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Even With Accommodations, Essential Functions are Required Under ADA

The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all West Virginia employers) has been busy deciding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation cases this year. In at least two cases, it found that the employees were not protected by the ADA with regard to discrimination and failure-to-accommodate claims because they were not […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: The Silent Feedback

As HR professionals, and really as people, we opt to be nice and polite when dealing with anything in the workplace. But what happens when that blanket “agreeable”-ness produces a stagnant and stale environment instead of something productive? When the status quo becomes more harm than good, how can you break the mold? Amira Barger, […]

Leading in a “Human Plus” World: 9 Actionable Takeaways from LinkedIn’s Director of Talent Development

As the Director of Talent Development at LinkedIn, Dr. Chrissy Roth-Francis currently oversees the growth of 3,000 leaders. She is at the forefront of a major cultural shift: the “Human Plus” future. Ahead of her sessions at SPARK HR 2026, HR Daily Advisor sat down with Dr. Roth-Francis to discuss how HR professionals and people leaders […]

When Fairness Meets Finance: The New Reality of People Decisions 

People decisions are some of the most scrutinized decisions organizations make. Pay adjustments, promotions, bonuses, and headcount choices are no longer quiet HR moments, they are visible, questioned, and often challenged. Employees expect fairness and transparency. Finance leaders expect discipline and predictability. Managers are asked to balance empathy, accountability, and cost often all at once.  This shift matters because it […]

DOL Clarifies Travel To and From Medical Appointments is FMLA Protected

The Department of Labor (DOL) rang in the new year with some new guidance for employers covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This time, the DOL addressed whether an employee’s travel to and from medical appointments qualified as FMLA-protected time. Example Scenario An employee who works from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. […]

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 […]