Human Resources News and Headlines

Tata AI Sakhi Immersion Programme Empowers 1,553 Rural Women Artisans, Entrepreneurs
NewsFeb 18, 2026

Tata AI Sakhi Immersion Programme Empowers 1,553 Rural Women Artisans, Entrepreneurs

The Tata Group launched the AI Sakhi Immersion Programme at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, training 1,553 women artisans and entrepreneurs from six states. Participants were divided into artisanal, basic digital, and advanced digital cohorts and received one‑on‑one mentorship...

By HR Katha (India)
Godrej Properties Gets Abhimanyu Rathore as Head-HR, Mumbai Zone
NewsFeb 18, 2026

Godrej Properties Gets Abhimanyu Rathore as Head-HR, Mumbai Zone

Godrej Properties has appointed Abhimanyu Rathore as head of HR for its Mumbai zone, bringing over a decade of cross‑industry experience. Rathore previously led HR functions at Tata Consumer Products, VOIS, and the ready‑to‑drink business, overseeing talent strategy and digital...

By HR Katha (India)
Cruising the Startup Ocean: Navigating Limits without Slowing Down
NewsFeb 18, 2026

Cruising the Startup Ocean: Navigating Limits without Slowing Down

The article reflects on how early‑stage startups thrive by compressing timelines that would take months in corporate settings into days, driven by a CEO’s relentless vision. It highlights examples such as accelerating a certification from three months to a week...

By e27
Are AI Agents Worth the Investment?
NewsFeb 18, 2026

Are AI Agents Worth the Investment?

DigitalOcean’s February 2026 Currents report shows that more than half of organisations deploying AI agents have observed productivity and time savings, with 53% reporting gains. Around a third (32%) say agents reduce the need for additional hires, while 44% note...

By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
Webcast: Best and Emerging Practices in Flexible Work
NewsFeb 18, 2026

Webcast: Best and Emerging Practices in Flexible Work

The HR Daily Premium webcast explores how organizations can transition from rigid office mandates to treating flexible work as a standard operating model. It outlines strategies for building a culture that supports flexibility, handling limited‑option scenarios, and sustaining high performance...

By HR Daily (Australia)
K-12 Lens 2026: What New Staffing Data Reveals About District Operations
NewsFeb 18, 2026

K-12 Lens 2026: What New Staffing Data Reveals About District Operations

Frontline Education’s 2026 K‑12 Lens survey, based on over 1,000 district leaders, shows teacher shortages easing in many regions while hard‑to‑fill roles and uneven funding persist. The data fuels a webinar where practitioners discuss managing staffing changes, vacancy tracking, administrative...

By Education Week (Technology section)
HR's AI Ambitions Clash with Employees' Demand for Human Touch
NewsFeb 18, 2026

HR's AI Ambitions Clash with Employees' Demand for Human Touch

HR leaders are accelerating AI adoption, with 38% targeting administrative tasks and 35% focusing on employee self‑service, according to Conduent’s latest study. While AI promises efficiency, 86% of employees still view HR relationships as personal and crucial to loyalty. The...

By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
Doctors Tell Senators CMS Red Tape Is Driving Workforce Exodus, Threatening Access
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Doctors Tell Senators CMS Red Tape Is Driving Workforce Exodus, Threatening Access

Physicians, medical educators and health system leaders testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging that escalating CMS regulations—particularly prior authorizations and Medicare quality reporting—are intensifying burnout and prompting many to leave clinical practice. The testimony highlighted that these administrative...

By Inside Health Policy
4th Circuit Decision Highlights WARN Act Risks for Broader Corporate Families
NewsFeb 17, 2026

4th Circuit Decision Highlights WARN Act Risks for Broader Corporate Families

The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a group of five related mining companies acted as a single employer for WARN Act purposes, affirming a jury verdict for a class of terminated workers. The court applied a multifactor...

By HR Daily Advisor
Cemetery Locked Black Employees Out of Restroom Open to White Workers, EEOC Alleges
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Cemetery Locked Black Employees Out of Restroom Open to White Workers, EEOC Alleges

The EEOC filed a complaint against StoneMor GP, LLC alleging the funeral‑services firm locked a restroom and break room, allowing only White employees to use them while Black staff were forced to use a neighboring gas station’s facilities for ten...

By HR Dive
CFOs Are Slowing Headcount Growth, Survey Says
NewsFeb 17, 2026

CFOs Are Slowing Headcount Growth, Survey Says

Gartner’s February budget benchmarks, based on a survey of over 300 CFOs, show tech spending staying robust while HR budgets are set to flatten. Average HR budget growth drops from 2.4% in 2025 to just 0.7% in 2026, and only...

By CFO Brew (Morning Brew)
Redefine Pay Now or Risk "a Much Broader Retention Issue"
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Redefine Pay Now or Risk "a Much Broader Retention Issue"

HR leaders are being urged to rethink remuneration as a widening pay perception gap emerges. Robert Walters' 2026 Salary Guide shows 81% of employees feel their wages lag behind rising living costs, with 41% believing they are underpaid, while 85%...

By HR Daily (Australia)
New York Enacts Chapter Amendment to “Trapped at Work Act,” Clarifying Scope, Creating Targeted Exceptions, and Delaying Effective Date
NewsFeb 17, 2026

New York Enacts Chapter Amendment to “Trapped at Work Act,” Clarifying Scope, Creating Targeted Exceptions, and Delaying Effective Date

Governor Hochul signed a chapter amendment to New York’s Trapped at Work Act, narrowing its coverage to employees and redefining repayment obligations. The amendment postpones the law’s operative provisions to December 19 2026, effectively delaying compliance for a year. It introduces targeted...

By Littler – Insights/News
Papa John's Franchisee Loses Power to Compel Arbitration After Missing AAA Payment
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Papa John's Franchisee Loses Power to Compel Arbitration After Missing AAA Payment

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that Papa Texas, a Papa John’s franchisee, cannot compel arbitration after it failed to pay its share of the American Arbitration Association fees. The company missed multiple payment deadlines despite settlement...

By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
Seventh Circuit Strikes Down Religious Accommodation Claim Lacking Specific Beliefs
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Seventh Circuit Strikes Down Religious Accommodation Claim Lacking Specific Beliefs

The Seventh Circuit upheld the dismissal of religious‑accommodation claims by three Illinois school employees who refused COVID‑19 vaccination and weekly testing. The court ruled that invoking a vague moral conscience without linking the objection to a specific religious belief does...

By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
TEKsystems Loses Overtime Battle: Court Says Recruiters Are Producers, Not Admins
NewsFeb 17, 2026

TEKsystems Loses Overtime Battle: Court Says Recruiters Are Producers, Not Admins

A Pennsylvania federal judge ruled that TEKsystems misclassified its recruiters as exempt, finding they perform core sales functions and are therefore entitled to overtime. The decision highlights that actual job duties, not titles, determine exemption status under the Fair Labor...

By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
Court Rules Medicare Compliance No Defense Against OSHA Workplace Violence Citations
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Court Rules Medicare Compliance No Defense Against OSHA Workplace Violence Citations

A Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals decision rejected Cedar Springs Hospital's claim that Medicare compliance shields it from OSHA workplace‑violence citations. The Colorado psychiatric facility was cited for seven safety deficiencies and fined $13,494. The court clarified that CMS regulations...

By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
Law Professors Sue EEOC to Expose Secret BigLaw DEI Settlement Terms
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Law Professors Sue EEOC to Expose Secret BigLaw DEI Settlement Terms

Two law professors have filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking the release of secret settlement agreements the agency reached with several major law firms over their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The settlements, signed between...

By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
Pinterest and Maven Team up to Provide Menopause Support to Employees
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Pinterest and Maven Team up to Provide Menopause Support to Employees

Pinterest has partnered with Maven Clinic to launch a unified menopause, fertility and parenting support platform for its workforce. The initiative aims to curb the $1.8 billion productivity loss attributed to menopause‑related disruptions in 2023. By consolidating care into a single...

By Employee Benefit News
Divided FTC Finalizes Rule to Ban Noncompete Agreements
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Divided FTC Finalizes Rule to Ban Noncompete Agreements

The Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule banning most non‑compete agreements, approved by a 3‑2 vote and set to take effect 120 days after publication. The regulation spares only senior executives earning over $151,164, preserving existing clauses for that group....

