Hello there! Need a $10,000 raise? There’s a simple catch…

Just come to the office four days a week.

That’s exactly what celebrity video-sharing app Cameo is offering its Chicago employees. In exchange for showing up Monday through Thursday, eligible staff get that five-figure bump plus free lunch, parking, and gym access.

The company’s first corporate value is “Roll out the red carpet,” and they’re certainly rolling it out for in-office workers. Cameo CEO Steven Galanis says the company wanted to make returning to the HQ office as a perk, not a punishment.

The boost could mean the difference between city apartments or suburban commutes for junior staff. Even remote workers can participate in monthly, fully-paid “Team Weeks” at headquarters — which reportedly equals the value of the raise if used consistently.

Remote workers aren’t totally left out, though. They can participate in monthly “Team Weeks” with flights and accommodations covered.

Got questions? Comments? Want to weigh in on whether $10K would get you back to the office full-time? Hit reply – we’d love to hear from you!

– Team Talivity 

Today’s edition is a 4-minute read. Here’s what to expect 

 Federal job cuts send ripples through labor market

️ 50% of workers say DEI boosted their careers

️ KKR acquires stake in Employment Hero

 Layoffs hit IRS, Starbucks, and Zendesk

 TA roles at Walmart, Adobe

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NEWS

One Thing You Should Know This Week

WSJ: Uncle Sam Puts Federal Workforce On A Strict Diet

With President Trump’s inauguration just over a month behind us, the federal government — America’s largest employer — is slashing jobs at an unprecedented pace. How much damage could this do to the broader labor market?

 The big picture

The federal government’s 2.4 million civilian employees represent just 1.5% of total non-farm jobs, but their above-average salaries and geographic concentration mean cuts could have outsized impacts. According to the Wall Street Journal, these employees aren’t just concentrated in Washington — 80% work outside the capital, with 35 states having at least one county where federal workers make up over 5% of civilian employment. The White House says about 75,000 people accepted the “deferred resignation” offer announced by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with thousands more facing uncertain futures.

 By the numbers:

• 2.4 million civilian federal employees (excluding postal service)
• 75,000 workers accepted “deferred resignation” offer
• 6,000 IRS workers already fired
• 200,000+ employees have been on the job for less than a year
• 200,000 annual hires needed just to keep pace with attrition
• 35 states have at least one county where 5%+ of civilian employees work for the federal government

 The ripple effect beyond DC

The impact extends far beyond direct government jobs. Some experts estimate there were 5.2 million federal contractors in 2023 — more than double the number of direct employees. Maryland alone has seen 1,350 contractor layoff notices this month compared to just 226 last year, while unemployment claims in D.C. have spiked dramatically. Even small agencies wield enormous economic influence: the Department of Education’s 4,400 employees control funding flows to educational institutions nationwide, turning minor staffing cuts into potential major disruptions for Americans nationwide.

 What TAs should know

This isn’t just political drama — it’s potentially a significant talent market shift requiring immediate action. Start building targeted pipelines for former federal workers with transferable skills like security clearances, policy expertise, and specialized program management experience. Focus on regions with high federal worker concentrations, consider offering relocation assistance, and prepare for increased competition as the market absorbs these specialized workers. With anxiety rising across all sectors, emphasize your company’s stability in recruitment messaging and consider dedicated onboarding programs to help government employees transition to private sector culture.

 Looking ahead

The economic impact will depend greatly on how many jobs actually disappear and where they’re located. While total federal cuts may only represent 0.3% of the nation’s 159 million nonfarm jobs, their concentration could create economic pain points in specific regions. Other factors clouding the horizon include tariffs, immigration restrictions, deportations, and university hiring freezes — all contributing to rising employment anxiety.

️ Read more in the Wall Street Journal.

