Know What's Happening in Human Resources
Know What's Happening in Human Resources
Workplace Harassment Persists as Silence Undermines Policies
A study of over 3,700 employees across five nations identified three core silence behaviors—staying silent, silencing others, and not listening—that strongly predict rising harassment levels. Despite widespread anti‑harassment policies, these silence signals keep misconduct entrenched, urging leaders to tackle cultural barriers to reporting.
Predictable‑scheduling (fair workweek) laws now cover major U.S. cities and states, mandating 14‑day advance posting, employee consent for changes, and premium pay for late‑notice shifts. Employers must provide good‑faith schedule estimates, offer open hours to current staff before hiring, and maintain detailed records for three years. Non‑compliance has led to multi‑million‑dollar settlements and steep per‑violation penalties. The rules vary by jurisdiction, affecting retail, hospitality, healthcare, and other sectors, making uniform compliance a complex operational challenge.
A Pennsylvania truck driver voluntarily disclosed a 15‑year‑old armed‑robbery conviction during a job interview, prompting an immediate rejection. The employer argued the ban‑the‑box law didn’t apply because the information wasn’t obtained from a state agency. The Third Circuit reversed, holding...
SAG‑AFTRA will reopen contract talks with the AMPTP on February 9, 2026, a month ahead of the current agreement’s June 30 expiration. The negotiations, now led by new union president Sean Astin and AMPTP chief Greg Hessinger, will focus on three hot‑button...
India has rolled out four unified labor codes that replace decades of fragmented employment legislation, fundamentally changing hiring, compensation, and workforce management. The codes aim to simplify compliance, boost ease of doing business, and align with international standards. A webinar...
GE Aerospace’s Q4 2025 report credits its lean management system with double‑digit revenue and profit growth, highlighting an employee‑led innovation called the “Gerald” tape dispenser as proof of measurable value. The article argues that most continuous‑improvement programs fail because they...
In this five‑minute episode, the host uses a pickleball ball‑feeding machine as a metaphor to illustrate the need for a steady cadence when implementing organizational change. He explains that bombarding teams with rapid, unpredictable shifts—like the machine’s erratic, high‑speed balls—leads...
The article introduces the “Call Five People” rule, a ten‑minute practice where leaders discuss a problem with five diverse contacts to break isolation. It outlines specific questions to surface blind spots and lists scenarios—stalled decisions, crossroads, high‑stakes moments—where the rule...
Clinical laboratories are confronting a severe talent shortage, with salary now the single most influential factor for prospective hires, according to LinkedIn data. While pay remains critical, labs are increasingly forced to market flexibility, work‑life balance, and career‑growth pathways to...
On Jan. 22, 2026, the EEOC voted 2‑to‑1 to rescind the 2024 harassment guidance that expanded protections for LGBTQ+ employees, especially transgender individuals. The rescission was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget without public notice, following a Texas...
Effective March 19, 2026, Ohio’s Workforce Integrity Act mandates that all non‑residential construction contractors, subcontractors and labor brokers verify employee eligibility through E‑Verify. The law defines non‑residential projects broadly, covering buildings, highways, bridges and utilities, while exempting residential and agricultural...
On April 2, 2026, Littler will host a full‑day Prevailing Wage Compliance Workshop for New Jersey public‑works contractors at the Hilton Short Hills. Led by leading practitioner Russell McEwan, the program covers registration, apprentice rules, certified payroll, audit procedures and subcontractor liability under recent...
A retailer’s marketing manager asks if an employee‑influencer can post a product video on social media. The FTC mandates a clear disclosure of any material connection between the employee and the company, and violations can result in fines. The company...
The Seventh Circuit ruled that ERISA §4204 does not require excluding contributions tied to assets sold when calculating the maximum annual payment for withdrawal liability. In SuperValu Inc. v. United Food and Commercial Workers, the court affirmed the plan could...
