#92 - Court Blocks $100K H-1B Fee, a Massive Win for Skilled Talent - Presented by CalendarPA

About This Episode

Hosts Serge Boudreau and Dan Riley tackle the massive legal and technological shifts disrupting the workforce in mid-2026. The episode kicks off with two major headline stories. First, the team breaks down the recent nationwide block of a $100K H-1B fee, which a federal court struck down as an unconstitutional tax—delivering immediate relief to tech, healthcare, and higher education employers. Next, they dive into "The Great Regret," exploring a new report revealing that 55% of employers regret their AI-driven layoffs, with nearly a third quietly rehiring human workers after automated systems failed to manage complex workflows and triggered costly public relations crises. The core of the episode features a deep-dive interview with Chris Russell, the Founder of RecTech Media and the "Mad Scientist of Online Recruiting". Chris brings his extensive expertise to the table to discuss the erosion of traditional job search widgets in favor of conversational ChatGPT-driven interfaces, the flaws of rigid Applicant Tracking System (ATS) architectures in talent acquisition analytics, and how federal contractors can navigate OFCCP compliance amidst heightened scrutiny on automated screening tools. He also breaks down why talent attraction must be treated as a marketing function and analyzes the shift toward automated AI sourcing campaigns. Closing out the show, Serge delivers the Weather Report segment, examining the 2026 landscape of Talent Acquisition careers based on recent ERE insights. Sponsored by CalendarPA.com and Talent Tech PR, this episode offers a highly tactical look at the balancing act between automation and human judgment in modern HR. Presented by Talent Tech PR and CalendarPA.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices