If you were one of the few members that could not make it to the sold out ASE Employment Law Briefing last week, this article will help bring you up to speed on a couple of DOL regulatory issues covered at the event.

As economic uncertainty and reduced consumer confidence continues in the U.S., new job growth has remained stagnant in recent months. A recent survey by outplacement firm CareerMinds revealed that approximately 66.7% of employers polled have implemented some form of hiring freeze. Out of those, 44.6% have put limited freezes in place based on specific positions or departments, with 22.1% halting hiring activities across all roles.  Anecdotally, my professional recruitment network paints...

Still want to work in HR? 48% of HR professionals in the U.S. said they’ve considered leaving the field in the next 12 months, according to the 2026 State of People Strategy Report, released Wednesday by HR platform Lattice. Globally, of the more than 1,000 HR practitioners surveyed, 41% said the same.  Globally, of the more than 1,000 HR practitioners surveyed, 41% said the same.

The Great Flattening – the trend of eliminating middle managers to cut costs, reduce bureaucracy, and streamline organizational charts – is rapidly spreading across industries. What began in the tech sector is now reshaping corporate structures in retail, finance, and even government.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is still fairly new, and there are limited cases to guide HR in shaping policies and internal practices. The cases below, filed by the EEOC, offer insight into how the agency is approaching and reviewing allegations of PWFA violations.

In a time of labor market uncertainty, economic headwinds, and rapid advancements in AI, many employees are choosing to hold onto their current roles not because they are satisfied, but because switching seems too risky. This phenomenon, called job hugging, captures a shift in workplace behavior that carries significant implications for individuals, organizations, and the broader economy.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked both excitement and fear as it quickly becomes a standard part of our lives. Some worry it poses risks to society, while others believe it will revolutionize how we work and live. What’s undeniable is that AI isn’t slowing down; it’s accelerating.

On July 31, 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court restricted the use of limitation of action agreements by Michigan employers. For those who have not followed this issue, limitation of action agreements are used to shorten the time plaintiffs (employees) have to bring a lawsuit against the employer. The limitation of action agreement shortens the time employees have to file certain wrongful employment claims. While these claims are often allowed up to one year, or in some cases as long as three...

Going PRO Talent fund cut by House budget bill: The Michigan House of Representatives has adopted a very aggressive budget that makes dramatic cuts in several programs to provide increased resources for roads, bridges, and state infrastructure. Among the cuts is the elimination of the Going PRO Talent Fund, a training grant program that manufacturers use to develop future skilled employees who will move manufacturing to the next level. According to the Michigan Manufacturers Association...

Warren Buffett once said, “Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy.” It’s a perspective that invites leaders to reflect on which qualities truly matter most in the hiring process.

As organizations begin building budgets and priorities for 2026, now is the perfect time to take a step back and evaluate HR’s role. Budgets aren’t just about numbers, they reflect strategy. By asking the right questions today, HR leaders can ensure they’re focusing resources where they’ll have the greatest impact in the year ahead.

With an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the trades than in previous generations, the need to attract and inspire new talent for these industries is greater than ever. Thankfully, trade workers have taken to the social media platform, TikTok, to share their careers, and it has proven to be an effective recruitment strategy.

In recent years employees have requested earlier access for earned wages than the normal payroll period.  With employees at times financially struggling, access to their earned wages outside of the normal payroll allows them flexibility to pay bills, rent, and other expenses in a timely manner. A recent study shows that 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, making Earned Wage Access (EWA) a valuable financial benefit for employees. This is different than a payday loan which is a...

A compliance-related employee handbook policy that is often overlooked is the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) policy statement. Though arguably not a required policy statement, it is a policy comparable to other policies on non-discrimination that should be in employee handbooks. These nondiscrimination policies tell employees, managers, and the world that the employer prohibits these forms of discrimination.

Did you know? Baby boomers born in the latter years of the baby boom held an average of 12.9 jobs from age 18 to age 58, with over 40% of these jobs held from ages 18 to 24.  These  baby boomers held an average of 5.6 jobs while ages 18 to 24. The average fell to 4.5 jobs from ages 25 to 34; to 2.9 jobs from ages 35 to 44; to 2.2 jobs from ages 45 to 54; and to 1.3 jobs from ages 55 to 58. Sounds familiar to other generations?  Source:  U.S. Census 8/26/25

Labor Day unofficially started back on September 5, 1882, when over 10,000 workers walked off their jobs and took an unpaid leave from work to conduct a march in New York City. Labor Day became an official holiday on the first Monday in September by an Act of Congress on June 28,1894.

Across Michigan, families are preparing for the back-to-school season. While much attention goes to preK–12 and college students, thousands of adults are also returning to the classroom, proving it’s never too late to learn, grow, and create new opportunities.

Every HR professional wears many hats – coach, advisor, mediator, strategist. But when you break it down, the best HR leaders all share a set of “superpowers” that help them handle challenges with confidence and impact. Here are seven worth mastering.

In a novel case going through the New York state court system, Julie Ormond, Legends of the Fall and Sabrina actress, is suing Disney, Miramax, and her former talent agency who she says failed to protect her from abuse. Ormond’s complaint sought to plead negligent supervision and negligent retention against Miramax and Disney, and negligence and breach of fiduciary duty against her talent agency, CAA, in an attempt to hold them liable. Ormond alleged that Miramax and Disney employed...

Drug testing laws vary from state to state, and some states make compliance more challenging than others. Minnesota (MN) is one of those states. Even though it has had the laws in place for some time now, MN updated their law this year. Because of the changes, employers who do business in this state must review their current processes and make any required changes.

IRS releases draft W-2 to encompass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes:  The IRS released a draft version of the new W-2.  Forms and instructions are subject to OMB approval before they can be officially released, so the IRS post drafts of them until they are approved. Drafts of instructions and pubs usually have some additional changes before their final release.  The changes specific to Tips, Overtime, and Trump Accounts are found in Box 12:  TA-Trump Accounts ...

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept; it’s actively shaping the way we work. But not all jobs are affected equally. A recent Microsoft study sheds light on which roles AI is already reshaping and which remain largely human-driven. Unlike speculative reports, this study analyzed real interactions between users and AI over nine months, mapping tasks to detailed occupational data from O*NET, the U.S. government's database of job activities. The result is a grounded...

Last week, part I of this article laid out what a limitation of action agreement is and how it can be used by employers. This week we look at what the recent Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in Rayford v American House of Roseville I LLC handed down on July 31st said.

Even the most experienced HR professionals can fall into habits that create unnecessary risks or missed opportunities. Here are ten of the most common mistakes we see and how you can avoid them.

In an interesting reversal of artificial intelligence technology trends, some employers who’ve embraced more progressive approaches to selection are going “old school” in their interviewing formats. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on a growing shift among employers away from a reliance on virtual interviewing formats and toward conducting more in-person meetings.