By Law.com (ALM)
Latest Updates on the UK Employment Rights Act 2025: Revised Implementation Timeline and New Consultations
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Latest Updates on the UK Employment Rights Act 2025: Revised Implementation Timeline and New Consultations

The UK government has revised the Employment Rights Act 2025 rollout, moving six flagship reforms—including doubled redundancy awards, whistleblowing updates and menopause guidance—to 6 April 2026 and establishing the Fair Work Agency on 7 April 2026. Electronic and workplace balloting will now debut in...

By Littler – Insights/News
Making the Warehouse a Better Place to Work
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Making the Warehouse a Better Place to Work

Warehouse automation promises easier picking and safer loading, yet it alone cannot solve the talent crunch. Industry leaders argue that career growth, cross‑training, and clear development pathways are essential to retain workers. Honeywell highlights training on new technology as a...

By DC Velocity
Littler Edge Training - Q1 2026
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Littler Edge Training - Q1 2026

Littler Mendelson is hosting a live webinar on March 12, 2026 to demonstrate Littler Edge, its new employment‑and‑labor‑law compliance platform. The 45‑minute session, led by Knowledge Management Director Katherine R. Hinde, will walk participants through the tool’s search, guidance, and...

By Littler – Insights/News
The Guardian Launches Year-Long Reporting Initiative Exploring AI, Work and Power
NewsFeb 17, 2026

The Guardian Launches Year-Long Reporting Initiative Exploring AI, Work and Power

The Guardian has launched a year‑long reporting series called Reworked that puts workers at the centre of the AI‑driven transformation of workplaces. The initiative will document how AI systems affect scheduling, pay, promotions and creative output across sectors such as...

By The Guardian AI
PE Pay Lessons
NewsFeb 17, 2026

PE Pay Lessons

Private‑equity (PE) firms lure executives with potentially massive, but highly conditional, equity payouts tied to long‑term value creation and exit events. Public‑company boards are feeling pressure as top talent compares these offers to traditional compensation packages that combine salary, cash...

By Corporate Board Member (Chief Executive Group)
SHRM: Year-Round Upskilling Opportunities Tied to ‘Significantly’ Higher Engagement
NewsFeb 17, 2026

SHRM: Year-Round Upskilling Opportunities Tied to ‘Significantly’ Higher Engagement

SHRM’s latest survey of over 1,500 employees finds that organizations that promote upskilling opportunities year‑round see engagement rates of 59%, compared with 31% at firms that do not. Respondents also reported higher job satisfaction and stronger commitment when access to...

By HR Dive
BioWare Continues Mass Effect 5 Development With New Senior Hire
NewsFeb 17, 2026

BioWare Continues Mass Effect 5 Development With New Senior Hire

BioWare has posted a senior‑level opening, confirming that Mass Effect 5 has moved beyond pre‑production. The studio is re‑uniting original trilogy talent, including Dusty Everman and Parrish Ley, and has chosen Unreal Engine 5 over the troubled Frostbite platform. With Dragon Age...

By VideoGamer.com
Revamping High Volume Hiring Strategies
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Revamping High Volume Hiring Strategies

High‑volume hiring, often overlooked, is essential for maintaining business continuity. Companies struggle with a pronounced supply‑demand mismatch, especially for frontline positions. The article argues that future talent acquisition must balance operational efficiency with strategic use of technology. Emphasizing technology as...

By HRTechFeed
Black Women Employment Sees One of Its Sharpest Annual Declines in Past 25 Years
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Black Women Employment Sees One of Its Sharpest Annual Declines in Past 25 Years

New Economic Policy Institute analysis shows Black women’s employment rate fell to 55.7% in 2025, a 1.4‑point drop and one of the steepest annual declines in the past 25 years. The decline was most pronounced among college‑educated Black women, whose...

By HR Dive
Leading With Grounded Confidence
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Leading With Grounded Confidence

Wharton Executive Education and its Center for Leadership and Change Management have launched Nano Tools for Leaders, a set of bite‑size practices inspired by Brené Brown’s *Strong Ground* and Adam Grant’s research. The tools teach leaders to anchor decisions in two core...

