARF: Bezos, BrightHire, and Why Surveillance Keeps Creeping Into Work
Monday, December 8, 2025 • Duration 38:33
This episode digs into the strange collision of leadership, ambition, and surveillance tech shaping the workplace. Bezos jumps back into the trenches with a new AI startup, Ring slides deeper into facial recognition without real consent, and Zoom buys BrightHire to tighten its grip on the hiring process. All three signals point to the same tension: power, data, and the fading boundary between home and work.
We talk about leadership longevity, interview intelligence, privacy erosion, and how Big Tech continues to redefine the rules without asking. Bezos raises questions about retirement and ego, Ring raises questions about tracking and bias, and Zoom raises questions about who controls the hiring stack in a remote world.
Key takeaways
Bezos returning to a new operating role changes the retirement conversation. It pushes leadership into a space where age becomes secondary to energy, curiosity, and impact. Companies are watching this closely because it reframes late-career value and challenges the idea that stepping back is the default for seasoned executives. It also shows how founders think about reinvention long after they’ve “won.”
Ring’s “familiar faces” feature shows how fast consumer surveillance creeps into the workplace. Storing faceprints without consent and partnering with law enforcement opens the door to tracking people across entire neighborhoods. Bias issues for dark-skinned women and sign-language users are already documented. Once technology like this exists, companies inevitably find ways to apply it to hiring, security, attendance, or productivity.
Wearables and cognitive-tracking tools raise a new question: when does optimization turn into control? These devices can help workers understand their energy patterns, but they also create a blueprint for employers to push performance expectations further. The line between support and surveillance gets thin fast. Workers want tools that help them improve, not tools that watch for dips in output.
Zoom’s acquisition of BrightHire is a major shift in how interviews will run. BrightHire brings structure, coaching, and high-quality transcription into a platform recruiters already live on. If Zoom blends this with its existing footprint, hiring becomes faster and more consistent across teams. It also places Zoom in the conversation as a real player in the hiring workflow, not just a meeting tool.
The future hiring stack is consolidating around communication platforms. When interviews, transcripts, guidance, and analysis live in the same place where teams already meet, the entire hiring motion changes. Recruiters get cleaner insights, candidates get a more consistent experience, and platforms get the power to shape the rules. Whoever controls that layer controls the hiring story.
Timestamps
00:00 Trash talk - Dallas Sucks but the Birds aren't great either
05:10 Bezos and Project Prometheus
10:20 Retirement myths, ageism, and work-forever mindsets
13:45 Ring’s “familiar faces” and the surveillance creep
20:30 Smart wearables, cognitive tracking, and workday optimization
24:10 Money dynamics at home and how they show up at work
28:20 Zoom acquires BrightHire
34:55 Where this acquisition could lead
Connect with usWilliam Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
Connect with WRKdefinedSite: http://www.wrkdefined.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefinedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefinedFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefinedSubstack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/
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Middle Managers Are Being Automated Out of the Org Chart
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 • Duration 51:11
This episode comes from the giving tree….
Rival just dropped a new 30/60/90 Day Onboarding Template built for teams that need new hires contributing fast—not spending their first month figuring out who to talk to or what success looks like.
Get your template here.
AI is no longer a future concept. It is actively restructuring the workforce and removing entire job layers inside organizations. Middle management is being eliminated. Entry-level roles are being automated before they can be posted. HR systems are moving away from dashboards and interfaces and shifting toward AI agents that employees interact with directly. Investment is flowing into platforms that show real traction and measurable outcomes, not slideware or hype. The money is following execution.
This episode breaks down what is actually happening in HR tech and the job market. Not the marketing narrative, but the economic and technology signals that show where work is heading and why leadership teams need to prepare now.
Why it matters: New hires who ramp fast and connect with the right people early don’t just adapt — they contribute.
