Let’s talk about people data.

Some 44% of companies surveyed by the HR Research Institute for its 2021 State of HR Analytics report said they were “good or very good at gathering people analytics.” But just 22% of respondents to the firm’s 2023 State of People Analytics report said they were “very or extremely effective” at creating processes from this data.

When it comes to using people analytics, HR pros need to think about how it correlates with business strategies and visions, said Meisha-ann Martin, senior director of people analytics and research at employee recognition software company Workhuman.

“Ideally, you have the business strategy that feeds into the people strategy…That’s going to differ for each organization,” Martin told HR Brew. She shared what data every HR pro should (and should not) consider measuring and why.

Keep reading here.—MC

Got a looooong to-do list? Let AI take some of the work off your plate so you can focus on more important things—like that new well-being initiative you’ve been cooking up.

For the full rundown on 25 tools HR pros like you can use to automate routine tasks, download Wellhub’s new white paper. Get deets on:

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With these AI tools handling your daily grind, you’ll finally have time to lead a strong well-being initiative. Your employees will thank you for it, too, since they’ll be feeling a lot more satisfied—which means you’ll see less turnover.

Make the most of AI tools.

Welcome to HR 101. Class is now in session. Today’s discussion is all about the modern-ish history of mass layoffs in the US.

The history. Mass layoffs are those that affect at least 33% of total active workforce at a single company site and are not the result of a worksite closure, according to the Department of Labor. Mass layoffs, outside the context of an economic downturn, were rare, with less than 5% of US employers announcing layoffs in 1979, according to Bloomberg. In the 1980s, though, they became a more common strategy.

General Electric Chairman Jack Welch became known as a proponent of laying off employees “as a sign of corporate competitiveness,” according to Quartz, and between 1980 and 1985, he was responsible for eliminating one in four jobs across GE, earning him the nickname “Neutron Jack.” Other corporate executives followed suit.

Fast-forward. Layoffs have been making headlines this year, with tech and retail giants slashing their workforces. Snap, Amazon, and Google-parent Alphabet have all announced layoffs in the name of cutting costs, as have Walmart, Macy’s, and Wayfair.

Keep reading here.—AS

If you think corporate participation in Pride Month has felt more subdued this year, it’s not just you.

Brands that were more outspoken in previous years have been quieter in 2024 around their support of LGBTQ+ causes and customers, which some have suggested could be due to fears stemming from last year’s Bud Light backlash and other targeted, right-wing campaigns against companies supporting LGBTQ+ rights.

Target, which also faced right-wing backlash over its Pride merch collection last year, scaled back its offerings this year. Skittles, which faced threats of a boycott over its Pride marketing in 2023, is doing a Pride campaign that’s been characterized as more muted than in years past. Kayla Castañeda, senior director for crisis and issues communications at Target, shared a statement that the company is “committed to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month and year-round;” Skittles did not respond to Marketing Brew’s request for comment.

It’s not just the merch that’s taking a hit.

Keep reading here on Marketing Brew.—KH

When words aren’t enough. Losing a loved one is one of life’s most disruptive and costly experiences. Does your company offer a bereavement leave policy that gives employees space and time to grieve? Empathy’s new State of Bereavement Leave guide shows you how you can make strategic improvements that put people first.