Transitioning Remote Employees Back to the Office: 7 Key Insights for Global Employers
Employers worldwide are reassessing remote‑work policies, aiming to bring staff back to physical offices after years of pandemic‑induced flexibility. While U.S. at‑will employment permits unilateral mandates, many international jurisdictions treat long‑term remote work as an implied contractual term, requiring employee consent and often a formal consultation. The article outlines seven insights, emphasizing the legal risks of abrupt changes and the value of pairing office returns with incentives. Proper planning can mitigate breach‑of‑contract claims and preserve talent across borders.
Development for Everyone: AI Coaching in Action with Kirsten Moorefield
AI coaching is emerging as a scalable solution for personalized employee development, moving beyond traditional high‑potential‑only models. In a Talent Development Leader podcast, Kirsten Moorefield, co‑founder of Cloverleaf, explains how AI‑driven coaches can level the playing field and deliver tailored...
When Leaders Misbehave, What Is HR’s Responsibility?
The article examines HR’s responsibility when senior leaders engage in misconduct, from romantic entanglements to financial fraud. It stresses that HR must launch disciplined investigations, document every detail, and follow established policies rather than improvise. When violations are severe, escalation...
Florida and Texas AGs Issue Sweeping Anti-DEI Opinions on MLK Day
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued coordinated opinions declaring that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs violate equal‑protection guarantees. Both opinions lean on the Supreme Court’s 2023 Students...
Delaware Supreme Court Says Employer Can Enforce Restrictive Covenants After Revoking Ex-Employee’s Equity
The Delaware Supreme Court reversed a Chancery ruling and held that consideration for restrictive covenants is measured at the time the agreement is signed, not when it is enforced. In North American Fire Ultimate Holdings v. Doorly, the court affirmed...
How the Largest Health-Care Education Company in U.S. Is Addressing a Growing Jobs Gap
Covista, the former Adtalem Global Education, has rebranded to signal its exclusive focus on health‑care education amid a widening U.S. workforce gap. The company reports more than 24,000 health‑care graduates each year, accounting for roughly 10% of the nation’s nurses...
Medicare Fraud Reporting: Whistleblower Program Overview and Common Questions
The Medicare whistleblower program, grounded in the False Claims Act, allows private citizens to file qui‑tam lawsuits exposing fraudulent Medicare claims. Successful relators receive a share of recoveries, which have totaled tens of billions of dollars, while the government gains...
Northern California Workplace Investigations Workshop
The Northern California Workplace Investigations Workshop offers HR, labor relations and in‑house counsel a half‑day, in‑person training on conducting lawful, defensible investigations. Participants will learn to design investigative plans, gather evidence, interview witnesses, handle privileged matters and social‑media issues, and...
Rootly | Your On-Call Team Is Burning Out: Here's How to See It Coming
Rootly launched On‑Call Health, a free open‑source platform that monitors on‑call responder workload. It aggregates observed data—incident volume, severity, after‑hours pages, commit patterns—and optional self‑reported check‑ins to compute a 0‑100 risk score. The tool emphasizes trend analysis over single snapshots,...
A New Addition to PTO: Heartbreak Leave
A recent Zety survey finds that one in three employees believes companies should offer dedicated “heartbreak leave” and many have already taken time off after a breakup. Younger workers, especially Gen Z and millennials, are most eager for the benefit, with...
When the Recruiter Stops Believing the Culture (and Candidates Can Tell)
The article defines "cultural drift" as the gap between a company’s proclaimed values and the behaviors that actually emerge, often surfacing after growth, re‑orgs, or leadership changes. Recruiters, as the first human touchpoint for candidates, notice this drift early, sensing...
Empathy Engineer: Is This the £110k Job of Your Dreams?
The tech sector is inventing high‑paying roles such as empathy engineer, a position that blends social, cultural and emotional insights with technology design and can command salaries up to £110,000. A Tide survey found that 80% of British job seekers...