Key Takeaways
➡ AI isn’t coming—it’s here, eliminating entry-level roles and now middle managers at scale➡ Healthcare costs are projected to rise 8.4%, putting pressure on employers and reshaping benefits decisions➡ Less than 50% of employees know how to enroll in their own benefits, creating a retention and engagement blind spot➡ Investors are done with concept decks—traction and AI baked into platforms are now mandatory➡ M&A is being driven by immigration limits as companies acquire teams for access to talent they can’t hire directly➡ AI agents are becoming the surface layer of HR tech, replacing traditional system interfaces➡ Bias in AI hiring models is triggering new legal action, especially for disabled and minority candidates➡ Personalized AI recommendations are becoming the norm, raising serious privacy concerns inside the enterprise➡ The HR tech market is entering an aggressive consolidation phase to make room for AI-first disruptors➡ Posture and physical wellness are now tied directly to productivity metrics in enterprise HR planning
Timestamps
00:00 – Middle managers are being eliminated from org charts02:37 – Sports meltdown and the psychology of losing (Eagles, Phillies)05:31 – AI’s direct impact on job layers and management roles08:31 – Bias in AI hiring practices and legal consequences11:36 – Do jobs reports even matter in modern HR?14:27 – HR Tech investment is up 60% YOY: why it matters17:30 – The rise of AI agents as the new HR interface20:41 – Why apps are dead and conversational AI is the new UI23:59 – Healthcare costs projected to rise 8.4%27:03 – Religious discrimination and hiring in global conflict environments28:35 – Meta to use chatbot data for ad personalization and privacy fallout31:35 – Workday acquires Sana to double down on AI agent strategy34:27 – Peer-to-peer learning as the new model for AI adoption in the workplace36:52 – Investors demand customer proof, not pitch decks38:27 – Stanford research tracking AI job loss by role, in real time40:05 – Less than half of employees understand their benefits41:32 – Posture and productivity: a corporate wellness shift43:06 – Funding news: PeopleGPT, Diana HR, Sonic Jobs and what they signal
Connect with us
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network
Site: http://www.wrkdefined.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefinedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefinedFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined
#HRTech #FutureOfWork #AIinHR #JobAutomation #EmployeeBenefits #WorkplaceTrends #HRTalent #InvestmentTrends #BARFpodcast
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AI Is Changing Job Interviews: In-Person Comeback, $400B HR Tech Boom, and Remote Work Incentives
Monday, September 15, 2025 • Duration 47:05
AI isn’t just automating hiring—it’s reshaping how job interviews even happen. In this episode of BARF, Ryan Leary and William Tincup break down why AI is pushing companies back toward in-person interviews, how payroll remains the backbone of a $400 billion HR tech boom, and why cities are offering cash to lure remote workers.
In this episode we talk about the intersection of AI, recruitment, and workplace culture. From banned AI tools to workforce policies, Ryan and William cut through the noise to show leaders what matters now—and what will matter tomorrow.
Executives and HR leaders will walk away with a sharper understanding of AI’s impact on hiring, payroll’s staying power, and the cultural factors driving business success or failure.
Key Takeaways
➡ AI is driving companies back to in-person interviews to stop digital cheating.
➡ Payroll remains central, even in a $400B HR tech market.
➡ Workplace culture is a deciding factor in business outcomes.
➡ Cities are incentivizing remote workers to move and boost local economies.
➡ Companies need clear AI workforce policies to manage risks.
➡ Employees continue using banned AI tools despite policies.
➡ Industry acquisitions and funding news signal where HR tech is heading.
