Up Next @ Work

In the latest episode of Up Next @ WorkTech, Katie Achille and George LaRocque navigate another packed week of industry turbulence, from Workday's ongoing age-discrimination lawsuit to Senator Hassan's public rebuke of data-broker practices reaching HR Tech. Episode highlights include: Meta's recent acquisition spree, followed by rumors of major layoffs New research from Brookings forecasts profound AI disruption, with a recommendation of how to adjust the path forward The potential for 30 percent unemployment for new grads entering the job market What corporate jargon really signifies, according to a study out of Cornell One of the biggest TA tech funding rounds in recent memory - Series B secured by the folks at Juicebox

In the latest episode of Up Next @ WorkTech, Katie Achille and George LaRocque dive into the latest updates impacting the world of work, from companies like Accenture tying promotions to AI usage and Burger King's voice agent Patty tracking upsells and friendliness scores to the security risks of OpenClaw and the soon-to-be omnipresence of the AI native everything. Episode highlights include: AI‑driven performance management enters the chat, or in some industries, the headset. Agentic security risks escalate with the introduction and rapid adoption of OpenClaw. Reverse recruiting surges, revealing predatory practices in a down market. HR tech funding continues to accelerate with new capital flowing into a variety of solutions and regions.

Katie Achille and George LaRocque are back with a fast-moving breakdown of the changes over at Workday, the hype and hazards of vibe coding as it relates to the software market at large, findings from the latest Corporate Equality Index, and more. Episode highlights include: Does Workday’s CEO transition signal deeper strategic and market pressures? Vibe coding might be accelerating, but remains risky, lacking compliance, scalability and security AI adoption is shifting from “build” to “buy,” with enterprises rapidly increasing investment HR’s role is transforming (again!), requiring new skills to manage AI agents, automated workflows and hybrid human‑machine teams Early‑stage HR Tech funding remains active, while mid‑stage companies face pressure

In this crossover episode, Katie Achille sits down with Pete A. Tiliakos and Julie Fernandez, hosts of the popular podcast, HR & Payroll 2.0, to discuss where public relations stands in 2026 in the HR tech space. During their rapid-fire conversation, Katie, Pete, and Julie cover everything from the value of the industry analysts to the ongoing emergence of AEO and GEO. Episode highlights include: The trouble with the term "public relations" nowadays The AI of it all and what that means to vendors versus practitioners The importance of nailing your message right in a crowded market How brand awareness infiltrates the psyche, even without a mention in WSJ For more from Katie, you can connect with her on LinkedIn or subscribe to her newsletter, The How, over on Substack. And of course, don't forget to listen to HR & Payroll 2.0 and follow Pete and Julie.

2026 kicks off with a jolt as Katie Achille and George LaRocque unpack a wave of developments reshaping HR tech. They dive into the new class action lawsuit against Eightfold, exploring what it signals to the market, around AI transparency, vendor accountability, and compliance. The conversation widens to worker power, including Microsoft's landmark agreement with Australian labor unions, and the heated rhetoric coming out of Davos about AI's impact on jobs. Katie and George also consider Apple and Google's latest partnership and the first acquisitions of the year.

As we start the New Year, Jeanne Achille welcomes guest Robert Mattson of Intrigue Communications and Coaching to Up Next @ Work. Mattson helps us understand the importance of storytelling on a corporate level, leaning into the tried-and-true three-act structure: the introduction, the conflict, and persuasive conclusion. He discusses the curse of knowledge and why storytelling from the inside out doesn’t produce optimal results. Robert also gives us some gems from his workshops that can help all of us create the emotional connections with our target audiences through better storytelling. Bonus feature: We discuss favorite movies – the ultimate expression of storytelling – and why AI only makes you sound like everyone else. Learn more about Robert's work and follow him on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Up Next @ Work, Jeanne Achille speaks with Tracee Bowles, CPP, SHRM-SCP, Global Payroll & Workforce Management Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group (R). Tracee’s expertise in payroll is unprecedented – whether discussing geo-fencing, mobile-based workforces, job costing in the construction industry or certified payrolls – she understands what’s complicating the inherent complexities of payroll and how to sort through them. Her career started as a practitioner, leading a team of 30 HR, payroll admin and ops, UE, IT, recordkeeping and reception professionals across 10 locations. With that strong foundation in place, she took her knowledge of how to streamline this business-critical function from lots of moving parts across shared services, PEO, direct, and partnership models. Oh, and did we mention she is also a tax and wage garnishment expert? Take a listen and learn about one of the toughest challenges faced by employers: paying their workforces accurately and on time. Learn more about Tracee's work at The Hackett Group and connect with her on LinkedIn.

In episode five of Up Next @ Work Tech, Katie Achille and George LaRocque talk through the turbulence defining today's labor market. From conflicting signals and the rise of AI-driven HR roles to the urgent need for thoughtful regulation, Katie and George consider how to navigate this liminal moment. Key Takeaways Gartner's predictions for the HR roles of the future The disconnect between layoffs and stock market highs What ServiceNow's acquisition of Veza represents The importance of Findem's partnership with AnitaB.org And of course, the SHRM lawsuit as it unfolded

In this installment, Katie Achille and George LaRocque dissect the paradox of HR Tech funding, Workday’s Pipedream acquisition, payroll automation failures, workplace safety concerns, and The Economist’s claim that HR has “taken over the world.” Key Takeaways Despite $4.9B invested in 2025, early-stage founders face unprecedented challenges in raising capital. Workday’s acquisition of Pipedream positions it as a leading enterprise AI agent platform for HR and finance. AI-driven payroll failures highlight the need for human oversight and off-cycle payment safeguards. The Amber Czech tragedy underscores the importance of escalation processes, psychological safety, and frontline worker protection. The Economist’s claim that HR has “taken over the world” sparks debate on strategy, DEI, and AI disruption. Content Warning: There is a discussion of workplace violence in this episode.

In this episode, George LaRocque and Katie Achille dig into another whirlwind week in HR and Work Tech, from massive valuations and new funds to geographic exits and the morass of missing data. Key Takeaways Demand and the impact on valuation The ethics and economics of AI training How durable skills are influencing a shift toward "boring jobs" The need for alternative data sources Clever marketing reminds us to use that PTO

Katie Achille and George LaRocque are back with another episode of Up Next @ WorkTech, and this time, they're talking about everything from the latest M&A wave to hit HR Tech to Microsoft's introduction of "Mico," the so-called Clippy of the modern era. Key Takeaways Humanly, Jack & Jill, Findem and FairNow were out there making moves. Is AI augmenting our work or coming for our jobs? Seems like the jury's still out as Amazon, Meta, and the like lean into layoffs. Reddit is suing everyone, particularly Perplexity —what does that mean? Women leave the workforce in droves in 2025. And the rise of vibe working brings us new AI "assistants" to keep us company.