Four ways to protect payroll and HR from cybercrime

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📊 HR Trends: Allegations of drugging during job interviews spark outrage in France

More than 240 women have accused a former senior civil-servant at France’s culture ministry of drugging them with illegal diuretics during job interviews over nearly a decade. The drinks, allegedly laced, caused sudden urge to urinate; many women were forced to relieve themselves in public or wet themselves — leading to deep humiliation, long-lasting trauma and distrust in recruitment processes. Investigations uncovered a spreadsheet titled “Experiments” on the official’s computer, where he tracked incidents and reactions. The case raises alarm about abuse of power, chemical submission and the responsibility of organisations to protect candidates. Read more.

🎧 HR Insights: Four ways to protect payroll and HR from cybercrime

This article outlines four essential actions to shield payroll and HR functions from cyber-attacks: recognize that payroll staff pose high-value targets because they hold sensitive personal and financial data; deliver targeted cybersecurity training so staff can spot phishing and social-engineering threats; bring security teams and HR/payroll together rather than leaving security as a separate silo; and replace outdated systems with modern, cloud-native payroll/HR software that offers secure access controls, audit logs, and automatic updates. These steps help reduce risks such as identity theft, ransomware or payroll fraud.

💡 HR Tips & Tricks

Tip of the Day: Promote micro-moment check-ins rather than formal surveys. Instead of waiting for quarterly or annual engagement surveys, encourage managers to have brief informal check-ins every 2–3 weeks. Ask simple questions about workload, stress levels, or support needed. These short conversations help catch small issues early, build trust, and reinforce that HR is approachable and employee-oriented.

Trick of the Day: Use anonymous “stress-heat maps” to monitor employee pressure points. Create a simple online form where employees can anonymously mark which parts of their work or workflow cause highest stress or burnout risk (for example: tight deadlines, lack of clarity, long hours, repetitive tasks). Use the aggregate map to identify hot-zones in the organisation and redesign work or support systems accordingly. This method surfaces hidden pain points and supports proactive well-being action without singling out individuals.

🧾 HR Case Files: People-first Culture Strengthens Workforce Resilience at Funworks Group

Funworks Group details how shifting from rigid process-driven HR to a “people-first” culture created a more resilient, engaged workforce. The change began with open communication and giving employees real voice — inviting their input rather than imposing top-down changes.

Key Takeaways

• Employee hesitation at the start gave way to ownership and engagement when staff felt heard and involved.

• Over time, morale, collaboration and productivity improved as trust deepened.

• HR’s role moved beyond administration to nurturing belonging, well-being and purpose — demonstrating that empathy and performance can coexist

🧰 HR Toolbox

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Resource of the Day

This executive summary presents findings from SHRM’s L&D Executives: Priorities and Perspectives research, offering a data-driven look at how learning and development leaders are powering the workforce of tomorrow. As organizations face rapid technological change and heightened talent demands, L&D leaders are aligning development strategies with organizational goals to strengthen leadership pipelines, boost employee retention, and prepare teams for AI-driven transformation. Get Your Copy

Event of the Day - CultureCon Webinar

​In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, understanding and leveraging the strengths of a multigenerational workforce is key to organizational success. With Millennials and Gen Z now making up the majority of the workforce, leaders must adapt their strategies to bridge generational differences and foster a cohesive, high-performing environment. Learn more about how you can bridge this divide at CultureCon Webinar, happening on December 9th from 11:30 AM.

Click here to be a part of this event.

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