It’s not a crisis. It’s a correction.

Hey friend,

So me and my husband are eating our feelings (Cookies and Cream) chatting about the day. And I start doing my little ritual of scrolling in an effort to stay informed while trying not to get overwhelmed. And I realize… something feels different this week.

It feels like there is news that isn’t being treated like news. It’s not that everything is falling apart. But it’s not clicking into place either. The world of work feels like when you smell something in the fridge but you can’t find it. It isn’t chaos it is just… weird. And so I changed to adult beverages. To pause a but and focus on what is important.

That’s what this newsletter is. A pause. A reset. A little moment to look around and say, “Wait, is anyone else noticing this?”

Let’s get into it.

Hiring isn’t frozen. It’s just slow-dancing through molasses. Open roles are down. Folks aren’t quitting like they used to. Leaders are holding on tighter to what they have, and it shows.

I have been applying and having some good conversations. For 60% I hear nothing. Not even a rejection. Just silence. As a TA leader, I get it. But it is annoying.

If you’re out there applying and wondering if you should take it personally, please don’t. It’s not just you. This moment is heavy on hesitation. It’s not about your value. It’s about companies being cautious.

On the flip side, if you lead a team and feel like you’re stuck between hiring now or later, ask yourself this: what would help your people six months from now? Start there.

And don’t forget I am looking…

Girl. We are already living in the AI era. And no one really knows what they're doing.

This week, I read about execs from Amazon and Microsoft openly saying they’re cutting roles because of AI. Not maybe. Not in the future. Right now. Real estate firms are using bots to manage leases. Banks are letting algorithms do what whole departments used to do.

And here’s the kicker. No one is telling their people what it means. People are quietly worried, trying to figure out if their work is next on the chopping block. If you’re wondering that too? You’re not alone. I hear it from everyone. And everyone is afraid of the unknown.

AI isn’t supposed to make us disappear. It should make us better. But only if someone’s paying attention. Someone like you.

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You know what doesn’t go viral? Labor law.

But this week, the Department of Labor rolled back a policy that used to penalize companies harder for wage theft. It flew under the radar, but that shift? It matters. Because when the punishment softens, the behavior often slides too.

At the same time, they’re stepping up enforcement on child labor (as they should) and looking into how small businesses handle retirement plans.

It’s all a reminder that we have to keep our eyes open, even when the changes feel small.

Ohio and Tennessee are low-key hiring powerhouses right now. I mean, who knew a closed Eggo plant would come back to life and create hundreds of jobs? And it’s not just waffles. It’s food production, skilled trades, distribution.

I think we forget sometimes that not every win is remote. Not every exciting job lives in a tech hub. People are showing up, building things, creating value in places that never make headlines.

If there’s something like that happening where you live, tell me. I want to know.

So. About that “work from anywhere” freedom.

Turns out it comes with baggage. Last year, 36% of women worked remotely compared to 29% of men. And now? CEOs are saying the quiet part out loud. The folks who show up in person are getting more raises and promotions.

Face-time culture is making a comeback, and it’s quietly creating a gap.

If you're remote and feel like your work is being seen less, you're not imagining it. And if you're in leadership, it's time to rethink how you're supporting equity, not just flexibility.

Here’s a stat that stopped me: 60% of HR managers say they’re using AI to make people decisions. And 20% say they let the AI decide entirely.

Hiring. Firing. Raises. Reviews.

No policy. No guardrails. No transparency.

It’s not just risky. It’s illegal. If your AI tool is quietly screening out older workers or people with disabilities, that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.

We need better rules. But we also need better humans. That part starts with us.

And because I’m back in my dog auntie era this week’s Puppy of the Week is Big Mac. He is ginormous. He was so excited when I took him for a walk he got the zoomies, rolled in the dirt and then exhausted himself. He just took a little rest and I told him about the chaos that is the world right now. He listed. He understood. But honestly? He reminded me to breathe, reset, and stay soft in a world trying to harden us.

What’s your version of Big Mac this week? Tell me.

Pick one. Let it shift how you move this week.

What’s shifting under your feet right now? What’s something no one is naming but you can’t unsee?

Reply to this email and share it with me. You never know who else might need to hear your story.

And if you’re hiring, building, or planning what comes next - This is me raising my hand.

I’m Jackye Clayton. And I’m ready.

💜