As HR professionals and business leaders, we spend a great deal of time developing policies, procedures, contingency plans, and crisis response protocols. These tools are important. They provide structure when uncertainty strikes and help organizations respond consistently.

How leaders communicate difficult news can have a lasting impact on employee trust, engagement, and organizational culture. A recent controversy involving the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team brought this issue into the spotlight. Several players learned they had been left off the final World Cup roster through an email rather than a personal conversation, sparking debate about whether difficult news should ever be delivered electronically. The incident serves as a valuable reminder for...

In most cases, terminating an employee while they are on FMLA leave is risky and should only occur under limited circumstances. For example, termination may be appropriate if the employee is part of a broader layoff affecting multiple employees or if the decision to terminate was fully documented and finalized before the employee began FMLA leave. Otherwise, employers may face claims of FMLA interference or retaliation, which can result in significant legal and financial liability.

Artificial intelligence has dominated HR and compensation discussions for the past several years, but many organizations are still trying to determine exactly how AI will impact jobs, compensation programs, and workforce planning. A recently released study by Korn Ferry, the Global Total Rewards Pulse Survey: AI Impact on Roles and Compensation (March 2026), provides a snapshot of how organizations around the world are approaching these issues. The survey gathered responses from more than...

Data privacy is no longer just a legal issue; it is a business priority. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has played a major role in shaping how organizations collect, manage, and protect personal information. Designed to give California residents more control over their data, the law requires businesses to be clear about what information they collect, how they use it, and whether they share it. Since taking effect in 2020 and later expanding under the California Privacy Rights...

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. 

One of the biggest risks for employers operating in multiple states is keeping pace with a patchwork of rules that can shift quickly and differ by location. This makes it essential to continuously monitor federal and state developments, verify guidance against primary sources, and adjust policies and pay practices promptly. A change that applies in one jurisdiction may not apply or may apply differently in another.

The skills employees need to succeed are changing faster than ever. Advances in technology, shifting business priorities, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence are transforming jobs across nearly every industry. As a result, organizations that fail to invest in employee development risk falling behind, while those that prioritize training are better positioned to remain competitive, productive, and adaptable.

The WNBA's recent salary negotiations have captured national attention, highlighting conversations about compensation, revenue sharing, and employee expectations. While the negotiations are taking place in professional sports, the issues at the center of the discussion are familiar to HR professionals across every industry. The league has had record attendance, increased media rights and value, higher sponsorship revenue, and more visibility and popularity. The players want compensation...

On May 27, 2026, the EEOC sent a proposal to the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs that would rescind the 1979 interpretative rule, 29 CFR 1608, titled "Affirmative Action Appropriate Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."  There is very little information as to the reasoning for this action, but it aligns with the administration’s approach to diversity and affirmative action. Further, if this regulatory action...

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) finalized a rule in May of 2023 that allowed for oral fluid drug testing in lieu of urine testing that was effective in December of 2023. However, the rule required that a minimum of two laboratories be certified under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Guidelines. One, the primary lab, and the second to be a split specimen lab.

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.

Leadership and stress have always gone hand in hand. Whether it's navigating economic uncertainty, managing organizational change, addressing workforce challenges, or responding to unexpected crises, leaders are constantly called upon to perform under pressure.

You might have the most competitive pay structure in your industry, but if your employees don't understand it – or worse, don't trust it – it might as well not exist. A recent survey of 150 senior HR and finance leaders conducted by Bettercomp and HR Dive found that while nearly all respondents (99%) considered themselves highly familiar with compensation strategy, significant gaps remain in how that strategy gets translated into meaningful employee experiences.

Taylor Swift may have sung "It's Me, Hi, I'm the Problem, It's Me," but in many organizations, HR has claimed that title – whether they want it or not. From accusations of creating bureaucracy instead of cutting through it, to being seen as the policy police rather than a people advocate, HR departments have long wrestled with a reputation problem. But is that reputation deserved? Are HR professionals truly the obstacle standing between a thriving company culture...

After years of headlines about a cooling labor market, many employers expected recruiting to become easier. Yet recent research suggests that winning top talent remains a challenge, particularly at the offer stage.

Each day can bring a wave of labor law changes that directly impact workplace posting requirements, making it essential for businesses to review and update their labor law posters. Do you know if your labor law posters are compliant?

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.

A California court has ruled that a jury should decide whether Tesla failed to address allegations of race-based harassment at its Fremont manufacturing facility, allowing most of the state's discrimination lawsuit to move forward. Understaffed HR may have led to this costly lawsuit.

Does AI really have religious impact on employees? Maybe. Recently, Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical called “Magnifica Humanitas” covered the dramatic impact of AI on workplaces, noting that AI is not "morally neutral" and urging employers to focus on the "protection of employment opportunities" and "the irreplaceable role of the individual" as they deploy high-tech tools. Note that Pope Leo does not ask whether technological progress should...

For years, employee surveys have been a cornerstone of workplace engagement efforts. Yet many employees have experienced the frustration of being asked for feedback without ever seeing meaningful change as a result. As organizations face ongoing challenges related to retention, engagement, and workplace culture, a growing number are recognizing that effective employee listening requires more than collecting data; it also requires action.

Economic uncertainty creates a difficult balancing act for employers. Organizations must remain competitive in attracting and retaining talent while managing costs amid fluctuating economic conditions, evolving workforce expectations, and ongoing pressure to improve productivity. As a result, compensation strategies continue to evolve, with employers taking a more deliberate and targeted approach to pay decisions.

June marks Safety Month, a timely reminder that workplace safety is not just a regulatory requirement but a core part of organizational culture and employee well-being. For HR professionals, this is an opportunity to assess current safety practices, reinforce compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and actively engage employees in building a safer workplace.

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.”

There is no shortage of HR content competing for our attention – articles, webinars, conferences, newsletters, LinkedIn posts, etc. The challenge is not finding information; it’s finding the most useful information.