Chapters:
00:00 – AI and In-Person Interviews
00:34 – Upcoming Events and Networking
02:18 – Payroll and HR Tech Insights
06:04 – Workplace Dynamics and Remote Work
12:40 – Job Market Challenges and AI’s Role
15:00 – Acquisitions and Industry Trends
25:01 – Final Thoughts on Industry Developments
25:09 – AI Tools in the Workplace
28:12 – Employee Use of Banned AI Tools
29:21 – AI Workforce Policies
30:46 – Recent Trends in AI Adoption
32:56 – Funding News in HR Tech
#AI #JobInterviews #HRTech #RemoteWork #RyanLeary #WilliamTincup #TheBARFPodcast #BARF #WorkplaceDynamics #TechTrends #InPersonInterviews
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The EXCUSE Economy - AI, Layoffs and Gun Violence
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 • Duration 46:08
Gun violence, layoffs, and the shifting balance of workplace power—this episode covers it all. We break down the rise in corporate safety concerns, the hard truths behind layoff trends, and how AI is being used (and misused) in the conversation. We also explore the quirks of business travel, the slow grind toward gender equality, and why “quiet cracking” might be the new quiet quitting. Plus: acquisitions, funding news, and what’s next for workplace relationships.
In this episode we talk about HR Tech, workplace safety, layoffs, AI, and employee satisfaction, connecting the dots between economic pressures and evolving workforce dynamics. From China’s demographic shifts to digital compliance tools, we explore how technology, policy, and culture intersect. The conversation also digs into business travel realities, relationship norms at work, and the latest funding news shaping the future of how we work.
Key Takeaways
➡ Gun violence is increasingly seen as a corporate HR issue, pushing workplace safety to the forefront.
➡ Layoffs have spiked 140% year over year, signaling broader economic instability.
➡ AI is often used as a convenient scapegoat for layoffs, masking poor planning.
➡ China’s labor market is still feeling the demographic effects of past population policies.
➡ Digital signage is emerging as a fast, scalable tool for labor law compliance.
➡ Business travel is losing its luster, with many employees viewing it as a burden.
➡ “Quiet cracking” shows dissatisfaction without performance drop-offs—making it hard to detect.
➡ SAP’s acquisition of SmartRecruiters could reshape the talent acquisition tech stack.
➡ Workplace relationships remain common, impacting team dynamics and culture.
➡ Women’s representation in management is improving, but progress is slow and uneven.
Connect with us
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network
Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined
Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/
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This Is the New Normal: AI, Layoffs, and Workplace Shifts
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 • Duration 53:16
The workplace is shifting—fast. In this episode, Ryan Leary and William Tincup unpack Florida’s new take on non-compete clauses, the rapid invasion of AI into traditional jobs, and the rise of TikTok as an unlikely champion for trade careers. They tackle salary transparency, onboarding failure points, generational etiquette wars, and why Meta’s recruiting like it’s 1999. Real talk. Real stories. No fluff.
In this episode we talk about non-compete legislation, AI in the workforce, salary transparency, layoffs, immigration anxiety, and TikTok’s surprising influence on trade jobs. From the economic ripple effects of Walmart's restructuring to Meta’s AI talent landgrab, we break down the trends shaping how, where, and why we work today.
Key Takeaways
➡ Florida's challenge to non-compete agreements could reshape employee mobility nationwide.
➡ Goldman Sachs and Samsung are baking AI into core workflows—this isn't hype, it's deployment.
➡ Immigration-related anxiety is rising again in SF, with new ICE activity hitting local headlines.
➡ Meta’s hiring spree in AI isn’t about growth—it’s about defense.
➡ Job.com’s bankruptcy shows what happens when startup sizzle meets poor fundamentals.
➡ Google’s internal pay transparency experiment is sparking more questions than answers.
➡ Walmart layoffs are part of a bigger wave of restructuring under pressure.
➡ TikTok is unintentionally becoming a trade school recruiter for Gen Z.
➡ The restaurant industry is being crushed by rising labor costs and retention gaps.
➡ Salary transparency may increase equity—but it also triggers internal friction.
➡ Younger workers have a new idea of “professionalism”—and it’s clashing with legacy norms.
➡ Healthcare AI isn’t coming—it’s here, and Samsung is leading that charge.
