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Almost two years ago, in March 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued a Charge of Discrimination against Nike, alleging that aspects of the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) policies may have resulted in discrimination against white employees and job applicants. Most recently, in an escalation of its investigation, on February 4, 2026, the EEOC took the unusual step of filing a subpoena […]
The recent Census Bureau data is a wake-up call: the gender pay gap is widening for the first time in twenty years, and female representation in leadership is stalling. For HR professionals, “business as usual” is no longer an option. To move from declining commitment to meaningful progress, Shelly MacConnell, Chief Strategy Officer at WIN, […]
Following in the workplace comedy mockumentary footsteps of shows like The Office and Superstore, St. Denis Medical focuses on the staff of an Oregon hospital as they navigate the stress of medical emergencies amidst the often absurd details of their personal and professional relationships. This all-star ensemble cast includes the hilarious Wendi McLendon-Covey as Joyce, the hospital administrator, who is equal parts […]
On February 4, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit against Nike in the Eastern District of Missouri, claiming the company had not complied with the agency’s requests for information in its investigation that it discriminated against white employees and applicants. The case was filed in Missouri because the EEOC’s St. Louis office […]
The Massachusetts Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) workforce data reporting deadline of February 2 – established by the Wage Transparency Act that became effective in 2025- has now passed. Covered employers were required to file their EEO reports with the secretary of the commonwealth by that date. Employers who met the deadline should retain confirmation of their submission for their records. Those who did not file on time […]
The Trump administration announced a final rule creating a new category of federal workers who would have fewer job protections and be easier to fire. The new rule implements an Executive Order from 2025 that could diminish or eliminate venerated due process protections for 50,000 employees at federal agencies. The creation of the new category […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]