Littler Lightbulb – January 2026 Appellate Roundup
The January 2026 appellate roundup highlights several pivotal employment‑law decisions. The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court, holding that any amount of entertainment work qualifies a production company for the Multi‑employer Pension Plan Amendments Act exemption. The Fifth Circuit affirmed...
IRS Roundup- January 21 – February 9, 2026
The IRS issued several key updates between Jan 21 and Feb 9, 2026, including Notice 2026‑9 extending the deadline for IRA and pension plan amendments to Dec 31 2027, and Fact Sheet 2026‑2 outlining the rollout of fully electronic federal payments under Executive Order 14247. It opened applications...
Conducting Criminal Background Checks? What the Phath Decision Means for Employers
The Pennsylvania Third Circuit in Phath v. Central Transport clarified that the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA) applies whenever an employer considers criminal history, even if the applicant volunteers the information. Employers must now evaluate any disclosed conviction for...
Report Reveals a Lack of Awareness and Poor Career Advice Is Impacting Apprenticeship Uptake
The In‑Comm Training Annual Barometer, surveying over 350 16‑ to 21‑year‑olds, shows apprenticeship consideration slipping to 80%, a 9% drop. More than half of respondents (54%) admit they know no local schemes, and only a third trust the government understands...
Rising Health Costs Outpace Social Security for Retirees
Health inflation is projected at 5.8% annually, more than double the 2.4% Social Security cost‑of‑living adjustment. Medicare Part B and Advantage premiums jumped 9.7% for 2026, while Part D drug premiums have risen 50% since the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The widening...
$15K to Land a Job? What HR Can Make of ‘Reverse Recruiting’
Job seekers are increasingly paying reverse‑recruiting firms anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $15,000 to have professionals apply, optimize resumes and network on their behalf. Executive‑level packages cost $10,000‑$15,000 for candidates targeting $200K‑$400K salaries, while mid‑tier services charge...
Toronto Pearson Named One of Canada’s Best Employers
Toronto Pearson International Airport has been named to Forbes Canada’s Best Employers 2026 list for the third straight year, climbing five spots to rank 102nd among the nation’s top 300 workplaces. It is the only airport featured in the ranking,...
How HR Leaders Can Turn Pharmacy Transparency Into Real Leverage
The article explains why pharmacy‑benefit transparency has become a critical governance issue for HR leaders and outlines the hidden levers employers can use to improve cost control and participant outcomes. It highlights the complexity of PBM contracts, geographic fragmentation, and...
FSA Grace Period Closes In: 3 Tips to Help Employees Avoid Forfeitures
The March 15 deadline closes the 2025 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) grace period, the final window for employees to spend remaining tax‑free funds. On average, workers forfeit about $441 each year due to missed deadlines or unclear plan rules. HR...
Trade Union Reforms Under Employment Rights Act 2025 Set To Take Effect
The Employment Rights Act 2025’s first phase takes effect on 18 February 2026, introducing major trade‑union reforms. It switches political fund contributions to an opt‑out system while preserving existing opt‑outs. The Act also removes certain public‑sector reporting duties and streamlines industrial‑action notice requirements,...
Why Now Is the Best Time to Re-Engage Employers
The post‑open enrollment window is a critical period for benefits brokers to re‑engage employer clients and translate enrollment insights into actionable strategy for 2026. Employers are pressuring brokers to control rising healthcare costs while employees face mounting financial stress from...
HCML Appoints Kathryn Goldfinch as Commercial Director
HCML, a leading corporate health and wellbeing provider, has appointed Kathryn Goldfinch as Commercial Director for Corporate and Insured Health. Goldfinch brings nearly three decades of experience from senior roles at Bupa, Nuffield Health and Doctor Care Anywhere, most recently...
UK Organisations Could Unlock £40bn a Year in Productivity Value by Closing the AI “Grey Zone”
Zellis’ new research shows UK organisations could unlock up to £40 billion a year in productivity and an additional £20 billion in operating‑cost savings by better aligning AI use between leaders and employees. While 94 % of executives say AI tools are deployed,...
