With the rise of the creator economy, being an Internet influencer has become a much-coveted job for many Gen-Z workers.

It can be tricky to land a full-time job as an influencer, but some aspiring creators are using their day jobs as fodder for content. This is particularly true of employees working for popular food chains, who are eager to share insider tips like making the perfect Cold Stone concoction or a Crunchwrap Supreme that hits just like Taco Bell’s.

The Chicago-area-based Portillo’s food chain is dipping its toe in the employee influencer space with an “internal influencer program,” Chief People Officer Jill Waite recently told HR Brew. By elevating the voices of Portillo’s employees on social media, Portillo’s hopes to showcase its brand in a more authentic way, as well as tap into a younger talent pool for recruitment and retention efforts, she said.

For more on the rise of employee influencers promoting company brands, keep reading here.—CV

The Department of Labor (DOL) rescinded a Biden-era opinion letter on July 21 that had indicated a racial equity program proposed by Citibank would be lawful.

A program to pay the investment fees for “diverse asset managers” was never implemented, according to Citi, but the DOL nevertheless cautioned the bank against carrying it out.

The DOL’s decision to rescind an advisory opinion that was favorable of the proposed program shows how the administration is scrutinizing private firms for “illegal” DEI practices.

The advisory opinion, issued by the DOL in 2023, referenced a racial equity program that was part of Citi’s broader efforts to close the racial wealth gap.

For more on why the DOL targeted Citi’s DEI efforts, keep reading here.—CV

When it comes to AI transformation, having HR on board is critical. But some people leaders experience difficulties being included in such big changes.

Those who are feeling left out in the cold might want to look to ServiceNow’s Jacqui Canney for guidance.

In January, ServiceNow announced a title change for Canney, making her its chief people and AI enablement officer. The change reflected an expanded role for Canney, who’d led HR at the tech giant since 2021, and put her at the helm of the change management aspect of AI transformation within the company.

That decision, to tie developing the company’s workforce for the future and creating a desired company culture to AI technology investment, felt like a “very natural extension” of her role and “the right move to make in the market,” Canney told HR Brew. But the interest she got from other HR leaders was somewhat unexpected.

For a look at some key AI-related initiatives that Canney’s team is leading, keep reading here.—PM