The Puerto Rico Supreme Court ruled that mandatory arbitration clauses in private employment contracts are enforceable for discrimination claims under Act 100, provided the agreement impacts interstate commerce and thus falls under the Federal Arbitration Act. The decision expressly limits its...
The IRS released Notice 2026-13 on January 15, 2026, updating the safe‑harbor rollover notices that plan administrators must provide under section 402(f) of the Internal Revenue Code. The new notice replaces the 2020-62 version and incorporates SECURE 2.0 provisions affecting in‑service distributions,...
Italy will host the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games starting February 6, 2026, spotlighting the nation’s capacity for large‑scale event delivery. The Games emphasize gender balance, projecting the highest female athlete participation in Winter Olympic history and increased...
The article argues that most inclusion programs focus on representation metrics, which leaves employees feeling disconnected. Guest expert Priya Nalkur emphasizes that true belonging requires self‑awareness, uncomfortable conversations, and a culture of grace. Leaders must move beyond policies to foster...
John Sumser and George LaRocque discuss the rapid evolution of HR technology, emphasizing how market sizing, capital flow, and data-driven decision‑making are reshaping the industry. They highlight recruiting’s lack of accountability, the re‑evaluation of education’s value, and the disruptive impact...
ISS and Glass Lewis have unveiled new compensation‑related voting policies for the 2026 proxy season. ISS extends its pay‑for‑performance quantitative analysis to a five‑year look‑back, gives a favorable view to long‑term time‑based equity awards, adds flexibility for companies receiving less...
Organizations run invisible markets that decide who gets resources, visibility, and advancement. Professor Judd Kessler proposes redesigning these hidden rules using the Three Es—Efficiency, Equity, and Ease—to create transparent, merit‑based systems. Real‑world pilots such as Wharton’s Course Match, the National Resident...
California’s Workplace‑Know‑Your‑Rights Act (SB 294) takes effect on February 1, 2026, obligating every employer to deliver a standalone written notice to all current staff and new hires, then repeat it annually. The notice must outline workers’ compensation, immigration‑related protections, union rights, and Fourth...
Dozens of eCourier drivers delivering NHS samples are challenging their self‑employment status in an employment tribunal. The 46 workers argue that the company exerts significant control over job allocation, availability, and performance, which should qualify them as workers entitled to...
On July 4, 2025, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) became law, imposing new employer tax reporting requirements for qualified overtime and tipped earnings. Employers must now report qualified overtime compensation and qualified tips separately on employees’ Form W‑2,...
The NLRB Division of Advice issued memos recommending dismissal of three charges that stretched Biden‑era precedents, covering a union recognition claim, a Slack criticism case, and an overbroad non‑solicitation clause. The Department of Labor’s EBSA proposed a rule forcing PBM...
Recent CJEU ruling (Case C‑110/24) classifies travel that is tightly organised by the employer as working time for health‑and‑safety purposes. German courts have traditionally focused on the burden of travel, but the EU decision shifts emphasis to employer control, potentially...
Effective July 17, 2026, New Jersey will lower the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) employer threshold from 30 to 15 employees and cut employee eligibility to three months of service and 250 hours worked. The amendment also requires up to 12...
The NLRB Region 12 regional director dismissed a union representation petition against SolarMovil PR LLC because the solar‑farm project was “imminently and definitely” ending. The decision hinged on concrete evidence such as a fixed‑date contract, 82 % project completion, and lack of future work...
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González issued Executive Order 2026‑005 on Jan 27, 2026, declaring a state of emergency in response to an influenza epidemic. The order activates Act No. 37, which adds a special five‑day paid leave for non‑exempt employees who have exhausted vacation and...
The Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures, a 50‑year standard for validating hiring tools, face possible rescission, creating uncertainty for AI‑driven recruitment. In January 2026, Eightfold AI was hit with a class‑action lawsuit alleging it compiles consumer‑report‑like dossiers without notice,...