HR Expert Explains Why Hybrid Working Must Be Led as a Culture, Not a Policy
Max Moen, Haypp’s Head of People and Culture, argues that hybrid work must be driven by culture rather than a static policy. He emphasizes that flexibility should serve employee energy cycles and wellbeing, especially during low‑energy periods. Effective hybrid models...
UK Loses Ground in Global Remote Work Rankings
The latest global ranking of the most connected cities shows no UK location among the top destinations for digital nomads, with Kuala Lumpur, Milan and Lisbon leading the list. The study evaluates mobile data affordability, internet speeds, free Wi‑Fi and...
Wednesday Briefing: Why the Debate over Working From Home Says More About Inequality than Productivity
Hybrid working has become the norm in post‑pandemic Britain, but its benefits are unevenly distributed. While many employers tout flexibility to attract talent, lower‑paid workers and those in deprived regions still lack remote options. Politician Nigel Farage recently called for...
Pay Decisions Under Strain as Managers Admit Fairness Doubts
UK managers report growing pressure over pay and promotion decisions, with 78% facing formal challenges despite 83% believing their choices are data‑driven. The HiBob study of 4,700 managers reveals pervasive data gaps: 30% say missing information led to high performers...
DHL eCommerce Taps Georgia Tech to Build Engineering Talent Pipeline
DHL eCommerce announced a strategic partnership with Georgia Tech’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering to create a direct pipeline of engineering talent. The agreement includes on‑campus recruiting, advisory board participation, and sponsorship of a senior‑level student...
Report Exposes Hidden Wave of Workplace Misconduct and Weak Accountability
A TalentLMS survey of 1,000 employees reveals a stark gap between perceived safety and actual workplace misconduct. While 71 % feel protected, only 38 % report no incidents in the past year, with incivility, exclusion, physical violence and sexual harassment still common....
Avoiding ‘Stacking’ Consequences: Top Home-Based Care Employment Law Considerations
Home‑based care providers are confronting a fragmented employment‑law landscape, prompting a Polsinelli webinar that outlines urgent compliance steps. Within the next three to six months firms should audit wage, leave and worker classification, verify salary‑range postings, and evaluate AI‑driven recruiting...
New Jersey Expands Rights Under the New Jersey Family Leave Act
On January 17, 2026 Governor Phil Murphy signed Assembly Bill 3451, expanding the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA). The law lowers the employer coverage threshold from 30 to 15 employees and reduces employee eligibility to three months of service...
When Employee Misconduct Becomes Marketplace Deception: Court Clarifies Chapter 93A’s Reach
The U.S. District Court for Massachusetts held that Chapter 93A does not cover routine employment disputes but can apply when an employee secretly competes using the employer’s resources and brand. In CMTA, Inc. v. Dussault, the court allowed the unfair‑practice claim...
California Employment News: California AB 692 Cuts Back “Stay or Pay” Contracts with Workers
California Assembly Bill 692 curtails the use of “stay or pay” provisions that require employees to remain employed or reimburse training costs. The law mandates that any repayment terms be narrowly limited to actual training expenses and be disclosed in...
How Employees Can Use LSAs to Pay for Groceries and Other Basic Needs
Employers are turning to Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) to let staff use benefit funds for everyday needs like groceries, childcare and health services. Data from benefits platform Compt shows 64% of partner firms now use LSAs as their primary benefit,...
Take 5: We Can Work It Out
Kellogg faculty outline five common workplace conflict scenarios and evidence‑based tactics for leaders. They stress cultural awareness, preventing retaliation, exposing bias, transparent compensation, and leveraging knowledge of former teammates for competitive advantage. Real‑world examples—from a French hotel contract dispute to...
How to Improve Company Culture and Attract Better Candidates
Company culture has become a decisive factor in attracting, retaining, and energizing talent. The article outlines four proven strategies—defining mission/vision/values, frequent recognition, robust learning and development, and continuous feedback—to build lasting cultural strength. It emphasizes that talent acquisition teams are...
