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.

On February 27, 2026, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued a proposed rule to update the independent contractor rule and to rescind the previous administration’s rule.  The definition of an independent contractor has been long argued since the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was first passed in the 1930s.  The courts found that the FLSA never defined an independent contractor (IC) and as a result, a variety of court and federal administrative...

A troubling pattern is emerging in today’s workplace: change fatigue. It shows up as frustration, apathy, and resistance when employees are asked to absorb constant, overlapping changes. At its core, change fatigue happens when the pace or volume of transformation exceeds people’s capacity to adapt. As McKinsey & Company describes it, we are now living in “the age of perpetual organizational upheaval.”

Millennials now represent the largest segment of the U.S. workforce at 36%, and they have become the largest generation in management roles. Yet new survey data suggests many are quietly questioning their career paths. According to research from ELVTR, 55% of millennials feel unsettled in their careers or say they are still figuring them out. Even more alarming, 59% admit they are hoping for an external reason, such as a layoff, to leave a job they no longer enjoy.

False Claims Act recoveries growing concern for HR: According to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) January 16, 2026, press release, the DOJ reported a record $6.8 billion in settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act (FCA) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 – the largest annual total in the statute’s history, more than doubling last year’s $2.9 billion. 

As today’s job market remains challenging and competitive, yet another trend has emerged for job seekers: reverse recruiting. Many professionals are turning to reverse recruiters to help them stand out and accelerate their time to hire. Acting as personalized job‑search specialists, these individuals or firms handle everything from applications to outreach, giving candidates a targeted edge in an overcrowded market.

A recent report from Resume Now explores a growing but often invisible workplace experience described as the “Quiet Cry.” While headlines have focused on trends like quiet quitting, this research looks deeper at the emotional strain employees are carrying during the workday.

For years, merit-based pay increases have been positioned as a cornerstone of effective talent management. The logic was straightforward: reward top performers, motivate improvement, and reinforce a pay-for-performance culture. But in today’s economic environment, many organizations are rethinking that formula. Enter the rise of “peanut butter raises” – uniform, across-the-board pay increases applied evenly across employee populations.

The world of work is redefining what it means to qualify for a job. Degrees still matter, but growing evidence shows that non-degree credentials, from professional certificates to industry certifications, deliver measurable market value. Understanding how these credentials translate into wage outcomes is not just a recruiting or learning issue. It has direct implications for compensation frameworks, internal equity, career mobility, and skills-based pay strategies.

December 18, 2025, President Trump issued an Administrative Order directing the Attorney General to complete the rulemaking process to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act.  However, currently, marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug until otherwise notified, and there are nuances that HR needs to be aware of.  

Daylight Savings starts March 8th: Set your clocks forward one hour Sunday, March 8^th. Daylight Saving Time was first proposed by George Vernon Hudson in 1895, and its use in the U.S. was first mandated during World War I.

For decades, employee engagement has been anchored in a simple idea: people want to feel valued and connected at work. Leaders built programs around recognition and belonging, which were recognized as the key motivators driving performance and retention. But recent research from Perceptyx analyzing over 20 million employee responses over 10 years shows a dramatic shift. In 2025, the traditional drivers of engagement – belonging and feeling valued – dropped to the bottom of the...

Cold and flu season is an unwelcome but predictable reality in the workplace. As illnesses spread, is it possible that cold and flu diagnoses could qualify for FMLA?

Many employers use background checks as part of the pre-employment screening process, and those who don’t should. If an issue arises, such as an employee physically harming another employee or a customer, a lawsuit may follow. If the employer failed to conduct a background check, they can be held liable for damages due to negligent hiring.

An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA) is a type of employer-funded health benefit plan that allows an employer to reimburse employees for qualified medical expenses, including some or all of the premiums for individual-market health insurance coverage (or Medicare, if the person is Medicare-eligible), as well as the cost of out-of-pocket medical expenses.  It is similar to a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) but has a broader application.

USERRA leave to be treated like any other leave: An $18.5 million settlement in Huntsman v. Southwest Airlines Co. represents the largest USERRA class action recovery reported to date and signals a significant shift in how employers approach paid short-term military leave when other comparable short leaves (e.g., jury duty, bereavement) are paid.

So, your organization is growing? That’s great and something most organizations plan for; however, this accompanies legal requirements that creep up often faster than leaders expect. Employment laws, benefits requirements, and reporting obligations are frequently triggered by employee count, making growth an exciting but risky phase if compliance isn’t planned for in advance. Understanding which requirements apply at each stage of growth allows employers to prepare, avoid costly...

It happens. An employee is accused of sexual harassment and an investigation follows. Word spreads. Initial findings appear to support the claim, but later evidence emerges – voicemail messages of the accuser telling the accused they couldn’t wait to meet at their usual motel, explicit sexts from the accuser to the accused, or even on-the-record, sworn admissions by the accuser that the relationship was consensual and the allegations were false.

Something is shifting in the employment law landscape and it’s happening faster than many HR teams realize. Over the past year and into 2025, there’s clear evidence that discrimination charge activity at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) remains elevated and evolving.

I once worked with a manufacturing firm that relied heavily on a temporary-to-hire model for its hourly workforce. Despite offering market-competitive wages, comfortable working conditions, and a clear opportunity for full-time employment within a few months, the organization struggled with persistent temporary employee turnover.

Does it ever feel like sometimes your manager is present, but not really present? Meetings happen, emails are sent, but lately their engagement seems to have taken a backseat? You may suspect your boss is quietly checking out, known as quiet quitting, but that doesn’t mean your career has to stall. In fact, this can be your moment to step up.

UIA announces new MiUI launch date: The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced the new date for the launch of MiUI, the new UI tax and benefits system that will replace the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM).    After postponing the initial launch of the system to ensure its functionality, the new launch date for MiUI will be Monday, February 23, 2026. Make sure your company is ready to use the new system for UI tax payments and registrations by that date.

A Trump Account is now available for children under 18 years old and can be used as a tax savings vehicle by parents.  For a child to be eligible, they must be under 18 years old and have a social security number.  It is similar to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) but for minors. 

The most common reason well-intentioned employers face costly lawsuits is everyday manager mistakes.  These managerial mishaps can quietly snowball into six-figure legal problems.

A new MyPerfectResume survey of 1,000 U.S. workers shows that secondary income is no longer a backup plan. It is now a core part of how employees manage their finances. According to the 2026 State of Secondary Income Report, 72% of workers rely on at least one additional income source, up slightly from last year and signaling a long-term shift rather than a temporary response to inflation.