⭐ A city HR director held his ground -- and lost his job

Large-scale layoffs by Amazon, UPS and Target signal a shift from the "no hire, no fire" job market of 2025, where job security was high but opportunities were scarce. Amazon is eliminating 14,000 jobs, citing artificial intelligence, while UPS is eliminating 48,000 jobs. Target, amid a broad restructuring plan, will cut 800 jobs in January. These changes come as the Federal Reserve monitors the labor market for signs of weakness amid slowing job growth.

Former Allentown Human Resources Director Nadeem Shahzad has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that he was forced out after just 35 days for refusing Mayor Matt Tuerk's order to fire an employee who was vocal about racial discrimination. When Shahzad refused, citing potential illegality, he was pressured to either resign or be fired, leading him to sign a resignation letter prepared by the city.

Since the No Surprises Act was enacted, misuse and inefficiencies in the Independent Dispute Resolution process have resulted in approximately $5 billion in wasteful spending, according to estimates by the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms, and is largely attributed to excessive claims payments, often driven by private equity-supported companies. A survey by AHIP and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association found that close to 40% of disputes in 2024 were ineligible but still proceeded, leading to excessive claims that have averaged payments of 400% above contracted rates.

Amazon has begun notifying employees affected by its plan to cut 14,000 corporate jobs. Human resources chief Beth Galetti has sent emails to affected employees, who will receive full pay and benefits for 90 days. "We didn't make these decisions lightly, and we're committed to supporting you throughout this transition," Galetti says in the email.