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.

State Leave Laws Continue to Expand in 2026: What Multistate Employers Should Know

The new year, as always, brings with it new developments in labor and employment law. Likewise, the ever-growing labyrinth of state and local paid leave laws, including paid sick leave and family and medical leave laws, continues to develop in 2026. Some states have expanded their existing leave provisions, while others are enacting wholly new […]

Navigating California’s Pay Equity Enforcement Act: What Employers Need to Know

California has long been a leader in workplace equity, but the recent passage of S.B. 642—the Pay Equity Enforcement Act (“Act”)—marks a significant turning point for employers and employees alike. Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 8, 2025, the Act went into effect January 1, 2026. It introduces new requirements for pay […]

AI is Changing Employee Complaints and Requests—Here’s How to Respond

Artificial intelligence (AI) use is now pervasive, and the era of AI-generated employee communication has arrived. Employers are increasingly encountering emails and letters that feel a little too polished, unusually structured, or strangely impersonal, not to mention completely different from any other communication they’ve ever received from employees. Many employees are turning to AI tools […]

Protected Concerted Activity: Navigating the Rise of Employee Activism

From pay transparency to remote work, employees are increasingly vocal about working conditions both in the office and online. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees—union and nonunion alike—when they engage in concerted activity to address terms and conditions of employment. Employers can’t discharge, discipline, or threaten employees for engaging in protected concerted activity […]

No Peace in Quiet: What to Consider as New Lawsuits Challenge Voluntary Benefits

In a new wave of lawsuits filed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), four employers were sued during the recent holiday season for allegedly breaching ERISA fiduciary duties regarding their voluntary benefits insurance offerings. The voluntary benefits at issue are accident insurance, critical illness insurance, cancer insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance. […]

government

Agency Leaders and Staff Craft New Role as ‘At-Will’ Employees

A year ago, agency heads assumed they were appointed for fixed terms and protected by law from summary termination. However, by means of a series of presidential actions, even the leaders of the “independent” agencies have been “re-classified” as at-will employees, serving at the pleasure of the president. This is in concert with an expanded view […]

President Trump Issues EO to Block State AI Laws

After Congress refused to block state regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) for a second time, President Trump on December 11, 2025, issued Executive Order (EO) 14365, Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence. The purpose as stated is to create a uniform federal framework for AI and sharply limit the ability of states to […]

Congress Introduces ‘No Robot Bosses Act’

On December 3, a bipartisan group of legislators led by Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation that would prohibit employers from relying solely on automated decision-making systems to make employment-related decisions. HR 6371, known as the No Robot Bosses Act, would mandate that employers include human oversight when they use automated decision-making software, that they […]

Unions Winning Nearly 80% of Elections, But Fewer Elections are Held

The numbers told the story for unions in 2025—if representation elections were pie, unions claimed a much larger slice of a smaller pie. Here’s what employers need to know. Looking at the Numbers Since January 1, 2025, unions won 79.3% of 1,162 representation elections conducted—a decline from 1,336 representation elections during the same time period […]

The Holiday Gift Employers Don’t Want—Mitigating Risk During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is generally a time for celebration. However, employers should be vigilant in their efforts to mitigate risks for employment claims. Below are some issues to keep in mind. Make Your List and Check it Twice Audit employment records: Ensure personnel files, I-9s, and payroll records are complete and accurate. Michigan has specific requirements […]