MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO’S DESK

Today marks the final day of Women’s History Month. The LinkedIn feed is finally cooling off from the sea of pastel-pink quotes by inspirational women. But as the celebratory banners come down, I’m thinking about a female CEO who inspired me in a very different way by being the meanest boss I ever had.

She was the textbook "She-E-O" of the 2010s. Sharp suits, designer sneakers, and a habit of using her power to make everyone else feel small. I remember sitting in meetings watching her tear down a teammate’s performance or whisper about someone’s outfit the second they left the room. She made me doubt my own skin and my abilities. I (very) secretly cried daily.

Back then, we were told that to be a successful woman in business, you had to be a girlboss, which, let’s be honest, was often just code for a mean girl with a VC check and was typically only safe for white women. It was a model built on a scarcity mindset - the idea that there’s only one seat at the table, so you better claw the person next to you to keep it.

As we close out this month, I’m celebrating the death of the Girlboss. Here’s what that means:

• The girlboss gatekept, ignored her own privilege, and made us feel small. 

  • → Real leadership is empowering. Women in power give their team the tools they need to succeed.

• The girlboss used intimidation tactics to stay on top.

  • → Real leadership leads with empathy and sees the power in being kind to her coworkers.

• The girlboss is snarky and passive aggressive.

  • → Real leadership is transparent, over-communicates, and gives feedback directly. 

• The girlboss expected grueling work around the clock.

  • → Real leadership believes that results rule, and that work at the cost of mental health and work-life balance will result in worse results.

If the old guard wants to call that "soft" or "typical Millennial," let them. 

I did some of my best work under this girlboss while trying to survive a toxic culture, but I also did my worst. I was sloppy and spread thin because my team was under-resourced. I was a high performer who burned out in 10 months. I’m not building People Function to be a marathon of survival. I’m building it to be a place where high performance doesn't require a mental health crisis.

I want to empower my team, support them, and believe in their ability to learn. At People Function we are proving every day that a team of women pushing each other to do better in a supportive, kind way will always out-produce a leader who rules through fear.

Supporting women isn’t a slogan for March. It’s the daily, unglamorous work of providing the tools, the clarity, and the safety people need to actually succeed.

The girlboss is dead. Long live true leadership.

THE HR BRIEFING 🗞️

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

About half of the U.S. workforce believes their employers take their mental health seriously, and 1 in 5 want training on mental health conditions.

• ↪️ PFunc’s Perspective: The data show that mental health leads to better outcomes and productivity than putting in long hours. And managers want to understand how to support their team’s mental health. Give the people what they want!

Only 7% of U.S. workers say they will quit if required to return to the office, a massive drop from 51% at the start of 2025.

• ↪️ PFunc’s Perspective: The reality of the soft job market is forcing people to reconsider their preference of working from home. We still believe that leadership should create an in-office structure that supports their team AND their business needs.

• Want to build a workplace people genuinely enjoy? Check out The PFunc Pulse–Issue #9 and Issue #12.

Another story we think you might like.

• The Wall Street Journal: Why you should stop naming your AI bots.

COMPLIANCE CHECK

Stay ahead of HR compliance as these latest updates take effect.

• New York City (effective 4/18/26) - Employers cannot request or use applicants’ credit history to make hiring decisions.

• Federal (effective 4/15/26) - All employers and group health plan sponsors must file Form 8928 to self-report compliance failures in their health plan administration.

• Federal (effective 4/25/26) - The Department of Labor is collecting public comments on proposed updates to what classifies an independent contractor vs. an employee. 

Subscribe to The PFunc Pulse to stay ahead of the curve with the latest HR tips, trends, talent on the market, open jobs, and hot topics.

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 open roles in New York.

• Allocate, Senior Director/ Director, RIA Relationship Management - Partner with RIA and wealth advisory leaders to architect programmatic private market portfolios using Allocate’s platform.

• Inspiren, Senior Buyer - Bridge the gap between vendors and internal teams to scale programs and keep our inventory perfectly timed.

• Radar, Senior Associate for Program Management (Special Projects & Pilots) - Collaborate across Radar to architect scalable systems and high-performing teams.

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 for HR leaders, CEOs, and founders like you, vetted and recommended by us!

HiBob - If you need a customizable HR software platform that automates administrative tasks and tailors workflows to your organization’s needs, say hello to HiBob!

WHERE TO NEXT?

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

APRIL

• PFunc Plays Hooky with Sequoia - Rooftop Pickleball & Drinks! (Los Angeles)–April 2

  • Founders, VC & startup leaders - let’s spend the afternoon together on the Kimpton La Peer rooftop!
    

• Community Moves 2026 (New York City)–April 9

  • Emma will join the “Don’t Forget the Human Touch: Culture, Community, and Creating in the Age of AI” panel at Justworks’ one-day conference for small business leaders.
    

• Startup Leadership Salon (Fabrik NYC)–April 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.

  • Lindsay Glogower, PFunc’s Recruiting Practice Lead, will break down the strategy on who and how to hire.

CHRONICALLY ONLINE📱

For your enjoyment, Emma interviews Transform 2026 attendees for HR-approved ways of telling your boss you’re going to a conference for the vibes. 🤪

@peoplefunction

What’s an HR approved way to tell your manager that you came to this conference for vibes? 👀🫢 @transforminsiders

Join 100,000+ followers across PFunc’s Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, hailed as “one of the best HR 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.

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, 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. 🫢)