NUMBERS

Numbers That’ll Make You Think

• 47% — Internally promoted managers less likely to quit compared to externally hired counterparts during the Great Resignation. Breaking news: The secret recipe for retention is just giving people the promotions they deserve, not free kombucha. (Harvard Business Review)
• 31% — Of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2024, matching the decade-low last seen in 2014. The other 69% are just there for the free coffee and Wi-Fi. (Gallup)
• 36% — Of occupations now use AI for at least a quarter of their tasks. Software devs and writers lead the charge while ChatGPT keeps eyeing my job description with suspicious interest. (Anthropic)
• 50% — Of women found DEI initiatives beneficial versus just 39% of men. Meanwhile, 19% of white men feel harmed by it. (Staffing Industry)
• 72% — Of HR professionals embracing AI in 2025, up from 58% last year. By 2026, your job interview will just be you and ChatGPT comparing notes while the hiring manager takes a nap. (Staffing Industry)

TRANSFORM 2025

Talivity is heading to Las Vegas for Transform 2025 on March 17-19, and we want you to join us!

Transform brings together top people-first leaders from companies like Adobe, Airbnb, Dropbox, Fabletics, Google, iHeartMedia, OpenAI, Reddit, Upwork, and many more for three days of unmatched learning, impactful networking, and future-focused conversations on the evolving world of people and work.

As a conference partner, we are offering a $200 discount on your ticket when you register with our exclusive link. Prices go up tomorrow, Friday, February 28th, so don’t wait to buy your ticket!

Already registered? Connect with a Talivity representative, Kai Iseda or Andy Tracy, during the conference!

INDUSTRY INTEL

M&A Deals, Industry Moves, & Other Things To Know

• Research firm CVwizard reports 80% of Gen Z use resumes despite their digital-first reputation. They may doom-scroll TikTok, but still print resumes on fancy paper like it’s 1997 and Tamagotchis are still alive. (HR Dive)
• Investment giant KKR acquired a stake in HR platform Employment Hero from SEEK Investments. The deal continues KKR’s strategy of collecting HR tech companies like they’re rare Pokémon cards. (HR Tech Feed)
• HR solutions firm AMS appointed Gordon Stuart as permanent CEO after his interim stint. Turns out the best person for the job was already doing it. (Staffing Industry)
• Private equity firm Kingswood Capital Management invested in workforce provider Infotree Global Solutions. The co-founders will remain as executives, proving you can sell your company and keep it too. (Staffing Industry)
• HR consultant John Baldino joins employee referral company ERIN as fractional CHRO while maintaining his consulting firm. When you can’t decide between a consultant or a CHRO, why not both? (People Matters)

OPEN ROLES

Jobs You Might Want (For Yourself!)

• Retail giant Walmart is hiring a Senior Director of Global Talent Acquisition based in Bentonville, AR
• Software leader Adobe is hiring a Senior Director of Global Talent Acquisition based in San Jose, CA
• Productivity platform Notion is hiring a Head of Technical Recruiting based in New York, NY
• Software company Atlassian is hiring a Head of Talent Enablement based in San Francisco, CA
• Apparel retailer Gap is hiring a Talent Acquisition Specialist based in San Francisco, CA

For more of these roles delivered to your inbox every Monday, subscribe to the Talivity Jobs newsletter by clicking here. For a full list of open roles, head over to our job board by clicking here.

LAYOFFS

Places For You To Source Fresh Talent

• Ticketing platform SeatGeek is reportedly reducing its workforce by 15% in a cost-cutting exercise impacting sites worldwide. (The Ticketing Business)
• Coffee giant Starbucks announced layoffs of over 1,000 corporate workers while cutting 30% of its menu. New CEO Brian Niccol cited the need to simplify operations and reinvigorate the brand. (CNN)
• SaaS provider Zendesk is laying off 51 workers at its San Francisco headquarters according to state filings. (KRON4)
• Federal agency IRS fired approximately 6,700 probationary employees during tax filing season. More than 5,000 of those workers were part of the agency’s compliance teams handling auditing and collections. (New York Times)
• Automotive supplier Continental is cutting about 3,000 R&D jobs in its automotive segment, representing 10% of global R&D positions. Less than half of the cuts will occur in Germany. (Wall Street Journal)

  Thanks for reading!