⭐ Your employees may need work accommodations

The US job market is experiencing a "Great Freeze," characterized by low hiring and low layoffs. Companies are hesitant to let go of employees due to economic uncertainty, but are also not adding new positions. This environment offers job security but limits career growth and makes it difficult for job seekers to find new opportunities

Experts caution that human monitoring is crucial to avoid unintentional discrimination when employers use AI tools to expedite their hiring processes, noting that companies will receive more AI-related questions from their employment practices liability insurers. Meanwhile, insurance carriers adopting AI should remember that human empathy remains vital for building trust, says Cytora CEO Richard Hartley. "When a customer faces loss or uncertainty, they want genuine understanding from a person who listens and helps them recover," Hartley says.

Mental health challenges are increasingly common in the US, with about 23% of adults living with a mental illness, writes Julie Wolfe, a medical director and psychiatrist. Employers have a legal obligation to accommodate mental health needs under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Wolfe encourages employees to seek accommodations such as flexible scheduling and private workspaces. Wolfe emphasizes the importance of early intervention and suggests that employees identify trusted colleagues or supervisors to discuss their mental health needs.

More employees are raising questions about work accommodations in response to their organization’s return-to-office mandate. They cite noisy environments, frequent interruptions and trouble concentrating as their reasons for wanting to work from home or for having a flexible schedule. Are you experiencing this? Do your staffers know how to request accommodations? Do they feel comfortable coming to you for support? Let me know! – Kanoe

The use of AI-based image generators to create fraudulent receipts for expense reports is rising, according to expense software companies. AppZen reported that AI-generated receipts accounted for 14% of fraudulent documents last month, and 30% of financial professionals surveyed by Medius say they've seen an increase in falsified receipts since the release of OpenAI's GPT-4o. "These receipts have become so good, we tell our customers, 'Do not trust your eyes,'" said Chris Juneau, senior vice president and head of product marketing for SAP Concur.

My jaw just dropped when I read this story. Employees using AI to forge receipts? Companies are already targeted by hackers and their phishing attacks. Now they have to be on alert for their own people filing fake receipts? I'm genuinely flummoxed. Am I being naive? Have you seen this? -- Kanoe

Earned wage access has grown significantly, attracting $3.5 billion in venture capital and support from major employers like McDonald's, Uber and Walmart. The regulatory landscape for EWA is mixed, with states such as Nevada and California taking the lead in creating laws, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's approach has varied under different administrations. Consumer advocates argue that EWA can lead to a cycle of debt due to fees and lack of transparency, likening it to payday lending.