🍽️ Lunch and learn sessions: Can this HR L&D strategy work?

Hey HR Pros!

As organizations look for ways to make learning feel less like an obligation and more like an opportunity, lunch and learn sessions are reentering the conversation.

Blending development with connection, these informal, meal based gatherings promise stronger cross functional relationships, more candid dialogue, and a culture of shared insight.

But can it work?

Upcoming In This Issue:

• 📉 66% of employees spend up to 6 hours a week fixing AI errors in HR workflows

• 💼 $8,158 a year: The hidden commuting cost reshaping return to office decisions

• 📊 5.19% apply rate as hiring costs rise in a low hire labor market

• 🍽️ Lunch and learn sessions: Can this HR L&D strategy work?

Download the 2026 HRIS Pricing Guide by SSR

Software budgets are under pressure. CFOs are scrutinising renewals. Vendors are bundling features. AI is being repositioned as “included” or “add-on” depending on the sales call.

The updated HRIS Pricing Guide breaks down:

• Real-world pricing ranges by company size

• How to evaluate ROI,

• Negotiation tactics to get better prices

• How to avoid costly hidden fees

• Questions to ask before signing a multi-year contract

 📰 Latest in HR News

• Amazon hiring ‘workstyle’ assessment may have been lie detector test, judge says

• “Data of billions leaked” or did it? IDMERIT targeted by fake news of a data breach

• Google hit with lawsuit over alleged pregnancy discrimination

• Healthcare jobs account for over half of U.S. job gains in January surge

📉 66% of employees spend up to 6 hours a week fixing AI errors in HR workflows

Survey data from 1,000 U.S. employees shows that two thirds of workers are fixing AI generated errors weekly, and nearly half handle corrections themselves rather than escalating issues.

The impact is measurable across stress, morale, productivity, and burnout risk, raising red flags for retention and engagement strategies.

For HR teams tasked with governance, performance management, and culture building, the normalization of speed over quality may introduce long term accountability and reputational risks.

Key insights

• Tolerance for lower quality is increasing 📊 Only 39% say AI errors are completely unacceptable, while 30% report some level of deadline driven acceptance.

• Invisible labor is becoming standard ⚠️ 49% fix AI mistakes themselves, absorbing extra workload that often goes untracked in performance metrics.

• Organizational credibility is at stake 🏢 30% cite risk of misleading information spreading internally, with 24% warning of reputational damage externally.

• Speed is redefining performance norms ⏱️ 9% say low quality AI output is fully acceptable if deadlines are met, signaling shifting accountability benchmarks.

Read the full article here: https://zety.com/blog/rise-of-workslop-report

💼 $8,158 a year: The hidden commuting cost reshaping return to office decisions

Return to office mandates are reintroducing a significant time burden for employees, and this analysis quantifies it in stark terms: the average U.S. worker spends 223 hours a year commuting, the equivalent of nearly six unpaid workweeks, translating to $8,158 in time value based on average wages.

The findings underscore how location, wage levels, and commute times intersect to influence not just productivity, but how employees perceive the fairness and sustainability of in person work models.

Key insights

• Nearly six unpaid workweeks 🚗 223 annual commute hours equal almost six 40 hour workweeks added to employees’ schedules.

• Major metro disparities 🌆 San Jose, San Francisco, and New York exceed $12,000 in annual time value losses.

• New York leads in commute time ⏱️ Average 36 minute one way trips total roughly 300 hours annually.

• Lower cost metros still face tradeoffs 🗺️ Cities near $5,000 in time value often lack robust transit infrastructure.

Read the full article here: https://www.myperfectresume.com/career-center/careers/basics/invisible-pay-cut

[Happening Today] The Hidden Complexities of Global Hiring

HR LOLs

📊 5.19% apply rate as hiring costs rise in a low hire labor market

The 2026 recruitment marketing benchmarks reveal a labor market in near perfect balance yet defined by caution, with hiring and quit rates subdued and employers scrutinizing every dollar spent.

For HR and TA teams, the data underscores a critical shift: optimizing solely for top of funnel efficiency is no longer enough when sector specific dynamics, geography, and media mix all materially impact cost and conversion outcomes.

Key insights

• White collar apply surge 💻 Technology apply rates reached 7.14%, up nearly 14% year over year as office roles drew heavier applicant volume .

• Healthcare remains costly 🏥 Specialized sectors show some of the highest screening and hiring costs, reflecting persistent talent scarcity .

• Costs climbed despite softening 📈 Median CPC rose to $0.95 and CPH to $1,340, challenging assumptions that softer markets mean cheaper hiring .

• Salary transparency lifts performance 💵 Job postings with pay ranges consistently delivered higher apply rates and improved media efficiency .

Read the full report here: https://info.appcast.io/hubfs/Whitepaper/Final%20Content%20PDFs/Whitepapers/%5BWhitepaper%5D%202026%20Recruitment%20Marketing%20Benchmark%20Report.pdf

🍽️ Lunch and learn sessions: Can this HR L&D strategy work?

As meetings and formal trainings continue to crowd the workday, lunch and learn sessions offer HR leaders an alternative format that blends development with connection.

When used thoughtfully, they can reinforce communication, introduce new ideas, and strengthen employer employee relationships without the rigidity that often drains traditional training programs.

Key insights

• Culture building opportunity 🌱 Shared meals encourage cross functional interaction and deeper peer relationships beyond formal team structures.

• Low cost engagement lever 💡 Offering catered lunches signals appreciation while creating a relaxed setting for idea exchange.

• Risk of burnout ⚠️ Mandatory or overly frequent sessions can frustrate employees who rely on lunch breaks to recharge.

• Best for discussion driven topics 🗣️ Light, exploratory conversations work better than dense, technical training requiring heavy note taking.

Read the full article here: https://www.thehrdigest.com/forks-knives-and-notepads-exploring-lunch-and-learn-trainings-at-work/