By Wharton Knowledge
Upcoming Webinar | Confidently Navigate the EU Pay Transparency Directive
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Upcoming Webinar | Confidently Navigate the EU Pay Transparency Directive

The EU Pay Transparency Directive, one of the most comprehensive pay‑equity laws, will take effect in 2026 across all member states. It requires employers to publish gender‑pay gap data and detailed compensation breakdowns. To help organizations prepare, HRtechBot is hosting...

By HRTechFeed
Concord Hospitality Promotes Three Executives to Senior Roles
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Concord Hospitality Promotes Three Executives to Senior Roles

Concord Hospitality announced the promotion of three senior executives: Joe Trumfio to senior vice president of investment operations, compliance and reporting; Cathryn Andrews to senior vice president of hotel accounting; and Alex Langston to senior director of risk management. Trumfio’s newly...

By Hotel Business
NHS Workers Hounded by Bailiffs over Payroll Errors
NewsFeb 17, 2026

NHS Workers Hounded by Bailiffs over Payroll Errors

A Freedom of Information review of 142 NHS trusts reveals a sharp rise in staff referrals to bailiffs over payroll overpayments, climbing from 1,807 cases in 2020‑21 to 2,683 in 2024‑25. Since 2020, trusts have made an average of 50,770...

By Personnel Today
Endless Meetings and Apps Leave Employees Struggling to Focus
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Endless Meetings and Apps Leave Employees Struggling to Focus

Employees are now averaging only two to three hours of uninterrupted focus each day as meeting density and app overload surge. Hubstaff’s 2026 Global Benchmarks Report shows meeting frequency has doubled and organizations run six times more meetings than two...

By Employee Benefit News
How Inclusive Leadership Can Shape the Next Generation of Games
NewsFeb 17, 2026

How Inclusive Leadership Can Shape the Next Generation of Games

At Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026, Aurora UK Awards highlighted women and non‑binary leaders, featuring an interview with former Monument Valley director Jennifer Estaris. Estaris emphasizes designing inclusion into hiring, mentorship, and leadership culture, arguing it drives creative and commercial...

By PocketGamer.biz
Hackajob Announces Its AI Recruiting Agent Has Surpassed $1 Million in ARR
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Hackajob Announces Its AI Recruiting Agent Has Surpassed $1 Million in ARR

Hackajob announced that its AI recruiting agent, Archer, generated $1 million in annual recurring revenue within just 90 days of launch, making it the fastest‑growing AI‑native recruiting product. The platform qualified 35,000 double‑opt‑in introductions, achieved a 20:1 candidate‑to‑hire ratio and blocked...

By HRTechFeed
Nearly 90% of the Largest U.S. Healthcare Systems Use UKG
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Nearly 90% of the Largest U.S. Healthcare Systems Use UKG

UKG announced its presence at ViVE 2026 and HIMSS 2026, showcasing its Workforce Operating Platform tailored for healthcare. The platform, already used by nearly 90% of the largest U.S. health systems, combines HR, payroll and AI‑driven workforce management to boost productivity and...

By HRTechFeed
URecruits’ Agentic AI Helps Recruiters Cut Admin Tasks and Reduce Candidate Ghosting
NewsFeb 17, 2026

URecruits’ Agentic AI Helps Recruiters Cut Admin Tasks and Reduce Candidate Ghosting

uRecruits has launched an Agentic AI platform that automates core recruiting tasks such as job creation, resume parsing, candidate ranking, and interview scheduling. The autonomous agents cut administrative work by up to 60 % and reduce candidate ghosting by 50 %, while...

By HR Tech Series
UK Employees Are Absorbing the Hidden Costs of Modern Work, New Data Reveals
NewsFeb 17, 2026

UK Employees Are Absorbing the Hidden Costs of Modern Work, New Data Reveals

Capture Expense’s analysis of 371,000 UK expense claims shows employees are shouldering hidden costs of modern work. Only 7% of firms reimburse home‑office setups, leaving staff to fund equipment and utilities. Claims reveal significant micro‑spends on coffee, meals and entertainment,...

By Employer News (UK)
Mediazoo Group Launches Unified Vision Designed to Give Organisations a Competitive Edge
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Mediazoo Group Launches Unified Vision Designed to Give Organisations a Competitive Edge

Mediazoo Group has officially launched, consolidating its three specialist firms—Mediazoo, Finer Vision, and Uncertainty Experts—under a single vision to boost human performance. The combined offering blends purpose‑driven storytelling, AI‑enabled training, and neuroscience‑based behavioural science. Recent accolades, including the LPI Learning...