New Leadership at Target, Walmart and Bridgestone West Focus on Employee Connection
New CEOs at Walmart (John Furner) and Target (Michael Fiddelke) and Bridgestone West’s chief people officer (Michele Herlein) are launching people‑first campaigns that prioritize frontline listening and direct employee engagement. Furner began with a company‑wide memo and store visits, while...
Why Some Founders in Startup Accelerators Do Better Than Others
Startup accelerators boost growth but outcomes vary dramatically, according to a new Strategic Management Journal study of 6,723 firms in 280 programs. The research shows founders' pre‑entry knowledge—education, industry experience, and prior ventures—drives revenue, headcount, and funding gains, with high‑knowledge...
Hand Gestures Can Help You Sell. Here’s Why
Wharton professor Jonah Berger and colleagues examined how hand gestures shape persuasive communication, using an automated video‑analysis system on 200,000 TED Talk segments. They grouped gestures into unrelated, highlighters and illustrators, discovering that illustrators most strongly increase audience understanding and perceived...
London Board Game Bar Draughts Faces Employment Tribunal Over Dismissal of Kitchen Worker
London board‑game bar Draughts will appear before an employment tribunal on 12–13 February after dismissing kitchen worker Awed, a Sudanese national and UVW union member, the day a strike ballot was announced. The company cited reduced staffing needs, while the...
Title IX Preempts Public University Labor Contract Grievance Procedure, According to New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court held that Title IX preempts the grievance and arbitration provisions in Rutgers University’s labor contract with AFSCME Local 888, overturning a lower‑court order to arbitrate a termination dispute. The court found the contract’s arbitration process denied the Title IX...
The HR–IT Debate in the Age of AI: Cooperation or Consolidation?
AI is reshaping the relationship between HR and IT, prompting record collaboration and even the creation of a new C‑suite title, chief productivity officer, that combines people and technology oversight. Leaders argue that merging the functions can speed decisions and...
AI in Recruitment: A Practical Guide for Hiring Teams
AI is rapidly reshaping recruitment by automating screening, scheduling, and candidate communication. SHRM research shows 85% of employers using AI report time savings and efficiency gains, while the State of Hiring 2025 report highlights that 41.2% of candidates abandon applications,...
EBSA Enforcement Efforts Yield $1.4 Billion in Recoveries
The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) recovered $1.4 billion for retirement, health and welfare plans in fiscal year 2025, a modest increase over the prior year but below the 2023 peak. EBSA closed 878 civil and 253 criminal...
The Bionic Storyteller: How AI Can Amplify HR’s Human Voice
HR leaders in 2026 face mounting pressure from layoffs, cost cuts and rapid AI deployment, yet the core challenge remains preserving trust and connection. The article proposes the “Bionic Storyteller” framework, positioning AI as a memory scaffold that captures, aligns,...
Popeyes UK Crowns Carnival Jackpot Winner at Mardi Gras–Themed Annual Workforce Awards
Popeyes UK staged a Mardi Gras‑themed awards night in London, unveiling the winner of its Carnival Jackpot incentive. The program, launched in 2025, awarded tokens to over 230 managers based on sales and mystery‑shop scores, culminating in a two‑year Tusker electric‑vehicle...
Health Savings Accounts Gain Popularity as Investment Vehicles
Health savings accounts (HSAs) are increasingly being used as investment vehicles, with 4 million accounts – about 10% of all HSAs – holding invested assets, a 23% year‑over‑year rise. Total HSA assets grew 16% to $159 billion, and investment‑linked assets now represent...
Why Your Organization's Greatest Asset Is Its Own Collective Wisdom
The article argues that organizations waste resources on external consultants while the real source of transformation lies in their own collective wisdom. It critiques the reliance on imported best‑practice frameworks in a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible) world. By treating...