If You’re Still Ignoring AI, You Deserve to Be Laid Off

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If You’re Still Ignoring AI, You Deserve to Be Laid Off

Coffee, career chaos, and code

WRKdefined

May 26, 2025

42% of Gen Z are saying "hell no" to the desk job and going blue collar—and AI’s not just reading resumes anymore, it's writing your onboarding manual. From Starbucks' uniform protests to Klarna gig-ing complex work, this episode packs punchy insight into where work is actually going. Spoiler alert: It ain’t where your high school guidance counselor said it would.

In this episode we break down the shifting job landscape—blue collar pride, AI efficiency, HR job wipes, and how immigrants are silently carrying 19.2% of the U.S. workforce. We keep it real on education myths, startup hype, and why your company meeting might be your biggest productivity killer. Add some legal AI bias spice, a dash of game-based learning, and boom—this one’s a beast.

Key Takeaways:

➡ 42% of Gen Z are leaning into skilled trades and saying no to traditional 9–5s
➡ AI has replaced hundreds of HR roles at IBM—yes, already
➡ Klarna’s now outsourcing complex tasks to gig workers, not bots
➡ Starbucks uniform policy caused an employee revolt
➡ Meetings are the productivity killer nobody wants to admit
➡ Immigrants make up 19.2% of the U.S. labor force—let that sink in
➡ AI bias in hiring is now a courtroom issue
➡ Education ≠ success—AI skills and self-awareness win long-term
➡ Layoffs suck but they force critical self-reflection (you’re not layoff-proof)
➡ Internships still matter—especially if school isn’t your jam
➡ Disagreeable employees = truth tellers. Embrace the discomfort
➡ Startups are breaking molds while market funding shifts below the radar

Timestamps:

00:00 – Upcoming Events and Networking Opportunities
01:01 – Memorial Day Travel and Preparations
04:00 – Onboarding Innovations in the Workplace
06:59 – The Importance of Skilled Trades
10:02 – AI's Impact on HR and Job Markets
12:54 – Starbucks Uniform Policy and Employee Strikes
23:46 – Political Connections and Business Ethics
27:27 – The Meeting Dilemma: Efficiency vs. Time
30:22 – AI Bias and Legal Accountability
35:17 – The Role of Immigrants in the Workforce
38:19 – Education's Need for AI Integration
44:05 – The Future of Work and Self-Directed Learning
48:02 – Disagreeable Employees: The Truth-Tellers in the Workplace
53:22 – Navigating Differences in Perspectives
55:59 – The Importance of Reflective Thinking
57:00 – Lessons from Unemployment
59:48 – Understanding Layoff Realities
01:00:59 – Unicorns in the HR Tech Space
01:02:43 – Innovations in AI and Automation
01:06:42 – The Future of Startups and Closures
01:08:50 – Game-Based Learning and Development
01:12:48 – Health Tech Innovations
01:15:32 – The Rise of Earned Wage Access
01:16:37 – AI Solutions for Deskless Workers