The Trump administration is pressuring US government workers to accept a buyout offer before a midnight deadline, warning that those who refuse may still face job losses. Labor unions are challenging the legality of the "deferred resignation program" in court, with a federal judge set to review the case.

HR teams that leverage branding skills can significantly reduce recruitment costs by creating a strong employer brand, writes Ron Johnson of of Blueprint Creative. This approach, which Johnson calls "Bhranding," involves using marketing strategies to showcase company culture and engage potential candidates, leading to a 50% reduction in hiring costs and a 28% decrease in turnover, according to LinkedIn research.

Employers face legal challenges, particularly with noncompete agreements, background checks, and the use of social media and AI in recruitment. In this article, employment attorneys outline the legal boundaries, risks and options organizations should know when addressing these issues.

Agentic AI has the potential to transform workflows and boost morale by automating repetitive tasks, says Rebecca Hinds, head of Asana's Work Innovation Lab. "These agents will actually belong in the organization chart," says HR technology analyst Josh Bersin. "And our job will be to manage them, make sure they're safe and watch over their security."

Companies are increasingly using AI-powered career coaches to strengthen employee development, with organizations such as Oracle and Cisco leading the way. Oracle has introduced role-based AI agents in its human capital management platform to help with career planning and performance management, while Cisco highlights AI's ability to personalize development. "AI coaches can offer tailored coaching to leaders based on in-depth knowledge of the organization," adds Kelly Jones, Cisco's chief people officer.