Long-retired Clippy sought to help users navigate Microsoft Word—popping up uninvited, blinking aggressively, and occasionally even tapping on the monitor glass.

A future might not be far off wherein generative AI assistants help HR professionals navigate complicated application tracking systems (ATS), and—provided Clippy’s AI-powered descendents are more useful, and respectful of personal space—this could prove to be a boon for talent professionals looking to streamline their craft.

“[Generative AI is] evolving so fast, and I’m very encouraged by some of the companies in the market…thinking about, how can this technology become [a] responsible [version of] AI by being more explainable? It’s not there yet,” iCIMS CTO Al Smith said.

Because ATS tools are a “different class of software” than most others used in the industry, Smith said that developers are designing and testing solutions to ensure recommendations are accurate and add value to the TA professional.

Keep reading here.—AD

Is it possible to leverage AI in a department like HR? After all, “human” is literally in the name. Could this still-growing tech elevate talent acquisition, employee engagement, and organizational growth—or will it just muddy the waters?

Anything’s possible, but there are a few parameters and guidelines to keep in mind. And HR Brew sat down with Paylocity’s Senior Manager in Thought Leadership to seek them out.

Whether you’re new to AI or consider yourself a tech-savvy team lead, join this virtual event to find out how you can future-proof your HR practices not just in the face of AI, but with its help. One thing’s for sure: AI is not a replacement. It’s an enhancement.

So let’s enhance some workflows. Save your seat so you don’t miss the discussion.

Employees aren’t just bored at work—they may be disengaged.

Employee engagement dropped to 30% in Q1, a quarterly 3-percentage-point decline, according to a recent Gallup report. This is the lowest engagement level reported since 2013. Ed O’Boyle, a global practice leader at Gallup, said a lack of clarity around job responsibilities, as well as a perceived mismatch between the company’s mission and employees’ contributions, may be contributing to disengagement.

“People don’t see what they’re doing today as being something bigger and helping the cause of their organizations,” he said, adding that HR should aim to demonstrate the connection between employees’ daily work and the company’s future.

Another factor that may be contributing to disengagement: A lack of transparency.

Keep reading here.—MC

Birds aren’t the only creatures that nest…employees are doing it, too.

Employees are likely to “nest,” or hunker down at an employer, when they feel like they have a good gig, Neil Costa, founder and CEO of digital recruitment marketing agency HireClix, previously told HR Brew. And it seems a significant number of employees currently feel this way: The quit rates dropped to 3.3 million in March, down from a historic low of 3.5 million in February, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But HR pros shouldn’t get too comfy, according to Lauren Geer, SVP and CHRO at holding company IAC, which owns Dotdash Meredith. “You can’t rest on our laurels, that nesting is a thing and people want to stay for longer…We always have to fight for people and [for] making it a positive place to work,” she told HR Brew. 

Geer shared with HR Brew how people leaders can approach this, and other workforce trends.

Keep reading here.—MC

Boost your biz with childcare perks. Obvious alert: Offering childcare support can reduce employee turnover and absenteeism + boost productivity. Start by calculating potential savings and ROI with Upwards’ interactive ROI calculator. Fill them in on a couple of deets about your org and get an estimate on how much you could save.