[31 AUG] Paper Cut - Cuts, Checklists and the Big Stay

AI savings, manager cuts, RTO reality, and a labour market easing into a long hold. Paper Cut turns the week’s headlines into practical moves for HR and employer-brand leaders.

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📌 Sources & Links

White-Collar Reset

Morgan Stanley says AI could save S&P 500 companies 920 billion dollars: https://fortune.com/2025/08/19/morgan-stanley-920-billion-sp-500-savings-ai-agentic-robots-jobs/

Google has slashed more manager roles in its efficiency drive: https://www.businessinsider.com/google-has-slashed-more-manager-roles-in-its-efficiency-drive-2025-8

Google executive says the company has cut a third of its managers: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/27/google-executive-says-company-has-cut-a-third-of-its-managers.html

Researchers leave Meta and OpenAI’s superintelligence labs: https://www.wired.com/story/researchers-leave-meta-superintelligence-labs-openai/

How AT&T CEO John Stankey’s tough memo rewrites workplace terms: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/how-att-ceo-john-stankeys-tough-memo-to-employees-rewrites-the-terms-of-workplace-in-corporate-america/articleshow/123448358.cms

Office Rules, Real Outcomes

Getting employees back to the office is at an inflection point: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/author-getting-employees-back-to-the-office-is-at-an-inflection-point-201435253.html

Work-from-home workers defy RTO mandates: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/08/27/work-from-home-workers-defy-rto-mandates/85821219007/#/

Back to the office, Gen Z says enough working from home: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/aug/25/back-to-office-gen-z-enough-working-from-home

Google adds at least one round of in-person interviews: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-says-we-have-introduced-at-least-one-round-of-in-person-interviews-just-to-make-sure/articleshow/123495271.cms

Remote work benefits explained: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/working-from-home-office-remote-benefits-b2815035.html

Quiet Cracking, Loud Metrics

Quiet quitting is past, workers are quiet cracking: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/25/quiet-quitting-is-a-past-trend-why-workers-are-quiet-cracking.html

Employees who engage in quiet cracking, early research: https://phys.org/news/2025-08-employees-quiet.html

Even lunch breaks are about performance, new Amazon L4 says: https://www.financialexpress.com/trending/even-lunch-breaks-are-about-performance-new-amazon-l4-employee-says-constant-comparisons-add-to-pressure/3957061/

The nine to five schedule is really archaic: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/25/the-9-to-5-schedule-is-really-archaic-hr-expert-says.html

Change culture by changing systems: https://hbr.org/2025/08/to-change-company-culture-focus-on-systems-not-communication

Performance reviews and metrics, a rethink: https://qz.com/performance-management-reviews-metrics-talent-leadership-management

The Big Stay, The Pay Shuffle

The Big Stay and a no-hire, no-fire freeze: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/25/the-big-stay-and-a-no-hire-no-fire-freeze-change-to-labor-markets.html

Inflation and wage growth patterns by sector: https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-wage-growth-white-collar-workers-healthcare-retail-leisure-hospitality-2025-8

Novo Nordisk freezes hiring for non-critical jobs: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/drugmaker-novo-nordisk-freezes-hiring-non-critical-jobs-2025-08-20/

Why it is harder for laid-off older workers to find jobs: https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/why-its-harder-for-laid-off-older-workers-to-find-jobs/91230898

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#EmployerBrand #AIatWork #RTO #OrgDesign #WorkCulture #TalentStrategy