A major shift in federal marijuana policy is forcing employers to rethink workplace drug policies and disability accommodations. The recent reclassification of medical marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule III substance has changed how employers must evaluate employee marijuana use under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For many organizations, this change introduces legal uncertainty and a need for immediate policy review.

To test or not to test, that is the question that is top of mind for many employers today when it comes to marijuana testing. As more states legalize at least some form of marijuana testing, the number of applicants testing positive for marijuana continues to grow.

We often think about first impressions during a job interview, but they happen other times throughout our careers. Whether you're starting a new job, welcoming a new employee, meeting a client, or networking, first impressions influence trust and confidence in new relationships.  It can be nerve-wracking worrying about making the right first impression. In just a few moments, people begin forming opinions about our professionalism, credibility, and approachability. While those...

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.

Artificial intelligence continues to create new opportunities for efficiency, innovation, and growth. At the same time, it is also changing the cybersecurity landscape in ways employers cannot afford to overlook.

AI is being integrated into many HR functions, from scheduling and recruiting to performance management and compensation decisions. While HR processes are not fully automated, the growing use of AI in these areas can create legal and compliance risks for employers.

When attendance changes, behavior shifts, or performance suddenly declines, employers often begin with policies, coaching, or corrective action. Those responses may be appropriate but sometimes the issue is something else entirely: an employee facing a challenge they do not know how to solve.

According to TalentLMS's newly released Learning Debt Report, employees are struggling to keep pace with rapidly changing job requirements. Forty-one percent of employees say their roles are evolving faster than their employers can provide training, leading many to rely on AI tools and informal workarounds to bridge skill gaps while remaining reluctant to admit what they do not know.

Landing a new job has always required persistence. Today, it also requires vigilance. Employment scams have become increasingly sophisticated over the past year, with criminals posing as recruiters, creating convincing company websites, and using familiar hiring platforms to lure job seekers into sharing personal information or sending money. As remote hiring becomes more common, distinguishing a legitimate opportunity from a fraudulent one is becoming more difficult.

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.

Crying at work is more common than many leaders realize and can serve as a visible indicator of deeper workplace stress and burnout. Nearly half of U.S. workers report crying or coming close to crying at work, suggesting that emotional strain is becoming a widespread workforce issue rather than an isolated occurrence.

Paid time off is one of the most valued employee benefits, yet many employees still hesitate to fully disconnect when they take it. They check email from the beach, respond to Teams messages while away, or return feeling as exhausted as when they left. For HR professionals, this raises an important question: Is the issue really PTO policy, or is it workplace culture?

Michigan employers may want to keep a close eye on proposed legislation that could significantly impact how organizations communicate with employees outside of scheduled work hours.

Many organizations are moving quickly to incorporate AI into everyday work. Senior leaders often assume employees share that enthusiasm, but recent research suggests the picture is more complicated.

Many employers have social media, code of conduct, and respectful workplace policies designed to support a productive work environment and protect the organization's reputation. As employees increasingly share their views on political events, social issues, and government actions through social media and other public platforms, HR professionals are often faced with difficult questions about the limits of employee speech.

IRS mileage rate increases to $.76 per mile: In Announcement 2026-11, 2026-29 I.R.B. 49, the IRS amended Notice 2026-10, 2026-4 I.R.B. 378, which sets the standard mileage rates for 2026.

Leaders are often expected to provide confidence during uncertain times. Employees look to leadership for direction, reassurance, and a sense of stability, especially when organizations face difficult decisions, changing market conditions, or financial pressures.

Applicant tracking systems, AI-powered screening tools, automated workflows, and high-volume recruiting processes help employers manage hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applications. While these technologies provide valuable efficiencies, many organizations may be overlooking an important consequence: qualified candidates are increasingly disappearing into a recruiting "black hole."

As always, the final days of June bring a wave of decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court on major cases. This year was no exception, with four rulings that could have a direct or indirect impact on employers and human resources practices.

As organizations move into the second half of the year, HR leaders have an opportunity to evaluate whether policies, practices, and documentation remain aligned with changing business needs and compliance requirements. A mid-year compliance review helps organizations identify risks early, correct inconsistencies, and avoid last-minute year-end challenges. Mid-year reviews are increasingly becoming a best practice for organizations looking to shift from reactive compliance management to a...

Organizations are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency, streamline processes, and gain an advantage over the competition. As part of that effort, many employers are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to automate tasks, enhance decision-making, and increase productivity. While AI offers tremendous potential, the drive to achieve faster and better results can sometimes overshadow the need to carefully evaluate how these tools are being used. Without thoughtful oversight and...

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.

Most organizations view retention as a problem to solve when an employee submits a resignation. By that point, however, the decision to leave has often been developing for months. High-performing employees rarely quit without warning. The signs are usually there, but they can be easy to miss.

As the workforce continues to age, employers are facing new challenges that HR professionals must recognize and address. One significant concern is cognitive decline. While often associated with advanced age, cognitive changes can begin affecting individuals in their 50s. At the same time, older employees are remaining in the workforce longer than ever before.

Most employers are conditioned to prepare for January 1 as the major deadline for workplace law changes, but mid-year legislative updates can be just as significant.