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- The PFunc Pulse: Are You Playing Like Toddlers or an Elite Team? [Issue #44]
The PFunc Pulse: Are You Playing Like Toddlers or an Elite Team? [Issue #44]
The HR Insider Guide. Read by 2,100+ leaders.
MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO’S DESK
We are all about the World Cup in my household. My husband grew up in London, and his sister is visiting, so every match has been streaming from some screen in our apartment, no matter the time of day. And we’re all pretty excited about England’s win on Sunday! 😄
With all the soccer talk at home, something Sarah Jones Simmer, COO of the National Women's Soccer League, said last month at the Charter Summit (I still can’t stop talking about it!) has been rattling around in my head. It’s an analogy she made called "beehive soccer."
You've seen it if you've ever watched 5-year-olds play - a swarm of kids chasing the ball, everyone touching it, nobody in position, and pure commotion. That’s beehive soccer. Basically, the team is swarming the balls like bees to a beehive. Compare that to what we're watching right now in the World Cup where every player has a position, a skillset, a role. Sure, chaos still exists, but coordination is what scores goals.
In the startup world, we’re so used to chasing every loose ball that we have to ask ourselves - are we just letting people randomly swarm the play, or do we actually have a thoughtful strategy?
No startup is perfect or has it all figured out. But injecting thoughtful structure into your organization is the difference between scrambling and scoring.
Here’s how to transition your team from chaotic scrambling into coordinated execution:
Assign one owner to every initiative. Not a committee, one name.
Cut your meeting list down to ones where a decision actually gets made. No status update meetings!
Give every new hire a 30-60-90 day plan so that they know their position on Day One, not after a month of winging it.
Stop hiring generalists to patch a gap. Hire for the specific needs of your organization, not the deficit left by a team member who isn’t pulling their weight.
No startup is perfect or has it all figured out. But injecting thoughtful structure into your organization is the difference between scrambling and scoring.
Go England! ⚽
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THE HR BRIEFING 🗞️
THE LATEST NEWS TO KNOW
HR headlines and stories, curated with our perspective. 🤝
Microsoft is eliminating up to 5,700 roles across its sales, consulting, and Xbox gaming divisions as parts of its annual July restructuring.
↪️ PFunc’s Perspective: Microsoft popularized stack ranking performance cuts back in the day which was highly problematic. It doesn’t surprise us that elements of this competitive performance culture still exist. Massive annual cuts aren’t a strategy - they’re a failure in your hiring plan and talent strategy.
More than 3 in 4 employees are secretly using "Bring Your Own AI" (BYOAI) at work at companies that lack guidelines or guardrails.
↪️ PFunc’s Perspective: Instead of ignoring AI and pretending your employees aren’t using it, establish an official governance framework. Build a strict menu of vetted, enterprise-grade platforms, issue non-negotiable guardrails on what data can never be inputted (like private client info or proprietary code), and proactively train your teams on safe, compliant usage before a security breach forces your hand. 😳
A couple of other trending stories:
HR Dive: 79% of US employees blame bad leadership for toxic workplaces.
The Guardian: Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, nearly 500,000 New Yorkers lost health insurance coverage on July 1.
Be the first to know about openings in our network by joining our Talent Network.
COMPLIANCE CHECK
Watch out for these HR compliances going into effect (or hitting deadlines) this month.
New Jersey (eff. 7/17): Job-protected leave under the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) is expanding to cover more employees.
Federal (eff. 7/31): Employers must file the Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return to report wages, tips, and withholdings for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.
Federal (eff. 7/31): Calendar-year employee benefit plans (such as 401(k) and group health plans) must file their annual return with the Department of Labor (DOL).
THE OPPORTUNITY EXCHANGE 📈
ROLES ON OUR RADAR
The PFunc job board is packed with open roles across our client companies, making it easier than ever to tap into our network.
This week, we’re highlighting the latest job openings in our network.
Brand Marketing Sr. Manager at RADAR: Act as this location platform’s chief storyteller, uniting cross-functional insights into a cohesive, scalable brand narrative.
Fund Formation Attorney at Allocate: Drive long-term growth by managing private fund formation, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance as a part of this tech platform’s legal team.
Warehouse and Logistics Associate / Delivery Driver at Hart Agency: This hands-on role combines warehouse operations, inventory management, and production support with delivering and setting up large-scale promotional activations across Long Island and New York City.
See a role you’re interested in? Reply to this email and we’ll try to connect you with the hiring team. Hiring for an open role yourself? Reply to have your job featured in an upcoming PFunc Pulse issue.
CLIENT CORNER
From high-growth startups to established enterprises, our community of partners is growing. Check out the latest addition to our roster.
Hart Agency – Our newest client is a top-tier experiential marketing and event staffing partner that hooks up the beverage, cannabis, and CPG industries with highly trained brand ambassadors to bring their retail and event activations to life.
FUZE Technology – FUZE Technology is back! This returning client keeps devices powered on the go with chargeFUZE while also connecting brands to consumers through its innovative adFUZE digital advertising platform.
We’re thrilled for the opportunity to work alongside the teams at Hart Agency and FUZE Technology!
CHRONICALLY ONLINE📱
Emma is showing love to her work bestie Leiya, PFunc’s first Senior HR Consultant, now together for almost 5 years!
STAY IN TOUCH 💌
If you’re interested in fractional HR support for your team, reply to this email or contact us to learn more about our offerings, pricing, and how we can support your growing company.
Join the Talent Network here (it’s free!). Whether you’re actively exploring new opportunities or happily employed but open to the right fit, becoming part of our network boosts your profile when roles align with your experience, skills, and career goals.💡
🗣️ Thoughts, feedback, requests? Let us know! 🗣️
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Every Tuesday, The PFunc Pulse delivers the HR news and compliance shifts you actually need to know about, without all the corporate fluff. Emma brings her unfiltered take on the trends keeping CEOs awake at night, served with the gritty, practical wisdom of a founder who’s seen it all. Real talk for better people decisions, week by week. (P.S. Do your work bestie a favor and forward this— friends don't let friends do old school HR. 🫢)