At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, C-suite leaders demanded more from the HR function and its leaders. Many CHROs and CPOs found themselves and their efforts essential to business strategy (if they weren’t considered so already) amid the public health crisis. And the evolution of the HR exec role did not retract as the Covid cases dwindled.

Similarly, as the hiring landscape changes amid technological advances, changing candidate preferences, and an increase in skills-based hiring initiatives, recruiters and talent acquisition professionals are learning that their role in the organization is becoming more and more important to the health and success of the business.

HCM platform iCIMS recently released its annual CHRO report, and in it detailed the transformation of the TA role into one of strategic advising.

“There’s this expectation that we’re making hires…We need to hit all these boxes in terms of the qualification, the quality of that hire, the experience that [candidates are] getting, [and] the readiness of talent that’s available,” said iCIMS CPO Laura Coccaro.

Keep reading here.—AD

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Microsoft quietly laid off some of its DE&I practitioners on July 1, according to Business Insider. The company reportedly told affected employees the decision was based on “changing business needs.” In response, one impacted team leader sent an email to thousands of Microsoft employees, alleging the company isn’t invested enough in DE&I.

“True systems change work associated with DEI programs everywhere are no longer business critical or smart as they were in 2020,” it wrote, before arguing that all corporate DE&I initiatives are at risk due to conservative political agendas, IGN reported.

Microsoft would not disclose how many employees were impacted by the layoffs. “As we move forward, our D&I commitments remain unchanged. Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering and we are holding firm on our expectations, prioritizing accountability, and continuing to focus on this work,” Jeff Jones, senior director of communications at Microsoft, told HR Brew in a statement sent via email.

The company has long claimed to be a champion of diversity in tech.

Keep reading here.—KP

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a proposed rule on July 2 to protect employees from the dangers of working in extreme heat.

This marks the first major federal regulation aimed at preventing heat-related deaths in the workplace, and comes as some states are rolling back legislative efforts to keep workers safe in the heat.

An average of 40 workers died from heat exposure annually between 2011 and 2022, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, though the Department of Labor said these statistics are “likely vast underestimates.” Calls for a federal heat standard have grown in recent years as rising temperatures related to the climate crisis have made workers more vulnerable to injury and illness.

What OSHA’s rule proposes. Under the proposal, all employers with more than 10 employees would be required to develop and implement a written heat injury and illness prevention plan.

Keep reading here.—CV

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