Archives

The New Reality of Worksite Enforcement: Navigating I-9 and E-Verify Shifts in 2026 

For many HR and compliance leaders, the past year has been a lesson in volatility across the I-9 and E-Verify landscape. The speculation that defined early 2025 has given way to a more dynamic environment where the risks of I-9 errors and potential liability are increasingly tangible. From the return of visible worksite enforcement to […]

Why Employee Engagement Should Feel ‘Calm and Boring’ and Other Takeaways With McKesson’s Sr. Director of Talent Succession

Engagement strategies are often treated as exciting, fun perks that help employees stay motivated and fulfilled at an organization. But Jenessa Disler, Senior Director of Talent Succession at McKesson, and speaker at SPARK HR 2026, turns that thinking on its head. The reality is, she says, “When engagement is done really well, it’s actually just […]

At Public Meeting, FTC Indicated Intent to Prosecute Unreasonable Noncompetes

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a half-day program on January 27, 2026, focused on employee noncompetes. The FTC indicated its intent to pursue prosecution of agreements that violate antitrust or otherwise inappropriately limit employee choice. However, the commission is not reproposing the prior rule banning all noncompetes. If workers have issues, the agency suggests […]

HR Query: Making Mental Health a Normal Workplace Conversation

Mental health is the ultimate “open secret” in the office. We all have it, but few of us talk about it. Karishma Patel Buford, Chief People Officer at Spring Health, is on a mission to change that. She believes that when leadership gets real about their own struggles, it doesn’t just make the workplace kinder—it […]

EntertainHR: Celebrating the Best in Workplace Investigations 

Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are getting ready to cast their ballots ahead of the fast-approaching 98th Academy Awards. Final voting opens on February 26th and closes on March 5th, ten days before the golden statuettes are awarded to the winners. This year’s final Oscar voting is especially noteworthy: Academy members must watch all the films nominated […]

5th Circuit Throws Down on Use of AI

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all Texas employers) brought the hammer down on February 18 in an opinion written by Chief Judge Elrod. Glad I was not the nail. Show-cause order issued What is a show-cause order? It’s an order issued by a court to a lawyer essentially saying, […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Why AI is the Ultimate Growth Mindset Challenge

In the era of rapid automation, the most valuable leadership tool isn’t a new algorithm—it’s the willingness to see your role through a completely fresh lens. Many HR leaders view the rise of AI as a threat to their jobs, but Dr. Chrissy Roth-Francis, Director of Talent Development at LinkedIn, argues that people leaders are […]

Why AI Is the First Real Disruption in Hiring 

Every leap in hiring technology has promised transformation. Most have delivered only incremental progress. Despite decades of digital upgrades – from newspaper classifieds to online job boards, faxed résumés to LinkedIn profiles – the basic logic of recruiting hasn’t changed. Companies still grow their teams the same way they always have: one job post, one recruiter, one […]

The Hidden Cost of Silence: How Low Psychological Safety in the Workplace Undermines Compliance, Culture and Growth 

As organizations enter the new year focused on driving growth and elevating performance, a critical risk continues to go overlooked: the absence of psychological safety in the workplace.   Psychological safety is a foundational requirement for effective compliance, sound decision-making and strong business performance. When employees don’t feel safe to speak up, organizations lose visibility into risk, culture erodes and innovation slows. […]

With Court Orders, Know Your Legal Obligations and Risk Considerations

Court orders can have direct and enforceable consequences in the workplace. While these matters arise from an employee’s personal life, employers are often legally obligated to comply with court orders and must do so without engaging in or exacerbating the underlying dispute. Failure to understand these obligations can result in statutory penalties, civil liability, or […]