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Updates to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) notice of privacy practices (NPP) are required by February 16, 2026. Below is an overview of what changes are required and how health plan sponsors can comply. Background HIPAA requires covered entities, including group health plans, to maintain and distribute NPPs that outline how a […]
As businesses grow, owners may increasingly rely on key employees and HR professionals to manage functions owners don’t directly oversee. Key employees and HR professionals are typically those employees who have access to important, confidential business information. These individuals often gain access to confidential operational details, employee information, and other sensitive data. A common question […]
In Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a rare unanimous employment opinion, held that placing an additional evidentiary burden on majority group plaintiffs was inconsistent with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Supreme Court precedent. In Ames, the Court examined whether, in order to establish […]
The workplace is changing fast – new skills, new tech, new expectations. Turnover is up, expectations are changing, and AI is transforming roles faster than teams can adapt. HR leaders need fresh strategies to keep employees engaged, connected, and thriving. Few understand the AI landscape in HR like Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer of Lighthouse […]
The flu is spreading like wildfire! So, is a flu-caused absence protected under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? Calling Out Sick Here’s a typical scenario: Employee is off for four days. He calls in and says he has the flu. He returns to work. The company has an absence control policy. The question: […]
During a recent round of labor negotiations, a union proposed the following language regarding artificial intelligence (AI): “Artificial Intelligence shall not be utilized in any manner that displaces, diminishes, or eliminates existing bargaining unit work. AI shall not replace, displace, or erode job classifications or duties currently performed by bargaining unit employees.” This proposal was […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]