The Download: HR Technology Trends, June 2026
Below is our monthly roundup of key HR technology developments.
SHRM editors sourced the web for the top HR technology news items, and these are what caught our attention. Give these finds a download, so you can upload them into your HR strategy.
1. Meta Backtracks on Monitoring Employee Activity Meant for AI Data Collection
The Download: Meta is reducing elements of its plan to collect employee mouse movements, clicks, and keystrokes for AI training after significant internal pushback.
Reuters reported that Meta introduced a 30-minute pause option and exemption requests following complaints about privacy, battery drain, and bandwidth usage.
The Upload: How has your organization deployed and measured the success of AI tools while maintaining employee trust? HR should anticipate heightened scrutiny of how employee data fuels AI and proactively align with privacy standards to protect culture.
2. The Workplace Crisis Costing Companies $4 Million a Year
The Download: Slow, unreliable workplace technology not only erodes productivity and dampens morale, but it can also cost a 2,000-person company nearly $4 million annually.
New research shows that 85% of desk workers face daily slowdowns, with many turning to quiet workarounds rather than IT support — an early signal of disengagement.
The Upload: Do frequent or semi-frequent technology disruptions show up in your organization’s financial performance data? Some IT tickets may be opportunities for HR to help organizations invest in tools that pay off in both productivity and business outcomes.
3. Microsoft Moves to Bring Wearable AI Gadgets into the Office
The Download: Microsoft is piloting two AI-enabled devices — a “desktop cube” and a “wearable access badge” with a camera and biometric activation — to interact with autonomous AI agents across Microsoft software.
Reporting reveals that a few hundred employees are testing the prototypes, while timing for broader release is unspecified.
The Upload: Would your organization jump in line to implement wearable AI tools for employees if it had the chance? While still in early stages, these developments will inevitably create privacy and compliance concerns that HR should start thinking about now if this trend picks up steam.
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