SMPHR Weekly Brew — Monday, June 1

Happy Monday and welcome to the very first SMPHR Weekly Brew — your quick-hit, no-fluff digest of what's moving in the HR world right now. We'll keep it warm, we'll keep it useful, and we'll never make you read a 4,000-word think piece before your first cup of coffee. Let's get into it.

This Week in HR

• 84% of Leaders Expect Business Impact from AI Regulation (Corporate Compliance Insights / Littler) — AI has officially surpassed DEI and immigration as the #1 workplace policy concern for U.S. employers, yet only half of companies have formal approval processes for AI tools. Why it matters: If your org doesn't have an AI governance policy yet, you're behind — and HR is the right function to lead that conversation.
• The State of AI in HR 2026 (SHRM) — SHRM's latest data shows 39% of organizations have already deployed AI in HR functions, with recruiting leading adoption at 27%. Critically, 57% say AI is driving upskilling — not displacement. Why it matters: The story is no longer "will AI replace HR?" — it's "which HR pros are equipped to lead alongside it?"
• Employers Plan to Hire Aggressively — But Also Cut (HR Dive) — 92% of companies plan to add staff in 2026 while 55% simultaneously expect layoffs. Nearly 6 in 10 are framing those cuts as "AI-driven" even when the real reason is financial. Why it matters: Workforce transparency is a culture issue — HR leaders need to push back on misleading narratives before they damage trust.
• Hiring Discrimination, Agentic AI & Compliance: What Regulators Want Now (Lexology PRO) — Regulators across the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia are tightening expectations around AI in recruitment and autonomous decision-making systems, with a clear focus on fairness and human oversight. Why it matters: If your org uses AI in any part of the hiring funnel, audit it now — regulators are not waiting.

New in the Learning Lab

We've been stocking the shelves. Here are five fresh picks from the SMPHR Learning Lab:

• Mentorship Supports Employees and Organizations amid Uncertainty — Article (SHRM)
• What Comes After DEI — Article (Harvard Business Review)
• Anemic Employee Engagement Points to Leadership Challenges — Article (Gallup)
• The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI — Article (Josh Bersin)
• Where DEI Falls Short — and How To Rethink It — Video (TED)

Coming Up

• 2026 CHRO Roundtable: How Does HR Stay at the Table? — Monday, June 22 | 8:30–10:15 AM | RGA Headquarters, Chesterfield, MO. A panel of CHROs tackling the big question: how does HR maintain influence as AI reshapes how work gets done? Don't miss it.

That's your brew for the week. Forward this to a colleague who needs it, and we'll see you next Monday. ☕