November 5, 2026

In today's edition: a Cornerstone RPO acquisition, a strong quarter from TrueBlue, a hospital survey that should make agency owners take notice, and a federal reversal on background checks, all of which impact how you win clients and screen candidates.

EEOC Drops Criminal-Record Hiring Guidance, Signaling Disparate-Impact Retreat

• The EEOC voted to rescind 2012 Obama-era guidance on using arrest and conviction records in hiring.
• The rescission doesn’t change Title VII obligations, and private plaintiffs can still bring discrimination claims over background check programs.
• More than 35 states and 150 cities and counties have “Ban the Box” laws barring criminal-history application questions and delaying background checks. 

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TrueBlue Posts Q3 Profit on Skilled-Vertical Growth

• Q3 revenue reached $521 million, up 21 percent year over year, the fifth consecutive quarter of top-line growth.
• Net income hit $9 million ($0.28/share), reversing a $2 million loss in the prior-year period.
• Adjusted EBITDA nearly doubled to $21 million from $11 million; the CEO tied increased operating leverage to skilled verticals and core on-demand growth.

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Credentialing Speed as a Healthcare Staffing Growth Lever

• Seven in 10  hospitals want to rely less on travel and agency staff, making credentialing speed a growth lever.
• Credentialing specialists can spend up to an hour per placement checking submissions against requirements, and repeatedly missed start dates risk losing clients.
• AI can structure messy documents and chase candidates, but humans should keep final verification and client clearance.

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Sycophantic AI Risks and the Case for Challenger AI

• The authors warn AI can homogenize ideas, encourage “cognitive surrender” to AI outputs, and, through sycophancy, reduce challenging interactions.
• In a 2,400-participant BT trial on goal setting, challenger AI produced three-and-a-half times more “excellent” goals than the default AI and control groups.
• Leaders should measure AI outputs and outcomes, test interaction designs before rollout, and keep investing in human capability.

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Hudson Buys Cornerstone RPO to Deepen North American Reach

• Hudson Talent Solutions acquired Richmond-based Cornerstone RPO, a firm with more than 20 years of recruiting experience across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
• Hudson’s CEO says the deal bolsters its presence in the U.S. RPO market, the world’s largest, and adds blue-chip clients.
• Co-founder Rodney Ashby joins Hudson as a North American sales leader to help lead integration of Cornerstone clients.

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