Human Resources News and Headlines
Human Resources News and Headlines
Human Resources Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
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EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
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, underscoring the need for faster, more engaging processes. The guide outlines practical AI tools—from chatbots to predictive analytics—and offers a readiness framework for teams to adopt the technology responsibly.
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...
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 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 (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...
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...
Business owners often consider letting key employees purchase equity to improve retention and align incentives. The article outlines critical steps: choosing a purchase structure, obtaining accurate valuations, and drafting agreements that address decision‑making authority, buy‑back rights, and employment contingencies. It...
Research by Qualtrics shows that introducing new technology, especially AI, lifts employee engagement across EMEA by an average nine points. Nearly three‑quarters of UK workers reported organisational change in the past year, yet most felt more motivated rather than fatigued....
A Zurich UK survey of 2,000 UK adults reveals that 36% of workers with regional accents feel judged, and 14% have even taken elocution lessons to avoid bias. Nearly one‑third deliberately soften their accent at work, while 16% say accent...
Upskilling has become HR’s top challenge, with 45% of leaders naming it their biggest priority, surpassing recruitment and well‑being concerns. A Capterra survey shows 68% of firms expect upskilling costs to rise, signaling a shift toward customized, technology‑enabled learning. Effective...
Vice‑President Gayatheri Silvakumer warned that most change initiatives fail not because of flawed strategy but because leaders ignore the emotional side of change. She argues that silence in meetings often disguises disengagement, mistaking compliance for genuine ownership. By inviting employees...
Riot Games announced it is laying off roughly 80 employees from its 2XKO fighting‑game team, representing about half of the development staff. The cuts come just weeks after the game’s 1.0 launch on PC and consoles, with the company citing...
Joseph Lazzarotti warns that AI‑driven notetakers, while promising efficiency gains, are spawning a wave of HR challenges. In his Fortune commentary, he highlights privacy concerns, consent gaps, and potential discrimination liabilities when recordings are mishandled. He argues that without clear...
Rising neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions are prompting a wave of state legislation and corporate policy changes aimed at supporting working parents. Over the past year, NICU cases have climbed roughly 15%, leading 12 states to enact NICU-specific leave...
Dennis M. Brown, a senior partner at Littler Mendelson, shared his perspective on the evolving wage‑and‑hour litigation landscape. He highlighted increasing federal enforcement actions and the growing complexity of multi‑state compliance. Brown noted that employers are facing heightened scrutiny over...
Lawmakers are evaluating whether the federal government should intervene to mitigate AI‑related risks to workers. During a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, Bradford Kelley of Littler argued that the low number of lawsuits over...
State lawmakers, primarily Republicans, are introducing a wave of bills to repeal existing bans on transgender and nonbinary workplace bias and harassment protections. The legislative push spans more than 20 states this session, targeting statutes enacted after the 2020 Bostock...
Governor Janet Mills signed legislation restricting employers’ electronic surveillance of workers, effective 2026. The law prohibits continuous monitoring without explicit employee consent and mandates transparent data handling practices. It applies to both on‑site and remote work environments, covering video, audio,...
Professional networking is essential for career growth across industries. The article outlines why connections matter, from uncovering job opportunities to gaining strategic advice, and lists typical network constituents such as former classmates, colleagues, and mentors. It then provides five actionable...
E.ON has signed the national Fertility Support Pledge, aligning its policy with the proposed Fertility Treatment (Right to Time Off) Bill that seeks statutory paid leave for fertility appointments. The energy group already offers unlimited paid fertility leave, flexible working,...
In today’s dynamic workplace, deliberate career planning is essential. A new guide outlines seven actionable strategies—from defining a personal vision to celebrating milestones—to help professionals set realistic, attainable goals. It emphasizes the SMART framework, breaking objectives into bite‑size tasks, and...
The U.S. Department of Labor is poised to issue regulations expanding 401(k) access to alternative investments, meeting a February 3 deadline set by a Trump‑era executive order. A final rule could be adopted by year‑end with implementation slated for 2027,...
Payroll errors keep surfacing after payday because manual spot checks can’t keep up with frequent rule changes. The article proposes automated workforce management testing, which runs real‑world pay scenarios against current overtime, differential and accrual rules before payroll closes. By...
The article introduces 21 ready‑to‑use Gemini prompts designed to streamline repetitive HR tasks such as job postings, interview guides, onboarding docs, and policy updates. It outlines a seven‑step prompt framework—persona, task, context, format, constraints, clarifying questions, and quality check—to produce...
Included Health unveiled an alternative health‑plan design that blends guided care, AI tools, and a copay‑first pricing model to give employees faster, more affordable access to primary care. The plan replaces traditional PPO/HMO choices with a hybrid that offers broader...
The article highlights how pop‑culture events and everyday interruptions erode employee focus, citing a 45% spike in sick‑day requests after the Super Bowl and that 80% of workers can’t work an uninterrupted hour. It presents six practical tactics—identifying top distractions,...
Workplace romances remain common, with Monster’s 2026 report showing 27% of employees have dated a coworker and 6% have been involved with a manager. California law prohibits employers from banning consensual off‑duty relationships, forcing HR to focus on risk mitigation...
California’s Labor Commissioner secured a $6.2 million settlement with Alco Harvesting LLC to resolve paid‑sick‑leave and wage‑and‑hour violations affecting more than 10,000 farmworkers, including H‑2A laborers. The agreement allocates $4.2 million in back wages directly to workers and $1.5 million for sick‑leave and...
Penetration testing is no longer an IT‑only exercise; HR departments must partner with security teams to expose human‑centric vulnerabilities. Ethical hackers simulate phishing, pretexting, and physical breaches, delivering reports that show how many employees were duped and which policies failed....
Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, told HR Daily Advisor that while AI is reshaping HR, it is not a universal solution. He emphasized distinguishing tasks where AI adds value—such as automating repetitive processes—from those that...
Jobstreet by SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index surveyed 1,000 Singapore workers, finding that while eight‑in‑ten believe happiness at work is possible, only 56% actually feel happy, placing the city‑state near the bottom of the Asia‑Pacific rankings. Burnout is pervasive, with 45%...
UK firms from Manchester to London are installing rooftop beehives as a wellbeing perk, partnering with specialist beekeepers to offer employees hands‑on nature experiences. Companies claim the hives reduce stress, foster teamwork and provide a tangible sustainability story beyond typical...
Training icebreakers are meant to ease participants into sessions, yet many designers misuse them, compromising learning goals. The article outlines seven critical questions to evaluate an icebreaker, covering time allocation, manageability, agenda fit, trust building, fun balance, participant comfort, and...
The Fourth Circuit vacated a district court injunction, allowing President Trump’s Executive Orders 14151 and 14173 on DEI to remain in effect for federal contractors and grant recipients. The court held that plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the Enforcement Threat Provision, but recognized...
The California Supreme Court ruled that the visual presentation of an arbitration agreement—such as tiny, dense font—does not by itself render the clause substantively unconscionable. While procedural defects may raise a court's scrutiny, substantive unfairness must still be shown. The...
The Department of Labor raised the minimum wage for federal contractors to $13.65 per hour, with tipped workers covered at $9.55, effective 90 days after publication. The DHS and DOL issued a temporary rule adding up to 64,716 supplemental H‑2B...
The U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice raising the federal contractor minimum wage to $13.65 per hour (and $9.55 cash wage for tipped workers), effective 90 days after its Feb. 9, 2026 publication. Crucially, the notice states that Executive Order 13658...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
