Can I answer by analogy? Politely, as I do not wish to offend anyone am more of a neutral observer. Does EHE hire more selectively now or from 1 July? If the merger is scuppered, HEP will likely hire in the same way it always has pre, post, and during merger. It makes no difference whatsoever.

Not likely that the hiring practice has changed so much in 1-2 months.