01
What changed in hr regulation and policy this week?
Government decisions, new rules and policy shifts reported this week.
02
Regulators are currently working on policies to protect employees from being terminated by AI systems.
Read at zdnet.com ↗03
Vice President JD Vance announced that Microsoft and Adobe have been suspended from the H-1B visa program due to allegations of systemic fraud and the displacement of American workers.
Read at fastcompany.com ↗04
California has enacted a new law that prohibits employers from using AI-driven systems to make disciplinary or termination decisions regarding employees.
Read at inc.com ↗05
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced plans to rescind its 2012 guidance regarding the use of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions.
Read at hrdive.com ↗06
On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor suspended Microsoft and Adobe from the permanent labor certification program.
Read at hrdive.com ↗07
As of October 2026, 14 U.S. states have implemented mandates for paid family and medical leave.
Read at forbes.com ↗08
The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a new rule regarding the classification of independent contractors, which is currently under final review.
Read at fiercehealthcare.com ↗What funding rounds and acquisitions happened in hr this week?
The week’s notable investments, financing rounds, acquisitions and strategic deals.
09
German software giant SAP announced the acquisition of Belgian AI startup TechWolf on October 6, 2026.
Read at tech.eu ↗10
German HR software unicorn Personio has acquired the German fintech company Circula.
Read at finextra.com ↗What products launched in hr this week?
Notable product launches, releases and platform updates from the week.
11
Dell has announced a new corporate benefit pledging $1,000 to the accounts of employees' children.
Read at businessinsider.com ↗12
Gusto has introduced new AI-guided workflows and an expanded partner program for its Gusto Pro platform to assist accounting firms.
Read at accountingtoday.com ↗13
Entrepreneur Richard Bronson has launched a startup called Commissary Club, an employment-focused social media platform designed to help formerly incarcerated individuals find jobs and housing.
Read at techcrunch.com ↗What court rulings and legal actions hit hr this week?
Court rulings, filings and legal actions reported this week.
14
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a complaint in California on October 9, 2026, against the hiring assessment tool Emotify.
Read at hrdive.com ↗15
British Airways was ordered to pay £30,000 in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled that the dismissal of a cabin crew member was unfair.
Read at hrgrapevine.com ↗16
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is facing a workplace discrimination lawsuit.
Read at businessinsider.com ↗What research was published in hr this week?
New research findings and studies published this week.
17
McKinsey research projects that the U.S. economy will see a net increase in jobs by 2035 despite automation.
Read at fortune.com ↗18
A study co-authored by a researcher and Jason Schloetzer analyzed data from nearly 165,000 U.S. employees between 2020 and 2023 using the Payscale database.
Read at fastcompany.com ↗19
A study indicates that young working parents face significant challenges in securing high-quality employment.
Read at hrdive.com ↗20
Charter, in partnership with Council Advisors, published a new playbook on October 8, 2026, aimed at helping organizations redesign corporate structures for the AI era.
Read at charterworks.com ↗21
A research study indicates that AI bots presented as female receive lower compensation compared to those presented as male.
Read at hrdive.com ↗22
Josh Bersin released a new report titled 'The HR Leader’s Guide to Multi-Agent AI Architecture' as part of the HR 2030 research program on October 8, 2026.
Read at joshbersin.com ↗23
New research from HR Grapevine indicates that 60% of UK employers are failing to adequately support women's career progression or retention.
Read at hrgrapevine.com ↗24
A study published in October 2026 revealed that the GPT-5 model relied on facial impressions in 97 percent of cases when making hiring and investment decisions.
Read at inc.com ↗8 of 9 research events are listed; the rest were ranked lower by importance and multi-source corroboration and are not shown.
What incidents and outages hit hr this week?
Incidents, outages and safety events reported this week.
25
Tom Watson, a recruitment firm owner from Worcester, has been accused by the campaign group Hope Not Hate of operating an X account named 'Big Time Charlie' that engaged in a doxxing campaign.
Read at theguardian.com ↗What partnerships were announced in hr this week?
Partnerships, integrations and joint projects announced this week.
26
Infrastructure company Mattr has selected HireQuotient's EasySource platform to modernize its talent acquisition processes.
Read at techstartups.com ↗What else happened in hr this week?
Developments from the week that fit none of the other sections.
27
Mahir Laul, founder and CEO of Velric, argues that prolonged hiring processes are often caused by vague job briefs rather than a lack of candidates.
Read at thehrdirector.com ↗28
First Round discusses the strategic importance of reference checks in the hiring process, arguing that traditional methods are often ineffective.
Read at firstround.com ↗29
The Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) proposes the creation of a Mediterranean Community of Human Capital to address Europe's shrinking workforce and the surplus of graduates in southern Mediterranean countries.
Read at cepr.org ↗30
Artificial intelligence is transforming the six-million-strong IT workforce in India as of October 2026.
Read at bloomberg.com ↗31
Natalie Desty, founder of STEM Returners, discusses the potential of reintegrating experienced professionals into the STEM workforce to address Britain's skills shortage.
Read at energylivenews.com ↗32
A survey by HR Grapevine indicates that nearly 90% of employers in the UK feel increased pressure to support staff mental health as of October 2026.
Read at hrgrapevine.com ↗33
The Hire From Nigeria campaign, led by Tech4Dev and Univelcity, launched on August 31, 2026, to connect Nigerian professionals with international employers.
Read at techcabal.com ↗34
A survey conducted by Oliver Wyman and NYSE earlier in 2026 indicates that nearly two-thirds of CFOs plan to reduce junior finance roles.
Read at treasurytoday.com ↗8 of 30 other developments events are listed; the rest were ranked lower by importance and multi-source corroboration and are not shown.