Curated Intel from the Talent Tech Industry
September 18-24, 2023:
• Pointing to what’s ahead: Dutch platform Recrubo gets €600K for job applications via WhatsApp ;
• Raining on the TA parade: CA Supremes rule tech providers can be liable in hiring discrimination;
• Predicting tech worker departures: BairesDev develops machine learning tool to fight attrition;
• Mistrusting the tech: Survey of active job seekers finds 40%+ think AI more biased than humans;
• Spreading the ownership: Workfree raises $400K and offers 25% company stake to freelancers.
PLUS
Get the info and contacts that will help you grow your business – attend TAtech Europe & The World Job Board Forum. Don’t miss this opportunity to attend the premier B2B conference for job boards and talent technology companies in the EMEA region! Coming up in London on December 4-6, it is the only event that’s specifically designed for company CEOs, their direct reports and rising stars and totally focused on advancing the bottom-line growth of their enterprises. So, register today and join the other thought leaders, innovators and influencers at this one-of-a-kind conference.
Dutch-based Recrubo raises €600K for its platform to make job applications easy using WhatsApp
Tilburg, the Netherlands-based Recrubo, a platform for recruitment professionals, announced on Monday that it has secured €600K in a Seed round of funding to commercially upscale its AI-based recruitment platform. The company specialises in optimising the hiring process for blue-collar and service-oriented businesses using chat technology. This enables job candidates to apply easily while offering employers efficient tools for candidate management. Niels Tukker, founder and CEO of Recrubo, says, “An extensive CV is not important for many jobs. When applicants can apply for positions quickly and easily using WhatsApp, that matches the requirements of the younger generation. It is a giant leap forward in terms of the user experience, for jobseekers and employers alike.”
When It Raines, it Pours: HR Tech Solution Providers May Be Liable for Discrimination in California
Sorry about the title. I couldn't resist. Raines is the California Supreme Court case that holds third-party agencies that provide services related to hiring/employment can be directly liable for discrimination under state law. It's not a stretch to think that HR Tech providers that offer products related to recruiting and hiring may also be liable under Raines. While the EEOC has said that employers are definitely responsible for their hiring decisions even if they rely on AI and tech in the process, it did not preclude liability for the tech provider. Most HR Tech sales contracts contain indemnity and other clauses that protect the tech companies from the consequences of using their products. Whether those clauses will hold up will depend on the facts of the situation. In allocating responsibility, here are some of the questions the courts will ask: Did the tech provider know that its product may produce discriminatory results? What steps, if any, did the tech provider take to inform users of the potential for discrimination and how to mitigate it?
BairesDev Creates a New Machine Learning Tool To Improve Talent Experience with 52% Decrease in Turnover
BairesDev(R), a leading nearshore software outsourcing company, developed an innovative machine learning tool that proactively identifies attrition risk among its talent, enabling preventative action and reducing its turnover by 52% in H1 2023 compared to H1 2022. The company plans to use this new tool to conduct academic research on the root causes of attrition risk in the tech industry. As the turnover rate for software developers nearly reaches 60% in the market, tech firms have struggled to retain talent, acting reactively, not proactively, in order to keep their top professionals. BairesDev's new machine-learning algorithm is a game-changer as it has reduced the turnover rate to 12%, +40% below industry averages. "BairesDev aims to create an ecosystem where professionals grow with a continuous improvement mindset. Our machine learning tool enables us to foster open and impactful interactions between our teams, taking a proactive approach to talent development," says Nacho de Marco, CEO and co-founder at BairesDev. "Our talent sets us apart. Despite a volatile talent market, we proactively re-engaged 90% of the cases detected by the tool. With 97% of BairesDev's talent scoring their work environment as positive, project productivity and client satisfaction keep improving."
Job Seekers See AI As More Biased than People
A significant minority of employed job seekers say AI recruiting tools are more biased than the people using them, according to a Harris Poll survey conducted on behalf of the American Staffing Association. That distrust is particularly high among seekers actively seeking new roles. Among those, some 43% believe that AI recruiting tools exhibit more bias than do humans. In contrast, only 29% of those with no immediate plans for a job change felt the same way. Either way, the research showed that 39% of current job seekers have used AI tools to assist in applying for a job. All of this is important because HR technology plays a significant role in helping companies scale their DEI initiatives, according to RedThread Research. In fact, the market for DEI technology grew by 87% between 2019 and 2021.
A Platform Revolutionizing the Freelancing Experience: Introducing Workfree
Workfree, a new all-in-one platform, aims to revolutionize the world of freelancing by addressing the challenges faced by both companies and freelance professionals. With 50% of Gen Z already engaging in freelancing, there is a growing recognition of the value that flexible workforces bring to businesses. However, the traditional vetting, hiring, and payment processes for freelancers have proven to be costly and slow, hindering the growth of companies and freelance professionals alike. Workfree is changing the game by providing a platform that streamlines freelance hiring, management, and payments. The startup recently announced the completion of a $400,000 pre-seed funding round, demonstrating its commitment to empowering freelancers and flexible workforces globally. Unlike traditional freelance marketplaces, Workfree operates on a zero-commission model, allowing freelance talent to retain more of their earnings. The platform also relies on a community-vetted talent network, enhancing trust and quality assurance within the marketplace. One unique feature of Workfree is its “Co-Founding Community,” which collectively owns 25% of the company. This community includes freelancers, community advisors, and non-institutional investors, ensuring that freelancers have a stake in the platform’s success. Through automation, Workfree streamlines the processes of hiring, management, and payments, reducing the time and complexity associated with freelancing.
Beef Up Your Bottom-Line at TAtech Europe & The EMEA Job Board Forum
Get the info and contacts that will help you grow your business – attend TAtech Europe & The World Job Board Forum. Don’t miss this opportunity to attend the premier B2B conference for job boards and talent technology companies in the EMEA region! Coming up in London on December 4-6, it is the only event that’s specifically designed for company CEOs, their direct reports and rising stars and totally focused on advancing the bottom-line growth of their enterprises. Whether your company is a niche or general job board, aggregator, talent marketplace, online classifieds business, programmatic platform, chatbot, conversational AI solution, ATS, recruitment marketing solution, CRM platform, interviewing or assessment system or talent technology consultancy, this event will supercharge your sales and your profits. So, register today and join the other thought leaders, innovators and influencers at this one-of-a-kind conference.