A California court has ruled that a jury should decide whether Tesla failed to address allegations of race-based harassment at its Fremont manufacturing facility, allowing most of the state's discrimination lawsuit to move forward. Understaffed HR may have led to this costly lawsuit.

Does AI really have religious impact on employees? Maybe. Recently, Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical called “Magnifica Humanitas” covered the dramatic impact of AI on workplaces, noting that AI is not "morally neutral" and urging employers to focus on the "protection of employment opportunities" and "the irreplaceable role of the individual" as they deploy high-tech tools. Note that Pope Leo does not ask whether technological progress should...

For years, employee surveys have been a cornerstone of workplace engagement efforts. Yet many employees have experienced the frustration of being asked for feedback without ever seeing meaningful change as a result. As organizations face ongoing challenges related to retention, engagement, and workplace culture, a growing number are recognizing that effective employee listening requires more than collecting data; it also requires action.

Economic uncertainty creates a difficult balancing act for employers. Organizations must remain competitive in attracting and retaining talent while managing costs amid fluctuating economic conditions, evolving workforce expectations, and ongoing pressure to improve productivity. As a result, compensation strategies continue to evolve, with employers taking a more deliberate and targeted approach to pay decisions.

June marks Safety Month, a timely reminder that workplace safety is not just a regulatory requirement but a core part of organizational culture and employee well-being. For HR professionals, this is an opportunity to assess current safety practices, reinforce compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and actively engage employees in building a safer workplace.

Why unemployment numbers are not increasing – income stacking: For a growing number of Gen Z workers, one paycheck is no longer enough to feel financially secure. Instead of relying on a single employer, many young Americans are combining part-time jobs, freelance projects, and gig work into what researchers now call “income stacking.”

There is no shortage of HR content competing for our attention – articles, webinars, conferences, newsletters, LinkedIn posts, etc. The challenge is not finding information; it’s finding the most useful information.

Recent college graduates are entering one of the most contradictory job markets in recent memory. Employers across Michigan and the nation continue to flag skills gaps and long-term workforce concerns, yet many are pulling back on the entry-level hiring that would begin to solve those problems. Today's recent college graduates often find themselves caught in a frustrating loop: no one will hire them without experience, yet experience is impossible to gain without that first hire.

Family leave laws are complex, and employers must analyze both federal and state requirements to ensure compliance with the most generous applicable provisions. The FMLA sets a minimum standard, but state and local laws may provide greater rights and benefits.

Marijuana has been made legal at the federal level, or has it? Some marijuana products were reclassified by the U.S. Department of Justice on April 23, 2026. However, that did not make all forms or uses of marijuana legal at the federal level.

As the federal government is pursuing a more laissez-faire approach to AI regulation, the states are picking up the slack. The two most recent states with AI regulations are Colorado and Connecticut. 

May is mental health awareness month: With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, a recent survey by Monster of the latest report assessing workplace mental health trends found about 59% of workers say their job harms their mental health at least monthly.

Artificial intelligence was supposed to simplify work. Automate repetitive tasks. Increase productivity. Free employees to focus on higher-value, more strategic work. In many ways, it has. But for some employees, AI may also create a new kind of workplace strain.

The question of whether or not to include salary ranges on public job postings is age-old, with well-reasoned arguments both for and against. Legislation has settled the debate in 11 states and counting with pay transparency requirements specifically for external job postings.  Many employers in the remaining 39 states still wrestle with this question, trying to balance pros and cons while at the same time striving to achieve the primary goal of attracting qualified talent to the...

Under the Supreme Court’s Muldrew doctrine, any term or condition that could impact or affect the employment opportunities of an employee, even when there are no visible changes to pay or benefits, could possibly lead to discriminatory discharges.  Some harm must still be demonstrated, but plaintiffs are no longer required to prove that the harm was “significant,” “substantial,” or “material.” In effect, the threshold for bringing discrimination...

Recent enforcement activity by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is sending a clear message to employers: compliance with the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is not optional or open to interpretation. Since the law took effect and the final rule was issued in 2024, the agency has actively pursued litigation against organizations that fail to meet their accommodation obligations. For HR professionals, these cases offer practical insight into where risk is highest and where...

Giving gifts in the workplace can be a meaningful way to strengthen relationships, recognize achievements, and build morale. Whether it is coworkers celebrating personal milestones or employers showing appreciation to their employees, organizations are leaning into how thoughtful gifts can strengthen their culture. This can be a fun and innovative way to add value, but it is still important to remain professional, inclusive, and to set and respect the boundaries of your organization and its...

EEOC looking to eliminate EEO-1 (and similar) reporting: Since 1966, employers with 100 or more employees have been required to file the Standard Form 100, known as the EEO-1 Report, annually. On May 14, 2026, the EEOC sent proposed regulations to the White House that would rescind EEO-1 reporting – RIN: 3046-AB37 Title: Rescission of EEO-1, EEO-2, EEO-3, EEO-4. EEO-5, and Reporting Requirement Under Title VII, the ADA, GINA, and the PWFA.

Every generation believes it is living through unprecedented change. In many ways, we are. Artificial intelligence is reshaping how organizations hire, communicate, analyze data, train employees, and make decisions. The speed of adoption can feel overwhelming, especially for leaders trying to balance innovation with stability.

In last week’s article on HR strategies that drive organizational success, the focus was on aligning HR priorities with business goals and defining the talent, performance, rewards, and technology strategies that shape outcomes. This week shifts to execution. HR processes are the repeatable ways work gets done across managers, locations, and employee groups. They act as the operating system for the employee lifecycle – turning strategy into consistent action. Every effective...

The sudden shutdown of Spirit Airlines after 34 years has quickly become more than a financial story. For HR and business leaders, it is a case study in how culture, leadership decisions, and workforce planning can converge with consequences that unfold rapidly.

During our most recent This Month in Charts webinar, we highlighted two separate reports that each point to a significant shift in the U.S. labor market. Released in early 2026, one from the Federal Reserve Board and the other from the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility, both paint a challenging picture for the future of the U.S. economy and HR functions.

Regulating AI and determining who should oversee it has become a major focus of the current administration. On July 23, 2025, President Trump issued three significant Executive Orders related to AI alongside the release of Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan. Together, these initiatives outline four primary policy objectives:

Smaller employers are gaining access to pooled 401(K) style retirement benefits: Finance companies are expanding their offerings of pooled employer plans, a relatively new 401(k)-style retirement arrangement that allows multiple small businesses and nonprofits to participate in a single, jointly administered system.

As wearable technology becomes more common in the workplace, employers and employees are increasingly leveraging devices like smartwatches, biometric trackers, and sensor-enabled safety gear to improve productivity, enhance safety, and support employee wellness. But the same tools that generate value also create complex compliance challenges.