Succession planning is one of those responsibilities that most organizational leaders recognize as important, yet many put off until a transition is unavoidable. Conversations about retirement, stepping away from a longtime role, or preparing someone else to take over can be uncomfortable. But avoiding them can create uncertainty, limit opportunities for emerging leaders, and put an organization's future at risk.

Over the past several years, employers are increasingly encouraging employees to return to the office, often citing the importance of collaboration, communication, and building stronger workplace relationships. But new research suggests that bringing employees back into the workplace doesn't necessarily mean they're spending more time working together.

Last week’s election brought a wave of Democratic victories across Michigan and the nation, raising questions about what the results could mean for Michigan employers. The last significant Democratic wave in Michigan came in 2022, although relatively little of the party’s broader legislative agenda was enacted over the following two years. With renewed political momentum and a stronger mandate from voters, Democratic lawmakers may now push aggressively to revisit previously...

Workplace training is often handled one request at a time. An employee finds a webinar, asks to attend a conference, or needs a certification. A stronger approach is intentional. A well-designed program connects employee development with the skills the organization needs now and in the future.

The state of Illinois has added a new box to their Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act or what is commonly known as ban-the-box. Effective January 1, 2027, Illinois employers will be prohibited from listing a requirement for a valid driver’s license in job postings. This applies to employers with 15 or more employees either in the current year or during the previous year.

New nomination for EEOC: President Donald Trump nominated Matthew Zandi, an attorney with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, to fill one of two vacancies on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, potentially solidifying a three-member Republican majority through at least 2029.

Reports have emerged of job applicants using AI tools to automatically apply for multiple positions with a single prompt. Now, some candidates are taking it a step further, using AI-generated prompts designed to manipulate applicant tracking systems (ATS) and their screening algorithms to bypass traditional selection processes.

In our competitive employment market, organizations often focus on finding the right people, filling open positions, and keeping hiring processes moving. While those objectives are important, one critical element can easily get overlooked: the experience candidates have throughout the recruiting process.  Recruiting is about much more than matching qualifications to job descriptions. It is about building relationships, establishing trust, and giving people a reason to want to become...

Artificial intelligence has officially entered the hiring process, and many employers are struggling to determine where to draw the line, especially when both employers and candidates are utilizing AI.

Think about the last time your organization introduced a new system or process. Employees received training, learned how to use it, and were expected to move forward. But how many quietly went back to doing things the old way? A workplace trend called "habit hugging" may help explain why employees hold on to familiar routines, even when better tools or processes are available.

Organizations often encourage employees to be more innovative, take initiative, and look for better ways to work. But there is a difference between asking employees to think like entrepreneurs and expecting them to take on the responsibilities of business owners. This is where intrapreneurship comes in. For HR professionals, fostering an intrapreneurial culture means creating an environment where employees feel empowered to contribute ideas, solve problems, and improve the organization...

Can employees be fired for organizing political protests? Can employees be fired for organizing a protest at work that violates workplace rules if the protest is not actually about work? According to a recently released Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the answer may be yes.

In my last blog, Preparing Your Workforce for AI Takes More Than Technical Skills, I discussed the importance of developing the human skills employees need to succeed alongside AI. But preparing employees is only part of the equation. How leaders introduce and position AI can be just as important to its success.

A workplace trend known as loud working suggests that some employees are spending more time making sure their work is noticed, sometimes at the expense of actually getting work done. With ongoing layoffs, economic uncertainty, and concerns about artificial intelligence replacing jobs, employees may feel that doing good work is no longer enough. They also need to make sure everyone knows they're doing it.

Many nonunion employers mistakenly believe they are not subject to unfair labor practice (ULP) charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). However, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees in both union and nonunion workplaces. The NLRB enforces these protections, ensuring that employers respect employees’ rights to engage in protected concerted activities, regardless of whether a union is present.

Domestic violence can affect an employee’s health, safety, attendance, and ability to remain employed. Michigan employers should understand two important laws that provide support for employees experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault – the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) and recent changes to unemployment eligibility.

Employers are facing another year of rising health care costs, and employees are feeling more of the impact. According to KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released October 22, 2026, the average annual premium for employer-sponsored family coverage increased 5% to $28,303. Employee contributions rose faster, increasing 9% to $7,471. That follows a 7.6% increase the prior year. Over the same period, wages grew 3.7% and overall inflation was 2.7%.

Daylight Savings Time ends November 1: When clocks are turned back an hour in the early morning on November 1st workers on the midnight shift at that time will actually work an extra hour. Assuming that these workers are nonexempt employees, meaning that they are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), they must be paid for all hours worked.

An employee’s medical leave can create difficult decisions for employers, especially when an absence continues longer than expected. While businesses must manage staffing needs and maintain operations, terminating an employee who is on short-term disability (STD) can create legal risks if the decision is not carefully evaluated.

As workplace tensions rise amid political divisions, economic uncertainty, and other pressures, employees may be more likely to speak their minds, sometimes crossing the line when addressing supervisors. But when does talking back to the boss become grounds for discipline or termination, and when is that behavior protected under federal labor law? The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has wrestled with this question for decades, with its decisions shifting over time on how much leeway...

Employers frequently say they can't find qualified talent. Open positions go unfilled for weeks or even months, and hiring managers grow frustrated by the lack of candidates who meet their requirements. But what if the talent they're looking for is already out there? Too often, employers overlook capable candidates simply because they don't have the exact experience or qualifications listed in the job description. In their search for the perfect fit, they may be missing out on...

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has submitted a draft proposal to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), part of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, concerning the use of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions. If approved, the proposal appears likely to result in the withdrawal of the EEOC's previous guidance on the issue.

Acquisitions don't always mean immediate integration. When one company acquires another, employees may continue operating under different compensation structures, benefits packages, policies, and workplace cultures for years. For example, Amazon merged with Whole Foods Market back in 2017 but just recently made the decision to expand healthcare, leave, and other benefits for Whole Foods Market employees. This announcement offers a timely portrayal of how companies revisit their approach...

SHRM does it again: A Virginia federal jury awarded a job applicant $400,000 in her disability bias case claiming the Society for Human Resource Management yanked a job offer after she requested to bring her service dog to work to help manage her Type 1 diabetes.

Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, and employers are investing significant time and resources into helping their employees keep up. But as organizations introduce new AI tools and training programs, they must also ensure they are developing the skills employees need to work effectively alongside AI.