Our weekly roundup of deals, product announcements and other HR technology news.
Engagedly launched new features for its AI solution Marissa, to provide answers for commonly asked employee questions. The additions include Ask Marissa, a description generation feature and an employee help desk. Engagedly said users can ask for product help or information on HR best practices as part of Ask Marissa. The new description generation feature creates descriptions for surveys, individual development plans, learning modules and job titles. In addition, Marissa can now answer questions about the employee handbook, company policies and leave.
Coaching Platform BetterUp integrated with Microsoft Viva to help performance management in the workplace. With it, Viva users can access BetterUp tools including content on well-being, productivity and leadership. The collaboration also features personalized assessments and insights to help provide employees gain more self-awareness of their strengths and opportunities for growth within their company. BetterUp said the integration will prompt users to develop guidance through personalized practices varying from visualization, guided self-reflections, intentional breaks, values affirmations and meditation.
Pay for Americans will increase an average of 3.8% during 2024, with higher increases seen in some states, industries and other countries. According to Payscale, the proportion of organizations expecting their salary budgets to either increase or stay the same as last year is 78% in the U.S. and 81% in Canada. However, the labor market has cooled off since the Great Resignation, with unemployment increasing and inflation dropping. The percentage of organizations expecting to lower their salary increase in 2024 has risen from 9% to 22%.
Employee benefits solutions company Flimp Communications released a free employee toolkit that aims to help HR professionals build effective wellness programs. According to the company, the new toolkit provides actionable resources, communication ideas and content templates to help drive usage of employer-sponsored wellness programs and health benefits
The HCM software market will grow from an estimated $21.9 billion during 2022 to $206.87 billion by 2030, a 37.8% CAGR, according to Verified Market Research. The researcher attributes the growth to challenges involved with managing a diverse workforce, as well as a need for improved employee productivity.
HR software provider Factorial announced an AI solution designed to help enhance the user experience. The company introduced AI talent recruitment, which can help save recruiters time by screening resumes and filtering candidates before the first interview.
UKG expanded its headquarters in Weston, Florida, by more than 14,000 square feet, bringing their new agreement to 154,671 square feet in total.
Udemy appointed Prasad Raje as its chief product officer. In the position, he will oversee the design/user experience and product management.
Last Week’s Top News
HR Professionals Want to See More Training, Education and Laws for AI
Even though they’re using AI in the hiring process, both HR professionals and candidates have concerns about the technology and how it’s applied. Going forward, HR professionals believe AI will be integral to hiring activities in the future and most of them, 62%, say the technology can help them hire the best candidates. However, they believe work remains to ensure AI is used ethically, and half said their companies don’t monitor or evaluate the performance of AI. Read more.
AI-Detection Products May Harm Non-Native English Speakers
According to the Guardian, tests on seven software products used to detect AI-generated text can discriminate against people whose first language is not English. The researchers said that the “99%” accuracy rate touted by some detection products is “misleading at best.” Read more.
Paylocity’s New Features Include More Generative AI, Pay Data and Self-Scheduling
Paylocity launched new features including an updated mobile app and enhancements to its generative AI and LMS, as well as a premium product to provide market pay data to aid employers in developing fair and compliant pay strategies. Read more.
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