Effective leadership today hinges on crafting a compelling narrative that links current realities to future possibilities. The article highlights Satya Nadella’s transformation of Microsoft, where a shift from a "know‑it‑all" to a "learn‑it‑all" culture propelled the company from a $300 billion...
In a recent episode of California Employment News, Weintraub Tobin partners Chris Horsley and Ryan Abernethy unpack employer obligations surrounding 401(k) retirement plans, the state‑mandated CalSavers program, and health benefit requirements. They explain fiduciary duties, contribution timelines, and the criteria...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed eliminating state income tax on up to $25,000 of tipped income for 2026, and Senate Bill S587‑A would codify the deduction. The measure mirrors the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s qualified‑tip deduction but does not include...
Germany’s Christian Democratic Union business wing is proposing to abolish the statutory right to part‑time work, replacing it with a permission‑based system. The current law guarantees every employee the ability to reduce hours, a provision heavily used by women for...
Economic forecasts for 2026 show stronger growth, lower rates and rising AI investment, yet recruiters face a persistent talent shortage. Demand‑driven expansion is creating more job requisitions, but labor supply remains constrained by limited immigration, an aging workforce, and sector‑specific...
The episode breaks down the recent class‑action lawsuit against Eightfold AI, which alleges the firm collected job candidates' data without proper notice, consent, or correction rights, potentially violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)....
On January 13, 2026 the U.S. Department of Labor submitted proposed rules to the White House Office of Management and Budget that would allow 401(k) and other defined‑contribution plans to hold alternative assets such as digital currencies, private equity, private credit and...
The ILO’s 2026 Employment and Social Trends report shows that global labour markets appear stable, with unemployment projected at 4.9%, but this masks deep challenges to decent work, including rising extreme poverty, high informality (57.7% of workers) and stagnant productivity....
The article urges leaders to set goals that strengthen team resilience rather than merely chasing revenue or market expansion. It highlights four people‑centric leadership objectives designed to empower employees during volatile conditions. By shifting focus from outcomes to how leaders...
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) unveiled its FY 2026 national enforcement projects, marking the most extensive overhaul in recent years. Priorities include cybersecurity safeguards, mental‑health and substance‑use benefit access, No Surprises Act compliance, protection of benefit...
Pennsylvania’s new Act 55, effective 2025, adds an “express lane” for unemployment compensation claimants impacted by domestic violence. The law shields claimants who quit or miss work due to safety concerns from disqualification, allowing expedited eligibility determinations. Verification may rely...
California’s Assembly Bill 692, effective Jan 1 2026, broadly prohibits employers from including stay‑or‑pay provisions that require workers to repay bonuses, training, relocation or other retention incentives upon termination. The law permits narrow exceptions for discretionary sign‑on bonuses and tuition repayment, provided...
The Third Circuit ruled that ERISA plan administrators lose judicial deference when they fail to explain how they interpret ambiguous plan terms, as demonstrated in Rombach v. Plumbers Local Union No. 27 Pension Fund. The court held that the plan’s...
The article argues that micromanaging stifles employee confidence and slows decision‑making, while clear decision‑making frameworks unlock strategic autonomy. It highlights Amazon’s Type 1 vs Type 2 decision model, which lets staff act quickly on reversible choices. A 2022 Deloitte study is cited, showing...
Gem positions itself as an AI‑first, all‑in‑one recruiting platform that merges ATS, CRM, sourcing, scheduling, and analytics, promising 30‑50% cost reductions through consolidation. Juicebox, by contrast, is a point‑solution focused on AI‑driven list building and outreach that layers onto existing...
California's SB 513, which took effect on January 1 2026, clarifies the mandatory contents of employee personnel files. The statute enumerates specific documents—such as hiring applications, performance evaluations, and disciplinary records—that must be retained. Employers are required to keep these files for...
Group health plan sponsors must revise their HIPAA Notices of Privacy Practices by February 16, 2026 to incorporate new Part 2 privacy protections for substance‑abuse treatment records. The update requires clear language on prohibited uses, legal‑process limitations, and an opt‑out option...