Chapters
04:57 AI in the Workforce: Goldman Sachs and Devin
07:55 Life with Ice: Immigration and Racial Profiling
10:56 Meta's Talent Acquisition Strategy
13:41 Job.com Bankruptcy: Lessons Learned
17:47 Google Employee Compensation Transparency
21:43 Walmart Layoffs and Corporate Restructuring
25:50 Samsung's AI for Digital Healthcare Services
26:41 The Future of Fitness Apps and AI Integration
27:44 Social Media's Role in Influencing Careers
30:19 The Impact of TikTok on Trade Skills
32:35 Rising Costs in the Restaurant Industry
34:57 Acquisitions in Workplace Finance and Technology
37:53 Onboarding Challenges for New Hires
40:36 Generational Differences in Workplace Etiquette
42:54 The Gig Economy and Job Stability
45:12 Gender Disparities in Remote Work
47:40 Funding Trends in Tech Startups
Connect with us
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network
Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined
Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/
#FutureOfWork #AIJobs #SalaryTransparency #NonCompete #TikTokTrades #WRKdefinedPodcast #HRTech #WorkplaceTrends #RecruitingNews #Leadership
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AI Bias, Cyber Threats, and Teen Unemployment: What HR’s Ignoring in Plain Sight
Monday, July 14, 2025 • Duration 01:04:38
The world of work is weird right now—and we’re here for it. From SHRM’s bounce-back energy to teenagers being boxed out of the job market, everything's shifting. Companies are experimenting (Amazon’s making office workers volunteer?), while cybersecurity threats are literally coming from North Korea.
In this episode, we talk about the collision of AI, hiring, and ethics, the controversy at Cheesecake Factory, and the real reason polyworking is gaining steam. Financial security, agentic AI, and a few big HR tech deals round it out. It’s a full rundown of the chaos in the world that we call work.
Key Takeaways
➡ SHRM 2025 had solid engagement, pushing back against skepticism from past years
➡ Cybersecurity threats—including foreign infiltration—are forcing HR to rethink vendor vetting
➡ Teen unemployment is rising due to older workers taking entry-level jobs during economic uncertainty
➡ AI is absorbing low-level roles, forcing companies to redefine what “entry-level” even means
➡ Amazon’s employee volunteer initiative could be a clever long game for talent development
➡ Cheesecake Factory’s controversial hiring tactics stirred outrage and legal questions
➡ North Korean IT workers secretly embedding in U.S. companies is now a real hiring risk
➡ Work-life balance is being rebranded, but burnout and boundary-blurring are growing
➡ Polyworking isn’t a side hustle—it’s a lifestyle choice driven by economic and identity needs
➡ AI bias in hiring tools is becoming a legal and ethical landmine for CHROs
➡ Financial security is emerging as a core employee benefit, not just a nice-to-have
➡ HR tech funding is up again, especially in coaching, payroll, and intelligent finance
Chapters
03:03 – Reflections on SHRM Conference
05:18 – Cybersecurity Concerns and Data Breaches
07:46 – Teen Unemployment Trends
10:38 – Corporate Volunteering and Understanding Business Operations
13:40 – Allegations Against Cheesecake Factory
16:34 – Government Contracts and Pricing Strategies
18:36 – North Korea's Cyber Infiltration Tactics
21:15 – The Business Case for RTO
22:14 – Work-Life Balance in the Current Labor Market
24:38 – Understanding Polyworking
29:53 – The Future of Agentic AI
32:07 – Mergers and Acquisitions in HR Tech
35:32 – Real-Time Learning and Feedback in Coaching
40:07 – AI's Role in Managerial Decision-Making
42:22 – Understanding AI Bias in Talent Acquisition
46:15 – Financial Security and Employee Well-being
49:53 – Innovations in HR Technology Funding
56:43 – The Future of Intelligent Finance and Payroll
01:01:27 – Upcoming Events
Connect with us
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network
Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined
Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/
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