HR Brew // Morning Brew // Update

March 12, 2026

Hey there, HR pros. It’s hard to believe it’s been six years since the Covid-19 pandemic shut down in-person workplaces across the world, prompting many knowledge workers to power up their laptops from home. Terms like “Miss Rona” and “Covidiot” may have left our lexicon since then, but “work from home” is still all the rage, particularly if you talk to workers who’ve been turned off by RTO mandates.

In today’s edition:

I’m (not) lovin’ it

Legislative lowdown

Upskilling staff

—Mikaela Cohen, Courtney Vinopal, Eoin Higgins

HR STRATEGY

Social media woes of CEOs

Getty Images

Could corporate America’s CEOs some day be social-media competition for the moms of #MomTok?

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski went viral earlier this week after posting an Instagram video of himself taste-testing a new burger. It fueled backlash from users who ripped into the executive for taking the tiniest bite of the burger, and referring to it as a “product.” The video is just one of many that Kempczinski has posted on Instagram, where he’s shared career advice like how to overcome imposter syndrome and how to use AI at work.

“In this day and age, leaders are trying to lean into authenticity, and there was something about the bite of the burger that just seemed fake. It felt like inauthentic content,” Deborah Grayson Riegel, executive and communication coach and co-author of Aim High and Bounce Back, told HR Brew.

Social media could be part of an effective leadership and communication strategy for CEOs, Grayson Riegel said. But before they break out the ring lights and iPhone tripods, there are some guidelines CEOs should stick to on these platforms, she said.

For more on why Kempczinski’s viral video matters for HR, keep reading here.—MC

Presented By The Hartford

The shifting benefits landscape

No one is immune to increasing healthcare costs, including employers. And according to The Hartford’s 2026 Future of Benefits Study, it’s a primary reason why HR leaders are reshaping their employee benefits strategies.

In fact, 93% of employers have taken some action in response to rising healthcare/pharmacy costs.

From integrated benefits and new enrollment strategies to AI and HR technology, HR leaders are adapting to these changes in savvy ways. Check out the study to discover the top trends in 2026 and beyond.

COMPLIANCE

Legislative lowdown

Francis Scialabba

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released proposed guidance on how to open a Trump Account on behalf of a child, as well as how to take advantage of a pilot program that will provide government-seeded accounts to children born during the president’s second term.

While the proposed regulations could help HR teams answer questions from workers who are interested in taking advantage of this new savings account, employers are still awaiting guidance on how they can contribute to such accounts.

For more on the proposed guidance for opening Trump Accounts, keep reading here.—CV

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION

The path forward

Rear view of mature businesswoman discussing strategies with colleagues in board room at office.

Maskot / Getty Images

AI is disrupting the IT job market—and for companies that need trained talent, the answer may lie with existing staff.

Upskilling current workers to work with AI can be an effective solution to the tech talent crisis, said Daniele Grassi, CEO of training hub General Assembly. Grassi and his team recently released the company’s State of Tech Talent 2026 report, which indicates that 80% of HR pros believe upskilling staff AI capabilities will be a path forward.

“All companies, particularly large enterprises, are redefining the way they look at the workforce,” Grassi said. “They need to be more strategic in the way they look at it, they cannot take just a short-term or a reactive approach, as sometimes it has been in the past—and upskilling and reskilling the internal employees is a critical part of the equation.”

For more on how AI is affecting the tech job market, keep reading on IT Brew.—EH

Together With The Hartford

Turn confusion into confidence. When it comes to making benefits decisions, employees need more support than ever. It’s why 95% of employers took new actions for 2026 enrollment. The Hartford’s 2026 Future of Benefits Study reveals how HR leaders are approaching benefits engagement in new ways (think: enhanced communication, AI-driven benefits recommendations, + more). Check it out.

WORK PERKS

A desktop computer plugged into a green couch.

Francis Scialabba

Today’s top HR reads.

Stat: One-third of private-sector workers are now entitled to receive paid leave from the government, thanks to state laws that have taken effect throughout the US. (the 19th)

Quote: “If you look at our retention rate, it’s just the best in the industry…we’re just clearly doing something different.”—Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei offered his view on why the company has held onto talent even as competitors like Meta have tried to lure them away with multi-million dollar pay packages (the Wall Street Journal)

Read: Banks including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are allowing employees based in the United Arab Emirates to relocate temporarily due to war in Iran. (Bloomberg)

Focused forward: Curious about the trends reshaping benefits in 2026? The Hartford’s latest Future of Benefits Study has the details. Take a look.*

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JOBS

More focus, less fluff. CollabWORK filters out the noise and delivers jobs that actually match what HR Brew readers are looking for. Click here to see the full board of curated roles.

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Written by Mikaela Cohen, Courtney Vinopal, and Eoin Higgins

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