This is a weekly roundup of the latest in HR news.
In the latest roundup of HR news, find out about the employee engagement crisis at Facebook that is a result of mass layoffs and executive absenteeism, how even the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) is replacing remote U.S. workers with more affordable talent overseas, the latest HR hire at Disney, and word that the job market remains tight despite layoffs in some sectors.
Facebook Faces Employee Engagement Crisis
The New York Times spilled some tea about Meta, the parent company of Facebook, by sharing inside scoop about the private chat of employees wondering who is on the chopping block next and the low level of their morale. The article explains that employees are upset about the direction the company has taken. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is putting all his eggs in the Metaverse basket. So far, this strategy has not panned out as expected.
Zuckerberg declared 2023 as “the year of efficiency,” and The Times points out that, so far, it has translated to mass layoffs that will effect in total 21,000 people and the elimination of 5,000 open positions. In addition, during the pandemic, many Meta executives chose to move overseas or to other states. Therefore, executives are not as visible as they once had been.
Replacing U.S. Remote Workers with Overseas Talent
Pushback on remote workers in the United States never ceases. This week the Wall Street Journal reports that the “next wave of remote work is about outsourcing jobs overseas.” And the featured source was a surprise to many. Johnny Taylor Jr., the Chief Executive Officer of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) talked about how an employee in the organization’s tech department came to him for permission to work remotely. The employee wanted to move from the company’s headquarters in Alexandria, Va. to North Carolina. Taylor’s response was to replace the worker with someone from India, whose lower salary and benefits meant 40% in savings.
This idea of replacing U.S. remote workers with outsourced talent comes in response to continuous labor shortages and rising wages. The Wall Street Journal shared a data point that leads the journalist to believe this is a sign of things to come:
“In August, 7.3% of United States senior managers surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said they were moving jobs abroad as a result of remote work.”
Now, Human Resources professionals are left wondering what this will mean for U.S. remote workers and the future of work in general. This might be the next power move for executives who want people to return to the office. Period.
New SVP HR at Disney
Who says you can’t go home again? Jen Reberger had worked for Disney for 15 years before moving to healthcare product maker Medtronic for a bit. Now, Reberger is returning to Disney as SVP Human Resources for Disney Entertainment Television. She replaces Sonia Coleman, who was promoted to SVP and CHRO for Walt Disney Company in March, according to Deadline.
WATCH: Beyond the Stereotypes: Misperceptions of Millennials and Gen Z
Still a Tight Job Market
HR is facing a major contradiction at the moment. LinkedIn feeds are loaded with news of layoffs lately. But the job market remains tight and competitive, according to Yahoo! Finance sharing a story from Fortune. This is prompted by the fact that spring ushers in soon-to-be college grads looking for entry-level positions. The writer of the article sources a new report by Indeed, which describes what young job applicants look for in employers.
Certainly, Gen Z is demanding culture shifts at the workplace. The article’s writer shares that there is a desire for higher salaries, better benefits, and a new approach to work and life. Readers get an explanation of a new HR trend, polyworking. It’s a whole new world.