At this stage of the “great work-from-home experiment” that began four years ago, it has become apparent that Gen Z workers are more amenable to office work than their older colleagues.

Recent data from Gallup further bolsters our understanding of this trend, as remote-capable Gen Z workers surveyed in Q1 of this year were more likely to favor hybrid work than millennials, Gen Z, or Baby Boomers.

These findings can help HR teams understand how best to support employees—particularly younger ones—in a hybrid environment. But employers shouldn’t read too much into generational preferences when designing a hybrid work strategy, Ben Wigert, Gallup’s director of research and strategy, workplace management, told HR Brew via email.

Keep reading here.—CV

Today’s job market? Well, you can’t call it boring. Candidate expectations change at the drop of a hat and competition for top talent is fiercer than ever. As an HR employee, you’re probably familiar with that decidedly un-vibey feeling of getting lost in the recruiting shuffle.

That’s why you gotta check out Lever’s new handbook: Exceptional Recruiting: The Five-Step Guide for Your Scaling Business. It’s built to help you put together your dream team—for real.

Packed to the gills with success stories and practical strategies, the handbook also features five must-know steps that every recruiter should follow to boost hiring team collaboration and send productivity to new heights. We know you want the deets, so we’ll let you get to it.

Recruit like a boss.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, vetoed a bill that would have established a paid family and medical leave insurance program in the state, saying the private sector should provide these benefits to workers.

In a statement following his veto, Youngkin said he believes employers should establish leave benefits. The proposed program, he said, is “a one-size-fits-all solution that removes the incentive for the private sector to provide these benefits. Many businesses in Virginia already have paid family and medical leave policies.”

Where the private sector stands on paid leave. Though the share of private companies offering paid family leave is growing, this benefit isn’t yet the norm nationally. Four in 10 HR professionals that the Society for Human Resource Management surveyed said their organizations offered paid parental leave in 2023, up from 33% the previous year. Just one-third of those surveyed said their employer offered paid leave for employees to care for immediate family, while 18% offered paid leave to care for extended family.

Keep reading here.—CV

With its rolling hills, renowned wine, and epic rugby games, New Zealand sounds like a magical destination. Just ask the hobbits, and the many workers who are moving to the country in search of the One Ring and good jobs.

Where in the world? In response to “unsustainable” migration, Erica Stanford, New Zealand’s immigration minister, announced that to receive a work visa, “low-skilled” applicants will now be required to speak English. The country is also reducing the length of time these workers can stay in the country, from five to three years.

New Zealand has around 5.3 million residents and is roughly the size of Colorado, but experienced near-record immigration in 2023, when 173,000 people arrived on its shores. The number of migrants entering the country surged after the government loosened immigration restrictions in 2022. The new requirements aim to reduce it.

Satellite view. Several countries are struggling with uneven worker numbers.

Keep reading here.—KP

Can you manage? Workday found that only 31% of employees feel engaged at work (yikes!), which means it’s time to better prep managers to take the lead on employee experience. Workday’s latest report covers modern managerial strain, change management initiatives, and practical solutions for businesses looking to evolve and grow.