The New Reality of Worksite Enforcement: Navigating I-9 and E-Verify Shifts in 2026
Employers face a wave of I‑9 and E‑Verify volatility as ICE worksite enforcement resurged in 2025 and federal programs that stabilized work authorization were dismantled. The termination of humanitarian parole, TPS volatility, and the end of automatic EAD extensions have created new reverification challenges. State governments, notably Iowa and Ohio, are adding targeted E‑Verify mandates with steep penalties, fragmenting the onboarding landscape. HR leaders must shift from routine compliance to continuous audit readiness and coordinated state‑specific verification strategies for 2026.
Why Employee Engagement Should Feel ‘Calm and Boring’ and Other Takeaways With McKesson’s Sr. Director of Talent Succession
Jenessa Disler, McKesson’s Senior Director of Talent Succession, argues that effective employee engagement should feel calm and boring, driven by role clarity, two‑way feedback, and cohesive systems. She highlights three themes for HR leaders: AI as an amplifier that frees...
With Court Orders, Know Your Legal Obligations and Risk Considerations
The article outlines employer duties when court orders intersect with the workplace, covering wage garnishments, court‑appearance leave, custody schedules, restraining orders, and confidentiality requirements. Employers must withhold and remit support payments precisely, avoid retaliation for legal attendance, and adjust work...
The Hidden Cost of Silence: How Low Psychological Safety in the Workplace Undermines Compliance, Culture and Growth
The article warns that low psychological safety erodes compliance, culture and growth, citing Brightmine research that only 36% of employees feel safe offering criticism and just 38% see leaders encouraging it. When workers fear retaliation, misconduct goes unreported, regulatory risk...
At Public Meeting, FTC Indicated Intent to Prosecute Unreasonable Noncompetes
The Federal Trade Commission held a half‑day program on Jan. 27, 2026, signaling its intent to prosecute non‑compete agreements that are unreasonable or anticompetitive. While the agency stopped short of reinstating its 2021 blanket ban, it said existing rules and case...
Can You Fire Employees Who Don’t Return FMLA Forms?
Employers can lawfully terminate an employee who fails to return required FMLA certification forms if the employee was reasonably able to comply and did not follow the employer’s notice procedures. The FMLA mandates 30‑day advance notice, or “as soon as...
Guns at Work: Keeping Employees Safe in Troubling Times
Nearly two million U.S. workers report workplace violence each year, with homicides representing 9% of on‑the‑job fatalities in 2023 and suicides another 5%. Over half of the states have enacted "parking lot" statutes that limit an employer’s ability to restrict...
Nurses Aren’t Burned Out, They’re Being Burned by the System
Recent data shows 53% of nurses consider leaving monthly, indicating systemic burnout. The national turnover rate of 16.4% costs about $61,110 per replacement, harming patient care and morale. HR leaders must address root causes—understaffing, erratic schedules, limited autonomy—through workforce planning,...
Department of Labor Issues FLSA Guidance in Recent Opinion Letters
Earlier in 2026 the U.S. Department of Labor released two opinion letters interpreting key Fair Labor Standards Act provisions. The first letter clarified that employers may lawfully reclassify a worker who meets the learned professional exemption as nonexempt, provided overtime...
Faces of HR: How Monique Mahler Is Rewriting the Legal Leadership Playbook
Monique Mahler, now Chief Human Resources Officer at Snell & Wilmer, has risen from a front‑desk receptionist to a global HR leader overseeing people strategy across 17 U.S. and Mexico offices. Her career, built on mentorship and a people‑first philosophy,...
EntertainHR: Knives Out: The Mystery of the Independent Contractor
The HR Daily Advisor piece uses the latest Knives Out film as a metaphor to explain independent‑contractor classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It outlines the six‑factor economic‑reality test that courts apply to determine whether a worker is an...
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...
When Political Confrontations Hit Your Workplace: What the Ford Plant Incident Teaches HR
During President Trump’s visit to a Ford plant in Detroit, assembly worker T.J. Sabula shouted “pedophile protector,” prompting a profane exchange that went viral. Ford suspended Sabula, while the UAW defended him under the collective bargaining agreement. The incident highlights...
HR’s Playbook for Including Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in DEI
The article outlines a practical framework for integrating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) into corporate DEI programs, highlighting the untapped talent pool of over five million working‑age adults in the U.S. It cites research showing that IDD employees,...
Faces of HR: How Omnissa’s Chief People Officer Bridges the Gap Between Tech and Talent
Omnissa’s Chief People Officer Suni Lobo leverages a globe‑spanning career to fuse artificial intelligence with human‑centric leadership. Her rise, driven by senior sponsors rather than traditional mentors, informs a talent‑pipeline strategy that emphasizes resilience and cross‑cultural fluency. At Omnissa, Lobo...
Should I Offer Ownership to My Key Employees?
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...
What HR Needs to Know About Pen Testing
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....
HRDA Frankly Speaking: ‘AI Isn’t the Answer to Every Problem’
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...
EEOC Rescinds Harassment Guidance
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...