Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
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 […]
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now the highest-funded law enforcement agency in the U.S. government. With the increased funding, the Trump administration has more than doubled the number of ICE officers and agents. As a result, ICE raids and I-9 audits are increasing in frequency. ICE raids and I-9 audits often cause anxiety and […]
On January 22, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted 2-to-1 to rescind the harassment guidance issued under the Biden administration. The EEOC submitted the rescission as final to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its approval on December 29, 2025, without public notice and comment. Harassment Guidance Issued in 2024 On April […]
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 […]
Words matter, and they matter a lot. As Mark Twain purportedly once said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between a lightning bolt and a lightning bug.” So, I read with interest a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by @Simons, whose name is Simon Ingari, a […]
I am an alumnus of the University of Michigan. My son is a junior there. My closest friends went to school in Ann Arbor. So did my father-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law. Like all who bleed maize and blue, we believe that we have a responsibility to our university to embody the values of excellence, character, and integrity in everything we do. So, when the news broke last month of […]
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: […]