Tag: news

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 […]

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 […]

Beyond the AI Hype: 6 Capability Shifts Defining Workplace Success in 2026 

As we enter 2026, the gap between the speed of work and the speed of learning has reached a breaking point. For HR professionals, the challenge is no longer just “keeping up”; it is about redesigning capability to match the messy, high-velocity realities of daily work rather than clinging to outdated leadership models.  After spending […]

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 […]

EntertainHR: Flag on the Play: Power Dynamics and Workplace Romance  

Michigan football recently made headlines after the university terminated its head football coach following an internal investigation that revealed “credible evidence” of an inappropriate relationship between the former coach and a staff member. The university later affirmed its “zero tolerance” policy for such behavior. The decision and resulting headlines underscore the legal and reputational consequences that can arise when workplace relationships involve unequal power […]

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. […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: The Gen Z Workplace Weakness: Ambiguity

The world of work is changing now more than ever, and to keep up, many businesses are becoming more and more ambiguous in their role descriptions, hierarchy, and goals. How can you provide detail in a world where policy and technology change ever few hours? While fluidity may become the new workplace standard, experts are […]

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 […]

From AI Screening to the Uberization of Talent: 4 Trends HR Needs to Prepare For in 2026 

HR teams are under more pressure than ever. Budgets are tight. Expectations are high. The pace of change is accelerating. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) and flexible workforce models are reshaping not just how people work, but how talent is accessed and managed. Many HR leaders are trying to make sense of the […]

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 […]