By Employer News (UK)
HireClix Introduces ‘Welcome Back’ Functionality to Improve Candidate Engagement and Enhance Personalization
NewsFeb 17, 2026

HireClix Introduces ‘Welcome Back’ Functionality to Improve Candidate Engagement and Enhance Personalization

HireClix has launched a new "Welcome Back" feature for its HireClix‑powered career sites, using secure local storage to recall a returning candidate’s recent search terms and last‑viewed job. The functionality automatically restores the user’s previous activity, letting candidates resume their...

By HR Tech Series
How Curiosity Shaped a Career in TA: Carmen Hudson’s Career Crossroads
NewsFeb 17, 2026

How Curiosity Shaped a Career in TA: Carmen Hudson’s Career Crossroads

Carmen Hudson, a seasoned talent acquisition leader, credits curiosity as the engine behind her varied career moves. She recounts how each transition—from agency recruiting to corporate TA leadership—was driven by a desire to explore new challenges and learn emerging hiring...

By HRTechFeed
Coast Hotels Celebrates Its Top Achievers
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Coast Hotels Celebrates Its Top Achievers

Coast Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, announced the winners of its 2025 Coast Hotels Awards at the annual brand conference in Nanaimo, B.C. The ceremony highlighted a range of performance‑based recognitions, including a first‑ever Lifetime Achievement Award...

By Hotelier Magazine (Canada)
How a Tip Dispute Turned Into a $62K FLSA Payout
NewsFeb 17, 2026

How a Tip Dispute Turned Into a $62K FLSA Payout

A Denver restaurant, Tommy’s Thai, agreed to pay $61,568 in back wages and a $990 civil penalty after the Department of Labor found it kept employee tips and failed to maintain proper payroll records. The investigation, sparked by a tip...

By HR Morning
Half of Americans Believe only the Rich Can Afford GLP-1s without Insurance
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Half of Americans Believe only the Rich Can Afford GLP-1s without Insurance

A ValuePenguin study finds that a median‑income American household would need to allocate about 7.3% of earnings to afford a two‑milligram monthly supply of Ozempic, the flagship GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug. In the poorest states, the cost can approach one‑tenth of...

By Human Resource Executive
Alde Medi Impex Names Parag Bhatnagar as VP-HR
NewsFeb 17, 2026

Alde Medi Impex Names Parag Bhatnagar as VP-HR

Alde Medi Impex appointed Parag Bhatnagar as vice president‑human resources to lead HR for its corporate office and the upcoming Kashipur manufacturing facility. Bhatnagar brings over 20 years of cross‑industry experience, previously serving as corporate HR head at Biodeal Pharmaceuticals...

By HR Katha (India)
With the Rise of AI Generated Grievances- How Should HR Professionals Respond?
NewsFeb 17, 2026

With the Rise of AI Generated Grievances- How Should HR Professionals Respond?

HR teams now confront an influx of AI‑crafted grievance letters, which appear polished but often lack substantive detail. These documents tend to be overly legalistic, repetitive, and sometimes embed inaccurate case references, complicating investigations and prolonging resolution. Experts advise returning...

By Employer News (UK)
UP Sees Sharp Rise in Women’s Workforce Participation
NewsFeb 17, 2026

UP Sees Sharp Rise in Women’s Workforce Participation

Uttar Pradesh’s female labour force participation surged from 14 percent in 2017‑18 to 36 percent in 2023‑24, according to the Women Economic Empowerment Index. The increase narrows the gap with the national average of 45 percent, reflecting policy‑driven shifts such as Mission Shakti...

By HR Katha (India)
The Fall of Personalization and Rise of Anticipatory Benefits
NewsFeb 17, 2026

The Fall of Personalization and Rise of Anticipatory Benefits

Benefit leaders are moving beyond personalization toward anticipatory benefits, as Businessolver unveils an AI‑driven platform called Sophia that predicts employee needs before they arise. The solution mines chatbot transcripts, service calls, and activity data to deliver proactive nudges and alerts,...

By Employee Benefit News