Deloitte Consulting Penalized Employees for Taking Pregnancy-Related Leave, Lawsuit Alleges
A proposed class‑action lawsuit filed in California alleges Deloitte Consulting penalized exempt employees who took protected pregnancy‑related, parental or family leave by evaluating them against peers who worked a full year. The complaint says performance ratings, which drive salary raises and bonuses, ignored the employees’ leave and resulted in lower compensation. The plaintiff, a former senior manager, claims the practice violated the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and Title VII sex‑discrimination provisions. Deloitte has not commented on the allegations.
US Workers Say They Are Experiencing ‘Death by a Thousand Pings’
A new Isolved “Voice of the Workforce” survey of 1,300 full‑time U.S. employees reveals that more than six‑in‑ten workers face payroll or scheduling glitches, and nearly half lose at least five hours each week to broken systems—a phenomenon the firm...
Worker’s Firing Days Before Retirement Didn’t Violate ERISA, Judge Holds
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio ruled in *Armstrong v. Western & Southern Financial Group* that the insurer did not violate ERISA when it terminated a sales representative days before her planned May 2022 retirement. The...
Employee Benefits Regulator to Focus on ‘Bad Actors’
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) announced a strategic shift to target enforcement on the most egregious conduct that harms employee benefit plans. The agency outlined four guiding principles emphasizing timely, fair action tied directly to...
Why AI Readiness Training Fails
Companies are pouring resources into AI readiness programs, yet Docebo’s 2026 AI Readiness Gap report shows most initiatives miss the mark. Eighty‑five percent of employees say they cannot translate training into everyday tasks, while 56% feel swamped by pre‑AI manual...
Opaque Hiring Process Prompts Job Seekers to ‘Spray and Pray,’ Monster Says
Monster’s April 10 survey of 1,006 U.S. job seekers reveals that nearly half now use a “spray and pray” approach, applying to many openings quickly due to a lack of employer feedback. Over 75% say they would be more selective...
Tulsa Medical Center only Let Workers Pump if ‘Sufficient Staffing’ Was Available, DOL Says
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division determined that Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa violated the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act by restricting lactation breaks to periods when staffing was deemed sufficient. The hospital...
With Health Costs Ballooning, Workers Turn to Wellness and the Internet, ADP Finds
ADP’s 2026 employee benefits survey shows rising medical costs are prompting workers to skip needed care, cut medication use, and even forgo vision or dental coverage. Twenty‑six percent delayed care and 22 percent reduced prescriptions, while 68 percent rely on...
EEOC Settles with Republic Services for $200K in Sex Discrimination Case
The EEOC settled a sex‑discrimination lawsuit against Republic Services' Missouri subsidiary for $200,000, ending claims that the firm repeatedly rejected qualified female driver applicants since early 2020. The case stemmed from a May 2020 interview where interviewers suggested the applicant discuss...
What Makes a Culture of Learning?
A new Association for Talent Development (ATD) report shows that while most firms claim a learning‑focused culture, three‑quarters report insufficient staff or time to sustain it. Sixty‑two percent provide dedicated learning hours—about 40 per year—63% use public recognition, and 68%...
HR Skills Are Among the Most Sought-After in the Job Market, Indeed Reports
Indeed's Hiring Lab reports that human‑resources skills rank third among U.S. job‑skill demands, appearing in 27.3% of postings at the end of 2025. The data shows HR expertise—especially employee engagement and management—spills over into non‑HR roles, with more than 20%...
Many Agents Plan to Leave Their Current Job, but Fear of AI Isn’t a Big Factor
A Verint survey of 1,000 customer‑service agents finds nearly one‑third plan to quit within six months, driven mainly by a desire for schedule flexibility. While 90% prioritize flexible hours, only 8% fear AI replacement, though most expect AI to reshape...
Trans Worker Fired for ‘Bringing Morale Down’ Can Proceed with Case, Court Says
An Alabama district court denied Federal Injury Center of Birmingham’s motion to dismiss a transgender employee’s discrimination lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed. The plaintiff, a physical therapist assistant, disclosed her transgender status and was terminated within a week for...
AI Industry Recruiting Platform Faces Multiple Lawsuits over Data Breach
Mercor, an AI‑focused recruiting platform, disclosed a March data breach that exposed personal information of independent contractors and customers. The breach, linked to a hack of the open‑source LiteLLM interface, prompted at least four class‑action lawsuits filed in the Northern...
Week in Review: ‘Payroll Leakage’ Is Prompting Millions in Losses
A joint UKG‑KPMG report warns that poorly governed payroll processes can create "payroll leakage," eroding up to 4% of a company’s total labor spend and costing millions in waste and fraud. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recorded a record...
AI Is Stress-Testing Hiring — and Hurting Trust
AI‑driven hiring tools are being adopted at scale to cope with record application volumes, but they are eroding trust in the recruitment process. Nearly half of job seekers now use generative AI to bulk‑produce resumes, while 30% of hiring stakeholders...
EOR Isn’t Just for Expansion Anymore; It’s Becoming a Core Workforce Strategy
Employer of Record (EOR) services, once viewed as a temporary bridge for market entry, are now being positioned as a foundational element of global workforce strategy. Companies are shifting from a location‑first hiring model to a capability‑first approach, using EOR...
