Roundup: Microsoft Relaxes NDA Restrictions, SHRM Invests in Soar.com

As work-from-home and hybrid work situations become more of the norm post-pandemic, even Microsoft is loosening the shackles a bit as it will no longer issue non-compete clauses in new employee contracts and will end enforcement of old non-competes for most employees, excluding senior leadership. (The move was reported by Gizmodo.) The change will allow employees to take their skills to new companies with less concern regarding previous employment relationships.

SumTotal will be integrated with OpenSesame to make tasks simpler for learning administrators. Through the agreement, the solution will open a library of over 25,000 courses with topics including DEI, leadership, safety and compliance. The OpenSesame Connector also curates content based on data and metrics gathered from hundreds of organizations that use the connector.

SHRM’s innovation fund, SHRMLabs, is investing in Soar.com, an organization that offers AI workplace solutions. SHRM selected Soar.com to deliver an AI video search experience for SHRM members that will provide more value to their video content from webcasts, conference presentations and keynotes. Because of this Soar.com AI tech, SHRM’s video archive will now be fully searchable. In addition, members will now be able to share clips with others to bring greater visibility to their video assets.

Leaders feel confident in handling a variety of workplace disruptions – over 70% are this confident. That’s what Ceridian’s 2022 Executive Survey tells us, at least. Other notable developments include: To build change readiness into their work culture, 46% of those executives polled will invest in DEI strategies. Meanwhile, 44% would offer flexibility in job roles and responsibilities, while 44% will work to ensure employee retention. To fill the ever growing skills gap, 54% would create internal training programs, 52% would shift skilled workers to higher impact roles and another 52% will invest in technology to track skill gaps.

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