MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO’S DESK

Lately, the news cycle feels less like a series of updates and more like a deluge of terrible news.

Between the headlines of ICE raids terrorizing our neighborhoods and separating families and the ongoing global atrocities in Gaza, Sudan, and the Congo, the "weight of the world" isn't a metaphor anymore. It’s a literal physiological burden that your employees are carrying into every Zoom call and every standup.

But let’s just say the quiet part out loud… If you’re a founder, CEO, or HR leader, you’re carrying it too. And what makes that even harder is that we’re expected to be the "calm in the storm," the ones with the perfect internal memo and the strategic response. The ones who remain steady and focused. But leadership doesn’t mean being immune to trauma. We are just as burned out, anxious, and fatigued as the teams we’re trying to support.

When the world is this heavy, remaining neutral comes off as indifference, but we can’t pour from an empty cup either. Here’s how I’m thinking about navigating this moment:

• Dust Off the EAP: Most company benefits plans and PEOs include an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that hardly anyone uses. Now is the time to shout it from the rooftops. Remind your team (and yourself) that it’s confidential, it’s there, and it’s meant for moments like this.

• Infrastructure Over "Vibes": Don’t just tell people to "take care." Give them the tools. If you have therapy stipends or mental health days, make it clear that they are available, "no questions asked." If you’re a small shop without a massive budget, curate a list of local legal aid and immigrant rights resources; it shows you actually give a damn about the fears your team is facing.

• Know Your Rights (And Theirs): Regarding ICE, "wait and see" is not a plan. Ensure your front desk and HR teams know the drill: no access without a valid judicial warrant and designate a point of contact. Protecting your people is a business imperative, not just a nice thing to do. Here’s what we shared last week related to the national strike, and our AMA from June about how to prepare your organization against ICE raids.

• Stop Solo-ing the Emotional Labor: To my fellow HR leaders: You are not a sponge meant to absorb the collective trauma of your entire headcount. Build a framework with your legal counsel and leadership so every crisis doesn't require a reinvented wheel. And lean on your network for support - shoutout to Wendy Road & TroopHR who are mine!

You don’t need to have a perfect statement for every headline, but you do need to build infrastructure that protects your people, including you.

We’re all human first. Let’s start acting like it.

THE BRIEFING 🗞️

HR NEWS TO KNOW

The latest HR headlines and stories, curated with our perspective.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rescinded Biden-era harassment guidance in a 2-1 vote last month, marking a huge win for the Trump administration’s crusade against anti-American sentiment, DEI initiatives, and protection for LGBTQ+ employees. The former EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows, who was fired by President Donald Trump, called the vote “a shocking and very radical statement from this administration."

• ↪️ PFunc’s Perspective: Proactive audits of hiring, pay, promotion, disciplinary, and recordkeeping practices are critical to reducing legal risk for your company. Read more at NPR.

Workday claims job applicants can’t sue the $50 billion company for age discrimination because they aren’t protected under the same laws as hired employees. The ongoing Mobley v. Workday lawsuit, filed in 2023, highlights concerns about how AI-driven hiring tools, such as those offered by Workday, may adversely affect job applicants when used in employment screening.

• ↪️ PFunc’s Perspective: Mobley v. Workday reinforces why human recruiters must stay at the forefront of hiring, with AI as a tool - not a crutch. Read more at HR Dive.

A couple other stories to check out:

• Gallup: U.S. employee engagement falls to 10-year low, report finds

• Culture Amp: Building an employee recognition program that nurtures a positive company culture

AI NEWS TO KNOW

What’s happening in AI, and why it matters for HR.

A report from Pearson claims teaching AI to employees has the potential to add between $4.8 and $6.6 trillion to the U.S. economy by 2034.

• ↪️ PFunc’s Perspective: As AI becomes more embedded in the workplace, it should complement - not define - employee skill sets. Overemphasizing AI can drive burnout, and some employees may reasonably choose not to adopt it. The goal is to position AI as an optional enhancer that simplifies work and adds value, NOT a requirement that complicates roles or alienates talent.

COMPLIANCE CHECK

Stay ahead of compliance as these latest updates take effect.

• California (effective 2/1/2026) - ICYMI: Employers must give current employees and new hires the new Workplace Know Your Rights Act notice, which will need to be redistributed annually moving forward.

• New York City (effective 2/22/26) - Employers must provide a separate bank of 32 hours of unpaid Earned Safe and Sick Time, in addition to the 40 or 56 hours required under the ESSTA, and allow its use for expanded reasons, including caregiving. Additionally, employers no longer have to grant employees’ temporary schedule change requests under the Temporary Schedule Change Act.

• Federal (effective 1/26/26) - The Department of Labor published a series of compliance assistance resources for employers:

  • Compliance assistance webpage

  • FMLA video series

  • Revamped industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits

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. Hundreds of opportunities, dozens of companies, and a few standout roles highlighted below.

This week, we’re highlighting roles our hiring team is actively working to fill for clients.

• Allocate, Paralegal - This role offers hands-on impact across private markets, technology, and regulation, supporting fund formation and compliance in a modern investment platform. It combines meaningful ownership with the flexibility of a fully remote, high-growth environment.

• Inspiren, Senior HR Business Partner - This leader will architect and scale the entire HR Business Partner function, defining how people strategy supports rapid growth while preserving a strong “People First” culture. Partnering directly with executive leadership, you’ll act as a modern, data-driven operator who embeds performance, psychological safety, and transparency into every stage of Inspiren’s evolution.

• Oath, Sr. Executive & Personal Assistant to Board Chairman - This role offers the chance to act as a trusted partner to the Chairman, managing complex professional and personal priorities with discretion. It combines remote flexibility with high-impact, board-level coordination and travel management.

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.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE💡

Check out this resource, vetted and recommended by us.

Runtime Revolution - This company is especially near and dear to us since they’re the team building our AI app (stay tuned this summer 👀). Since 2006, Runtime Revolution has helped startups bring digital products to life with a full team of developers, QA testers, and designers. From UX through deployment, they turn ideas into thoughtfully built, scalable products. Reach out if you want to get connected!

INSIDE PFUNC HQ ⋒

NEW CLIENT CORNER

Cocoon - This trailblazing platform helps employees efficiently manage and enjoy their leave while assisting employers with staying on top of compliance, claims, and payroll - all in one place! Cocoon gets people like we get people, and we’re thrilled to work with them as they build out their HR strategy.

WHERE TO NEXT?

Our team is always on the move, popping up at the HR events, conferences, and summits we actually love.

🤖 Countdown to Leading with AI in New York City (and online) (February 10): 8 Days
People Function team members will be virtually attending the fifth annual Charter Workplace Summit, where executives will share how they’re building long-term competitiveness across business, people, and AI, amid political, economic, and technological uncertainty.

✈️ Countdown to Transform 2026 in Las Vegas (March 23-25): 48 Days

Not only are we attending, but we’ll be hosting a few fun, non-corporate side events because we all know the real reason we go to Transform is for the people and connections! Will you be there? Do you want to hang out with us? Let us know!

CHRONICALLY ONLINE📱

For your enjoyment, a recent social media video from the PFunc team.

Join 100,000+ followers across PFunc’s Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, hailed as “the best HR social accounts online today.” 😉

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.

🗣️ Thoughts, feedback, requests? Let us know! 🗣️

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