The HR Huddle

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on HR Tech, Stacey Harris and Cliff Stevenson kick off the conversation with major acquisition news reshaping the HR tech market, including Coursera's plan to acquire Udemy for $2.5 billion and ServiceNow's $7.75 billion acquisition of ARMIS. They cover significant leadership changes across multiple companies, discuss the just-announced Department of Labor funding for apprenticeships in high-growth industries, and share insights on actual use of AI.  The hosts also highlight the next HR Systems Survey, which will launch on April 15th for distribution partners and on April 29th for the general public. Key points covered include: ↪️ Coursera's $2.5 billion deal to acquire Udemy signals consolidation in corporate learning content; the combined company will focus on AI training and the corporate market. ServiceNow's $7.75 billion acquisition of Armis addresses critical security needs as organizations navigate the bring-your-own-AI trend, asset discovery, and data access controls across expanding tech ecosystems. The conversation also covers Phenom’s acquisition of Included AI and the acquisition of Ethan Allen HR Services by G&A Partners. ↪️ The Department of Labor recently announced it is allocating $98 million through its YouthBuild Program to support pre-apprenticeships in high-demand industries such as  construction, manufacturing, IT, and healthcare. Funded projects are intended to provide education, occupational skills training and employment services to young people ages 16 to 24 and strengthen connections to registered apprenticeship programs.   ↪️ Leadership changes at Culture Amp and Oyster position both companies for growth, with founders transitioning to board chairman roles.  They also discuss major executive changes at isolved and Atana.   ↪️ The newly introduced Claude Cowork, an agentic AI tool built into the Claude desktop app, automates complex, multi-step tasks for non-coders.  The hosts discuss how such tools are enabling workers to “collaborate” with AI as a coworker, greatly expanding AI’s practical use. Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below: Sapient Insights Group Download the 2024-25 HR Systems Survey White Paper Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Stacey Harris Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Cliff Stevenson Twitter | LinkedIn 

In this special episode* of HR, We Have a Problem, Teri Zipper and guest Pragya Gupta, Chief Operating Officer at isolved discuss how HR leaders are navigating AI adoption and workforce planning in 2026. The conversation covers findings from isolved's HR Leaders Report, which surveyed over 2,000 organizations, revealing that 63% are experiencing AI disruption while 51% struggle with data scattered across multiple systems.  Pragya explains how HR is moving from reactive to anticipatory operations, using data and AI to predict workforce needs rather than simply responding to them. The discussion addresses practical challenges including payroll accuracy, benefits selection complexity, and the growing skills intelligence gap that threatens retention and competitiveness. Key points covered include: ↪️ HR leaders using AI for recruitment are facing a new challenge where candidates also use AI to optimize resumes, requiring smarter filtering systems that learn from past hiring decisions to identify the best matches while eliminating bias. ↪️ Payroll remains a top stress point for practitioners, with AI-powered "perfect payroll" capabilities now providing proactive notifications about errors before processing, such as incomplete direct deposits or incorrect employee classifications. ↪️ Benefits selection has emerged as the second leading reason employees leave organizations, driving demand for AI assistants that recommend plans based on individual circumstances, family situations, and life stages during open enrollment. ↪️ Two-thirds of organizations are currently seeking new HR systems to address data fragmentation, with HR leaders reporting they lack the analytical capabilities needed for strategic decision-making despite increased pressure from CEOs to guide AI-driven workforce changes. See what HR leaders are prioritizing this year: https://isolved.co/3LgNlto *This podcast episode is sponsored by isolved Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below: Sapient Insights Group Download the 2024-25 HR Systems Survey White Paper Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Teri Zipper Instagram |  Twitter |  LinkedIn  Pragya Gupta LinkedIn isolved LinkedIn 

