Amazon raises minimum hourly starting wage to $20

Amazon raised its minimum hourly starting wage to $20 for eligible core operations full-time employees, an increase of $1 per hour. The e-commerce giant announced the pay adjustment on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2026. Reporter Dani James covered the update for HR Dive. The company simultaneously introduced a banking benefit named Day 1 Financial. This program provides membership in First Tech Federal Credit Union. The benefit includes zero overdraft fees and no monthly maintenance charges. There are no account minimums on standard checking accounts. The announcement also included new grocery discounts for staff. These changes aim to enhance compensation and financial support for the workforce.

Activision Blizzard faces new sexual assault and harassment claims in lawsuit

Activision Blizzard faces new sexual assault and harassment claims in a lawsuit filed Sept. 17, 2026. A former employee alleges male staff subjected her to multiple instances of sexual assault and harassment. The plaintiff claims the company’s HR department was dismissive of her complaints. She further alleges the publisher failed to address pay discrimination. No specific damages or legal outcomes are stated.

AI leads new cybersecurity spending as overall investments grow modestly

AI is the leading driver of new cybersecurity spending, according to a report released Tuesday by IANS and Artico Search. About seven of every 10 CISOs surveyed identified AI as their top priority for new investment. Specific areas for this AI-related spending include automating security operations and enhancing identity and access management. This prioritization occurs amidst modest growth in overall security budgets. Overall security spending rose 5% in the current survey, barely ahead of the 4% increase recorded in the year-ago report. The findings highlight a shift in budget allocation toward artificial intelligence capabilities despite the slower aggregate growth in total security expenditures.

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