Texas prosecutors charge 5 in illegal teaching license plot | Training analytics highlight most talented employees | How a trucking firm has embraced social media recruiting
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg (Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images)
Five people, three affiliated with the Houston Independent School District and two affiliated with Houston Training and Education Center, have been charged by the Harris County, Texas, prosecutor for facilitating an elaborate scheme that allowed at least 200 people to receive teaching licenses by having someone else take the certification exam for them in exchange for money. HISD officials have said that the district is cooperating with the district attorney, will terminate the three employees and will also fire teachers who were certified fraudulently. Full Story: Houston Public Media (10/28),USA Today (10/29),The Texas Tribune (10/29)
Recruiting & Retention
Training analytics highlight most talented employees It's now possible to analyze employee training on a worker-by-worker basis in real-time, which provides HR with new insights into their workforce. "Leveraging this analytic data to identify in-house talent most likely to innovate and achieve can make HR a more central, valued contributor to organizational progress," says Cypher Learning's Graham Glass, one of 19 experts providing tips on improving HR processes. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (10/25)
IRS issues guidance on retirement plan overpayments The IRS has issued guidance on handling inadvertent overpayments in employer-sponsored retirement plans, detailing corrective measures for plan participants and sponsors. Participants can repay overpayments in installments or lump sums, while sponsors can choose not to recoup and must notify beneficiaries if overpayments aren't eligible for tax-free rollover. The IRS also introduces methods to reduce repayment needs in defined benefit plans. Full Story: Financial Advisor IQ (10/28)
Technology
Report: 74% of companies struggle to realize AI's value A Boston Consulting Group report found 74% of companies have not yet realized significant value from AI, primarily due to challenges related to people and processes. In contrast, 26% of employers have developed advanced AI capabilities, with 4% consistently generating substantial value by integrating AI into core business functions and focusing on strategic investments. Full Story: Human Resources Director (10/28)
The HR Leader
HR leader: Future requires employees to think critically The future of work will require a fundamental shift in how employees learn, unlearn, and adapt to new technologies and processes, says Red Hat Chief People Officer Jennifer Dudeck, who emphasizes the need to teach employees about critical thinking to navigate changes. She highlights the role of leaders in fostering a workforce that can evolve with advancements such as AI, which will alter managerial expectations and demands. Full Story: People Matters (India) (10/25)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
New York City's subway system began operations in 1904, with the first line originating from City Hall. Which mayor took the first shovelful of dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony in 1900?
Talk about horror stories. Today’s top story about a teacher certification cheating ring in Texas had me reeling. Bribery. Proxy test taker (an assistant principal no less!). Corrupt test proctors. More than 200 people got a teaching certification through this scheme and are now working in Texas public schools. At least two of them have been charged with sex-related crimes involving minors. Some will justify the actions of those involved here. They might use the pandemic, tight job market or high inflation as an excuse for the corruption. “It’s so hard to get a credential the traditional way. It’s too long of a process and not everyone can afford it. Plus, schools need teachers,” they say. Save it. This situation was born from greed. Period. The man who engineered the entire scheme made more than $1 million doing it. This had nothing to do with alternative pathways or filling job gaps. It was a shortcut to wealth -- at the expense of our children. What do you think? Did this situation bother you? Have you seen a shift from principled behavior in the workplace? Is integrity still prized? Let me know! Do you love this brief? Share it with others. Want different stories? Something about it bug you? Tell me. In the words of Frasier Crane, “I’m listening.”
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