AI vs Managers, Quiet Cracking, and Why HR Still Can’t Measure Quality of Hire

Only 24% of companies measure quality of hire. AI is replacing managers. People are quietly breaking. Quality of hire might be the most talked-about hiring metric—and the least understood. This week’s episode hits hard on the disconnect between hiring goals and actual outcomes, how “speed to performance” is becoming a north star metric, and why HR still struggles to train talent instead of replace it. We cover the shocking rise in employee psychological detachment, what “quiet cracking” really signals, and how AI has officially entered the trust chat. Also in the mix: Spot’s recruiting debut, funding trends in earned wage access, and the latest M&A shakeups in HR tech. We break down quality of hire, employee engagement, recruitment strategies, AI in HR, corporate culture, psychological detachment, and major HR tech acquisitions. From benefits shifts to workplace crisis indicators, it’s a full sweep of what’s shaping work right now. Key Takeaways ➡ Only 24% of companies have formal guidelines for quality of hire ➡ Speed to performance is a stronger hiring metric than time-to-fill ➡ 67% of employees trust AI more than their own managers ➡ Psychological detachment now affects over half the workforce ➡ Quiet cracking signals serious retention and engagement issues ➡ HR still favors new hires over upskilling internal talent ➡ Hiring managers—not HR—should help define hiring quality ➡ Recent M&A moves show HR tech consolidating fast Chapters 00:00 – What are we up to for Easter? 03:39 – Nostalgic Family Memories 06:41 – ChatGPT's New Memory Feature 08:57 – Data Ownership and AI in the Workplace 11:04 – Goldman Sachs and HR Tech Investments 14:10 – Workday's Celebrity Marketing Campaign 17:13 – Recruitment Strategies and Challenges 20:03 – Legal Battles and Workplace Discrimination 20:32 – Discussing Religion in the Workplace 22:00 – AI in Recruiting: The Launch of Spot 24:25 – The Future of DEI Initiatives 36:02 – Acquisitions in the HR Tech Space 40:51 – The Changing Landscape of Internships 42:26 – Trust in AI vs. Human Managers 44:40 – Understanding Quiet Cracking in the Workplace 48:37 – Funding Trends in AI and HR Tech 52:08 – Introduction and Context Setting 52:29 – Funding Trends in Earned Wage Access 54:22 – Employee Engagement and Psychological Detachment 57:18 – Innovations in Job Applications and Resumes Connect with us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network Website: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ X: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices