As global fuel prices climb in response to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, employers in the United States are beginning to feel the ripple effects. Gas prices have spiked sharply at the pump, with averages in many regions pushing above $4 per gallon, adding strain for workers who commute or use personal vehicles for their jobs. In Asia, governments and businesses are experimenting with policies that help ease the burden of high energy costs on employees and the economy.

On March 26, 2026, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) focused on the elimination of racially discriminatory “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) practices by federal contractors and their subcontractors, ensuring merit-based and efficient contracting and employment.  This Executive Order focuses specifically on race discrimination within DEI, aligning with the administration’s broader emphasis on nondiscrimination policies related to White...

Engaged employees are one of the strongest advantages an organization can have. They’re more productive, more committed, and far less likely to leave. That’s why companies invest so heavily in building engagement.

As hybrid work arrangements and mobile workforces continue to expand, employers operating within the City of Detroit face increasing complexity when determining how to properly withhold local income tax for non‑resident employees. Detroit’s non‑resident withholding rules apply only to compensation for services physically performed within city limits, yet the practical application can vary depending on the nature of the employee’s work, their history of work locations, and how...

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...

For the first time ever, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences handed out an Oscar for Best Casting. Essentially, casting is HR. Casting directors study roles deeply, evaluate talent honestly, and make strategic decisions about who belongs where. When they get it right, everything clicks. When they get it wrong, even the biggest budget can't save the production.

Onboarding new employees can be a smooth, automated process these days, but it comes with a catch: the dreaded “no-show” hire. You’ve sent the offer, watched them complete online forms, even collected Section 1 of the I-9 and then… nothing. They never show up for their first day.

Earlier this month marked six years since the COVID pandemic turned the world of work upside down. Remote and hybrid work didn’t just change where we work; it also changed how we show up. Few workplace debates have lingered quite like this one: Should employees be forced to turn their cameras on?

The United States has crossed a demographic threshold with no precedent in its history. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, 104.3 million Americans, roughly one in three adults, are currently not participating in the labor force. The primary driver behind that figure is not discouragement, disability, or school enrollment. It is retirement.

Programs in which college students combine education with work has grown in popularity the past few years.  Degreed apprenticeships are an old yet new approach for developing employees.  A report released by New America’s Center on Education & Labor found that about 350 institutions nationwide offered nearly 600 degreed apprenticeship programs integrated with associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees, preparing students for 91 different occupations.  The...

Federal contractor minimum wage increasing: The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has announced the minimum wage rate for federal contractors performing work on federal contracts covered by Executive Order 13658, Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors (the order).

HR leaders have carried a heavy load over the past several years. Many organizations continue to manage burnout and shifting employee expectations while struggling to find talent. Organizations that focus on engagement, connection, and trust are finding that they can build stronger teams and more resilient workplace cultures.

On February 26, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Andrea Lucas issued a letter to the chief executive officers, general counsel, and board chairs of 500 of the largest employers. These companies employ over 30 million workers and exert significant influence over the livelihood of millions of Americans. 

As organizations navigate ongoing talent shortages and shifting workforce expectations, many are facing two challenges at once. Experienced employees are nearing retirement, and mid-career professionals are stepping away due to caregiving demands. Flextirement offers a structured way to address both.

When it comes to attracting the best talent, writing inclusive job descriptions is one of the simplest and most effective changes an organization can make. Yet many job ads unintentionally exclude neurodivergent candidates including people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other neurological differences because they’re written without considering different ways people process information.

Laws around employment background checks are constantly in motion. Employers must stay up to date with the changes, especially when they work in multiple states. What you can do in one state, and sometimes in one county, is not allowed in another state or county.

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.

For the past five years, the "virtual-first" hiring model was hailed as the ultimate efficiency win for HR. However, as generative AI tools have evolved from simple resume builders to real-time interview copilots, the digital veneer of the hiring process is cracking. To outsmart the surge in AI-assisted fraud and "bot-optimized" candidates, companies are increasingly dusting off the physical conference room and returning to the in-person interview.

Loneliness has increasingly become a workplace crisis. Roughly 60% of employees with fewer than five years of work experience report feeling lonely all or most of the time. In a world of remote and hybrid work, that isolation has real consequences for both employees and the organizations they work for.

Every organization has one. The project that started with enthusiasm, buy-in, a great launch meeting, and a well-designed slide deck, but then months go by, and years later, it is still tagging along with no clear purpose. No one remembers why it started, and no one wants to admit it might not be working. Welcome to the world of the zombie project, the initiative that refuses to die.

For many organizations, hiring still happens in reaction to immediate needs. A key employee leaves, a project ramps up, or a new initiative begins, and suddenly HR is racing to fill a position. This reactive approach often leads to rushed decisions, long vacancies, and hires who may not be the best long-term fit.

With the anti-DEI focus by the current administration and with a renewed focus on meritocracy, the current EEOC has taken up the torch to concentrate on merit-based discrimination, especially to restore equal opportunity for all workers, and in particular white males.  On December 17, 2025, Chair Lucas tweeted on X:

 

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. 

The conversation about quiet quitting continues to resurface. Headlines suggest employees are pulling back, doing the bare minimum, and disengaging from their work. But if we look a little closer, we have to ask a harder question. What if quiet quitting is not the core problem? What if it is the result of something far less discussed but far more damaging: quiet managing, where leaders avoid clarity, accountability, and direct feedback when it matters most?

Terminations can become more complicated when an employee, during or after offboarding, claims the decision was based on a disability. These claims may involve cognitive conditions, such as autism or ADHD, or physical conditions, such as chronic pain or medical disorders. While these situations can feel high-risk, the legal framework for evaluating them is consistent and manageable when employers follow sound practices.