Tag: recruiting

EEOC Provides Guidance on Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation

In February 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidance titled “Frequently Asked Questions from the Federal Sector about Telework Accommodations for Disabilities.” Although it’s targeted toward federal agencies, the guidance draws on standards also relevant to private employers covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Alternative Reasonable Accommodations The ADA entitles qualified […]

The Human Skills HR Must Prioritize to Make AI Work 

An employee uses AI to generate a recommendation in seconds. It looks polished, confident, and complete. But it’s flawed. Without the skills to question or validate that output, the mistake moves forward faster than ever before. This is the reality organizations are facing as AI in HR adoption accelerates.  The biggest challenge with AI transformation is not adoption, but workforce readiness, making sure […]

Court’s Ruling Offers Cautionary Tale for Clients Using Generative AI

When a party communicates with a publicly available AI platform in connection with a legal dispute, are the party’s communications protected by the attorney-client privilege or work product doctrine? In one of the earliest decisions on this issue, Judge Jed S. Rakoff—an influential judge in the Southern District of New York—held that such communications were […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Reading the Data

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, […]

Pendulum Swings Again: DOL’s Proposed Rule on Independent Contractors

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 Leadership: The Era of Responsible Influence  

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 […]

Ohio Jury Awards $22.5M in Pregnancy Accommodation/Wrongful Death Case

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 […]

EntertainHR: March Madness and Non-Competes 

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 […]

Why Your RTO Mandate is Exposing a Leadership Gap—and How to Fix It

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 […]

DOL’s Workplace AI Strategy Follows Historical Approach to Technology

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, […]