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on HR Tech, Stacey Harris and Cliff Stevenson discuss  acquisition activity across global payroll and identity security markets, highlighting how services and compliance expertise are driving these deals. They analyze new research showing that executives use AI at nearly double the use rate of frontline employees and highlight why these gaps affect adoption strategies.  The conversation includes workforce planning insights from Sapient's collaboration with Anaplan, the SHRM discrimination lawsuit verdict, and regulatory changes affecting AI and workplace equity programs. Key points covered include: ↪️ UKG's acquisition of Inova Payroll expands managed services for frontline workers, while ServiceNow's $1 billion purchase of Veza positions the company in the growing battle over identity security and access control.  Other companies making or finalizing acquisitions include European companies Sajid and SDWorks and Findem, which sells an AI talent platform.. ↪️ Research from both Dayforce and Sapient Insights confirms a big gap in AI use;  while 80 to 87% of executives are using AI tools, just 27to 41% of individual contributors are using them. The hosts discuss what this means for successful implementations. ↪️ Team and Time, a new offering out of UKG Labs, is designed to especially meet the sophisticated and complex scheduling requirements for healthcare workforces.  The platform reflects an overall market need for advanced time and attendance solutions for diversely skilled workforces.   ↪️ In other news: The jury verdict awarding $11.5 million in the SHRM discrimination lawsuit raises questions about organizational culture and compensation structures.  In the 10 years since Gravity Payments implemented a $70,000 (now $80,000) minimum wage for all employees, the company is reporting 650% of revenue growth. The hosts reference two new complimentary resources for audiences: a just-published white paper, “From Headcount to High Impact,” that discusses how C-suite leaders can use workforce planning for strategic, long-term planning (https://www.anaplan.com/resources/research-report/sapient-c-suite-guide-to-using-workforce-planning/#); and an ADP-hosted webinar, “HR + IT: Empowering Data Integration in the Age of AI,” with IT analyst Tim Crawford and Shivang Patel, ADP chief product officer, on ways to resolve data integration challenges and how generative and agentic AI can support business transformation and differentiation (https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5113285/55BFAEF63EFBA62A329A708BCAC81A52).  Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below: Sapient Insights Group Download the 2024-25 HR Systems Survey White Paper Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Stacey Harris Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Cliff Stevenson Twitter | LinkedIn 

In this fan-favorite episode of HR, We Have a Problem, Teri Zipper along with Susan Richards and guests Tee Thorsen, LAITHOS Co-Founder and Managing Partner, and Mary Ellen Clagett, LAITHOS Leadership Catalyst and Co-Founder, discuss how leadership and organizational culture function as inseparable forces that determine business outcomes. The conversation addresses why 60% of employees still hide their authentic selves at work and how this disconnect undermines sustainable results.  They explore the elements that make culture "adaptive" - including psychological safety, learning mindsets, and the ability to balance stability with flexibility - while providing practical frameworks for building trust and leading change effectively. They also introduce a trust equation that helps leaders assess their own trustworthiness and communication impact. Key points covered include: ↪️Organizations can have the best strategy, but without a supportive culture that embraces change, it's like running new software on outdated hardware - results will be limited and unsustainable. ↪️ Trustworthiness is measured by (Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy) ÷ Self-Orientation, where leaders must demonstrate expertise, follow through on commitments, and create emotional safety while keeping personal agendas in check. ↪️Leaders must adapt their communication style for different audiences - teams, peers, boards, stakeholders - while maintaining authenticity, and must recognize that effective communication includes listening as much as speaking. ↪️Leading change requires radical honesty about impacts, including job eliminations, so employees can make informed decisions, and success depends on engaging both formal leaders and informal influencers throughout the organization. Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below: Sapient Insights Group Download the 2024-25 HR Systems Survey White Paper Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Teri Zipper Instagram |  Twitter |  LinkedIn  Susan Richards LinkedIn Tracey (Tee) Thorsen LinkedIn Mary Ellen Clagett LinkedIn

In this fan-favorite episode of Spilling the Tea on HR Tech initially posted after the HR Tech conference, Susan Richards, Teri Zipper, and Cliff Stevenson explore the disconnect between AI availability and actual adoption, revealing that 90% of professionals still don't use AI tools at work despite consumer-level familiarity. They discuss why major learning platform vendors were absent from the HR Tech conference floor even as spending data shows learning as a top investment category. The episode explores how HR technology is evolving into workforce technology as vendors integrate HR, finance, and IT capabilities into single platforms. Key points covered include: ↪️ Survey data reveals overall HR tech spending continues to decline with the exception of learning technology, yet several major learning vendors were notably absent from this year's HR Tech conference floor. ↪️ Organizations have acquired AI technology but face adoption barriers rooted in change management; while employees are showing measured excitement, they can be overwhelmed by implementation issues. ↪️ The boundaries between HR, finance, and IT are dissolving as vendors like Rippling and HiBob acquire capabilities across functions, pointing toward workforce technology ecosystems rather than siloed HR systems. ↪️ The most successful AI applications in HR remain low-risk tasks such as writing job descriptions; higher-stakes uses such as the creation of skills taxonomies require human oversight at multiple checkpoints. Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below: Sapient Insights Group Download the 2024-25 HR Systems Survey White Paper Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Teri Zipper Instagram |  Twitter |  LinkedIn  Cliff Stevenson Twitter | LinkedIn  Susan Richards LinkedIn