Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

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 […]

Can You Fire Employees Who Don’t Return FMLA Forms?

Q: If an employee takes sick leave but hasn’t completed and returned a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) form, can the employer lawfully terminate employment? Both employers and employees have responsibilities when FMLA-qualifying leave is involved, including timely notice and compliance with employer policies. To assess what happens when an employee takes potentially FMLA-qualifying […]

Guns at Work: Keeping Employees Safe in Troubling Times

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nearly two million American workers report experiencing some type of workplace violence annually. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), homicide accounted for nearly 9% of all on-the-job fatalities in 2023 (the most recent data available). Suicide accounted for another 5%. With civil […]

Nurses Aren’t Burned Out, They’re Being Burned by the System 

A growing body of workforce data is pointing to an uncomfortable truth. Nursing burnout is an active threat to workforce stability across healthcare. In a recent survey issued to registered nurses nationwide, 53% of respondents reported seriously considering leaving the profession at least once a month over a six-month period. This level of recurring intent to exit […]

Department of Labor Issues FLSA Guidance in Recent Opinion Letters

Earlier this year, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued opinion letters offering employers guidance regarding certain wage and hour matters under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). While these opinion letters are nonbinding, courts often defer to these letters when presented with similar issues. The letters also offer employers valuable insight into the DOL’s interpretation […]

4th Circuit Decision Highlights WARN Act Risks for Broader Corporate Families

Since the late 1980s, employers conducting large layoffs have had to ensure compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. While doing the calculus to determine whether there are WARN notice obligations may be straightforward, typically, complications can arise when the employer is one of several entities in a group of related companies. […]

When Political Confrontations Hit Your Workplace:  What the Ford Plant Incident Teaches HR

Picture this: A high-profile political figure visits your company. An employee confronts them about a controversial issue. Profanity flies, and the video goes viral. HR must respond, but how?  That scenario played out last month at a Ford Motor plant in Detroit during President Trump’s visit. Ford assembly worker T.J. Sabula, a unionized employee, shouted “pedophile protector” at Trump, an apparent reference […]

Beyond HIPAA: Navigating the ‘More Stringent’ Standard

In light of the February 16, 2026, deadline for covered entities to update their notice of privacy practices (NPP), covered entities should consider “more stringent” state laws that may apply to these updated forms and require compliance. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule sets the floor for privacy protections and […]

EEOC Repeals Harassment Guidance Relating to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

On January 22, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted 2 to 1 to rescind its 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace—which had provided the agency’s position for identifying, preventing, and responding to workplace harassment, particularly the harassment of LGBTQ+ workers—after finding the guidance exceeded the agency’s rulemaking authority. Repeal Follows Executive […]

What HR Leaders Need to Know: Navigating AI Regulation Amid Federal-State Conflict

The regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence in the workplace has reached a pivotal inflection point—and HR professionals are squarely at the center. President Trump’s recent executive order targeting state and local AI regulations creates both uncertainty and opportunity for forward-thinking HR teams. Understanding what this means for an employer’s talent acquisition technology, performance management systems, […]