Are you using TikTok for recruiting? Businesses have been swift to harness the messaging powers of social media platforms, often either partnering with influencers to do so or recruiting their own employees to act as company ambassadors.

New $103,265 fee for H-1B applicants proposed: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new $103,265 fee for every H-1B application subject to the annual “cap” lottery. If finalized, the fee would be payable when the petition is filed and would apply in addition to all existing H-1B filing fees and other required payments. This is only a proposal, and the new fee is not yet required.

Supreme Court decision on same sex sports may lead to the employment arena: The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Title IX permits schools to limit participation in girls' and women's sports to students assigned female at birth and that state laws restricting such participation do not violate the Equal Protection Clause. This landmark decision provides critical guidance for educational institutions and state policymakers on athletic eligibility rules.

Does a one-size-fits-all health benefit program hurt employers? A new report suggests small businesses are losing talented employees because management isn't offering benefits that actually fit workers' needs and priorities. "Today's workforce needs aren't one-size-fits-all anymore, but many small businesses still feel forced into one-size-fits-all benefits," according to the "Small Business 'Bene-Fit' Gap Report" from Justworks, a cloud-based HR...

NLRB is up to full strength: The U.S. Senate on Friday confirmed two nominees to the National Labor Relations Board, securing a 3-1 Republican majority. Republican James Macy, a U.S. Department of Labor official, and Democrat David Prouty, were confirmed as part of a grouping of 74 nominations in a 51-47 vote.

Canadian AI law: Canada's legislative framework for regulating AI is developing but only  Ontario has legislated on AI issues within its employment standards legislation.  However, employers may be subject to other laws that are currently on the books.  For example, Québec’s Private Sector Act regulates “automated processing” of personal information and requires private sector employers to disclose personal information that is being used to render a...

Maybe Sarah Connor was right: Remember when The Terminator seemed like pure science fiction? Recent AI headlines are making that movie feel a little less fictional. In one incident, researchers reported that an autonomous AI agent allegedly left notes for future versions of itself, detailing ways to navigate around human-imposed constraints while pursuing its assigned objectives.

AI lawsuits and complaints: Employers and courts all over the country have experienced a steady increase in pro se litigants. Many legal experts believe that Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is partially responsible for this boom in unrepresented litigants.

New Secretary of Labor nominated: President Donald Trump's chosen nominee for secretary of labor has already been overseeing the U.S. Department of Labor as it returns to wage and hour policies from the president's first term, and observers said they expect him to maintain that approach.

Should you collect applicant demographic data per EEOC? The answer is yes. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has approved the EEOC's collection of applicant data.

HSA contribution limits to rise in 2027: The Internal Revenue Service says important numbers at the heart of personal health benefit account programs will rise by about 2% to 3% in 2027. The IRS announced the new, inflation-adjusted parameters for health savings accounts and some health reimbursement arrangements in Revenue Procedure 2026-24. 

Gen Zers love Roths: Gen Z is the Roth generation. The youngest savers are flocking to Roth individual retirement accounts, taking advice from their parents and social media influencers touting the tax-free growth the accounts offer.

AI interviews are not popular with candidates: On the employer side, a report from Greenhouse found that AI job interviewing is rapidly surging: In a survey of nearly 3,000 job seekers, nearly two-thirds have experienced an AI interview, a 13-point jump from last year. But despite the increased frequency of AI interviews, the reviews aren’t positive. Nearly 40% said they have stopped job interviews that were being conducted by AI, with another 12% saying they would do so.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

With AI recruiting, is diversity in trouble? AI is already deeply embedded in hiring. It screens résumés, helps match candidates to roles, drafts outreach, and increasingly shapes how employers and applicants connect.

Cannabis on path to legalization: The Trump administration moved to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule 1 drug to a Schedule III drug, a major federal shift recognizing its medicinal use.

U.S. Secretary of Labor stepping down: Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a former one-term member of U.S. Congress from Oregon who became labor secretary in March 2025, stepped down on Monday amid fallout from an internal investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor watchdog that apparently probed a relationship she allegedly had with a subordinate, and other issues.

EEOC scores on illegal DEI: The EEOC announced that Planned Parenthood of Illinois has agreed to pay $500,000 to end the agency’s investigation into allegations that the nonprofit allegedly “segregated employees by race, subjected white employees to harassment, and engaged in disparate treatment against white employees regarding terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.”  

Is it time for HR professionals to look for a new job? Anthropic has announced several new plug-ins for Claude, its hugely popular AI model.

Michigan unemployment contribution rates: Contribution rates for employers with three or more years of experience will range from 0.06% to 12.2% in 2026. The maximum rate of 12.2% includes an 8.2% maximum chargeable benefit component, a 3.0% maximum account building component, and a 1.0% maximum nonchargeable benefits component. Note that if the employer has submitted no quarterly tax reports, that employer's maximum tax rate will be 12.2%, and the employer also will be assessed a...

Paid family leave pays off: A new survey of more than 250 human resources decision-makers reveals that 88% of companies offer standalone employer-sponsored paid family leave (PFL) and/or paid parental leave (PPL), including 46% that offer both. Almost 21% offer one or both to all part-timers, and 62% provide immediate coverage eligibility upon hire.

Expanding leave programs in the next few years: Nearly three-quarters of U.S. companies plan to expand their leave programs in the next two years, according to research released by WTW, a global advisory, broking and solutions company. These investments are driven by a focus on improving employee experience (67%) and upping attraction and retention (60%), WTW found.