Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Action plans are only as good as the system that supports them. After the survey closes and priorities are set, managers are often expected to deliver results without the structures, skills, or motivation needed to succeed. So, what can HR professionals do to help managers actually function? We asked upcoming SPARK HR speaker, I/O psychologist, […]
The legal framework governing worker classification in the United States has undergone significant turbulence over the past five years, leaving businesses to navigate a seemingly ever-changing regulatory environment. Most recently, on February 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would alter the analysis for determining whether a […]
HR executives have entered new territory. The function is no longer viewed as a support operation focused on policies, processes, or head count alone. HR leaders are now expected to shape outcomes, business outcomes, mission outcomes, and human outcomes, often at the same time and under heightened scrutiny. That shift is reflected in how CEOs think about the role. A growing majority now […]
A recent Ohio jury verdict underscores the legal and operational risks employers face when responding to accommodation requests involving pregnancy-related medical conditions. The jury awarded approximately $22.5 million in a wrongful death action arising from an employer’s denial of a work-from-home request. Facts According to the complaint, the employee was a claims associate for a […]
About half of this year’s Sweet Sixteen starters in the men’s NCAA March Madness tournament began their college careers at a different program. Michigan State was the only Sweet Sixteen team with all five starters originating at the university. Four teams retained four of their five starters. For all remaining teams, at least two starters transferred from a different school. Player transfers are part of what makes March Madness so exciting. Transfers allow competition to […]
As the global Return to Office (RTO) debate continues to heat up, HR leaders are caught in a “tug-of-war” between executive mandates for physical presence and a workforce that has redefined “security” as autonomy. While leadership often views the office as a tool for surveillance, employees increasingly see the commute as a tax on their […]
Human resources (HR) data is one of the most important pieces of information stored in the modern enterprise, serving as a strategic, organizational backbone. It comprises some of an institution’s most sensitive data, including employee records, payroll information, and performance history. When this data needs to be migrated, whether for system upgrades or merger requirements, companies must ensure that the information remains intact […]
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is responding consistently with its historical approach to technological advancements. Before adopting AI-related compliance frameworks, the DOL is prioritizing workforce readiness for an AI-powered world. Aligned with the current administration’s policies, the DOL’s approach promotes innovation over restriction and guidance over enforcement, […]
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)—the oldest “super agency,” created in 1935—is newly reconstituted and will be finding its way in an unprecedented setting and facing unprecedented challenges. Background President Trump, in an unprecedented move, fired Board Member Gwen Wilcox in January 2025, despite provisions in the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) bestowing tenure protections […]
Earlier this year, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued opinion letters offering employers guidance regarding certain family and medical leave matters under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). As with other opinion letters, they are nonbinding on the courts, but they serve as valuable insight to employers on the DOL’s expectations regarding an employer’s […]