Are you ready for it? (Be honest: You read that in Taylor Swift’s voice, didn’t you?)

While still down overall, corporate M&A deals are expected to rise 12% year over year in 2024, following a 9% dip in 2023, according to the EY-Parthenon Deal Barometer. HR pros at companies contributing to that increase may want to keep an eye on their talent: 47% of workers leave their organization within one year of a merger, Ernst & Young found.

HR can help reduce the risk of turnover following an M&A deal by proactively communicating with employees from the start of the deal-making process, Chris Hagedorn, senior partner in McKinsey’s transformation practice, told HR Brew.

“The CHRO role has always been a pivotal role in M&A activity because the people equation, when you bring two organizations together, is always the most challenging, the most difficult, and the one you actually have to be out in front of the most,” Hagedorn said. “CHROs who are successful in this environment are the ones who play an incredibly active role in the M&A cycle very early on.”

Keep reading here.—AS

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to become, well, *aware* of some important numbers. Did you know the effects of depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1t every year?

If your business is struggling, it could be a sign your people are struggling, too. Luckily, that’s where BetterHelp comes in. Their new service makes it simple for employers to offer online therapy as a workplace benefit.

BetterHelp Business gives organizations access to the largest network of vetted licensed therapists. The platform is built specifically for HR professionals, so you can count on a functional, straightforward interface that’s easy to manage.

Now’s the time to amplify access to mental healthcare for your employees. Request a demo to begin.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which requires most employers with 15 or more employees to provide “reasonable accommodations” to workers who are pregnant or dealing with related medical conditions, has now been in effect for nearly a year.

Now, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has outlined in detail exactly how employers should be complying with the law. In a final rule issued on April 15, the agency provided clarity on the types of medical conditions that may be covered under the law, as well as how workers can request reasonable accommodations.

For HR pros who don’t have time to read through the whole 408-page document right away, here are a few key takeaways.

Keep reading here.—CV

HR pros in the UK may have to comply with new AI regulations, thanks to a recent proposal from the country’s largest group of unions.

Where in the world? The Trade Union Congress (TUC), which has around 5.5 million members in England and Wales, released a draft bill that would prevent employers from using AI when screening job applicants, and hiring and firing employees, Fortune reported.

The legislation, known as the Artificial Intelligence (Regulation and Employment Rights) Bill, is similar to the AI Act approved by the European Union in 2023, which limits AI systems in the workplace. The UK bill would require employers to conduct an AI risk assessment and would allow job applicants and employees to request information about AI’s involvement in hiring, monitoring, and firing workers. It would also ban emotion recognition systems in the workplace.

Satellite view. Several recruiting platforms, including Jobvite, Modern Hire, and VidCruiter, use AI to examine applicants’ word choices and gestures in recorded video interviews, according to Fast Company. Yet scholars and worker advocates warn of the negative consequences of using this type of technology in the hiring process.

Keep reading here.—KP

A new DE&I. After surveying 2,600 global HR pros about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) across industries, Workday is sharing the results. Check out the Global Blueprint for Belonging and Diversity to see why 78% of respondents are prioritizing DE&I—and how you can embed it into your talent strategy.