A Smarter Way for Employers to Offer GLP-1 Access — with Built-In Cost Control
GLP‑1 medications, once diabetes treatments, now dominate employee drug demand, pushing costs above $1,000 per member each month. Self‑funded employers face unpredictable utilization that threatens premium stability and talent retention. A growing solution is to carve GLP‑1 coverage out of...
Security Guard’s Retaliation Claim Fails because Firing Manager Didn’t Know of Complaint, Court Holds
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of a security guard’s retaliation lawsuit against Weiser Security Services, finding he failed to prove his supervisor knew about his HR complaint. The guard alleged he was fired for reporting...
3 Ways HR Leaders Can Redesign Roles for Gen Z and Millennials
A new Cangrade report, based on 71,747 personality assessments, outlines three ways HR leaders can redesign jobs for Gen Z and millennial employees. The study recommends structuring work around meaningful interpersonal interaction, shifting burnout‑prevention to systemic factors, and defining roles by...
JPMorgan Invests $600,000 to Scale Atlanta’s Clean Tech Workforce and Startups
JPMorgan Chase is providing a $600,000 grant to the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub (GACIH) to expand clean‑technology innovation and workforce development in Atlanta. The funding will be administered through Georgia Tech’s Partnership for Innovation Network and will support programs at...
Dental Supply Company Settles EEOC Charge Alleging It Fired Worker After Learning She Was Pregnant
iPro Dental Laboratory, a Fort Lauderdale dental supply firm, agreed to a $30,000 settlement—$5,000 in back pay and $25,000 in compensatory damages—after the EEEEOC alleged it terminated a newly hired employee upon learning she was pregnant. The consent decree also...
This Week in 5 Numbers: US Workers Are Quitting at the Lowest Level in a Decade
U.S. worker quit rates have slipped to 2%, the lowest level in a decade, according to Economist Enterprise. Global employee engagement continues to decline, with only 20% of workers feeling engaged, down from a 23% peak in 2022. A Deloitte...
HR Teams Cautiously Experiment with Using AI to Help Set Workers’ Pay
HR departments are cautiously testing AI for compensation decisions, with experimentation rising from 2025 to early 2026 per a Korn Ferry survey. Yet 57% of firms have not started any AI projects in total rewards. Experts warn that data quality,...
Starbucks, Target and Dave & Buster’s Are Investing in Employees to Try to Boost Customer Experience
Major retailers Starbucks, Target and entertainment chain Dave & Buster’s are turning to employee‑centric investments to lift customer experience. Starbucks introduced quarterly bonuses tied to satisfaction scores, while Target pledged $1 billion for in‑store upgrades and expanded associate benefits such as...
Manager Engagement Is Slipping — and Affecting AI Use, Gallup Finds
Gallup’s 2026 State of the Global Workplace report shows global employee engagement fell to 20% in 2025, with manager engagement dropping from 31% to 22% between 2022 and 2025. The decline is linked to slower AI adoption, as employees who...
Transgender Nurse Fired for ‘Serious Deficiencies in Performance,’ Not Gender, Judge Finds
A federal judge granted summary judgment to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, ruling that a transgender nurse was terminated for documented performance deficiencies rather than gender discrimination. The nurse had alleged repeated misgendering, deadnaming, and a hostile work environment under Title VII,...
Rocket Resume Accuses Monster, CareerBuilder Owner of ‘Deception’ in the Resume-Making Market
Rocket Resume has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Bold Limited and affiliated entities of monopolizing the online resume‑building market. The complaint alleges Bold controls more than 80% of the sector through a network of undisclosed sham companies that own brands...
Workers Say They’re Staying Put Out of Fear, Not Enjoyment — and It’s Likely Costing Employers
A new Economist Enterprise study finds the U.S. quit rate has fallen to a decade‑low of 2%, as workers cling to jobs out of fear rather than satisfaction. About 62% say long‑term security outweighs new opportunities, and 30% have stopped...
How Multigenerational Diversity Fits in the Workplace
Multigenerational diversity is gaining renewed attention as companies recognize its role in fostering innovation and broader perspectives. Recent research from the Mather Institute and Gallup highlights Generation X’s ability to bridge gaps between younger and older workers, while baby boomers...
Interviewee Nets $495K Settlement After Receiving Email Stating He Was ‘Too Old’ for the Role
HCL America, a Santa Clara‑based tech consulting firm, agreed to pay $495,000 to settle an EEOC lawsuit alleging age and national‑origin discrimination. The case stemmed from an email in which a sales director labeled a candidate “too old” and urged...
Employers Paid $528M in Pre-Litigation EEOC Settlements Last Year
Employers paid the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission $528 million in pre‑litigation mediation, conciliation and settlements during fiscal 2025, the highest amount ever recorded. The agency reported total payouts of $660 million to 17,680 workers, including a 24% rise in conciliation awards...
AI May Threaten Critical Thinking in the Workplace
A University of Bath report warns that AI adoption in the workplace threatens critical thinking and creativity, especially for knowledge that relies on hands‑on experience, culture, and analytical judgment. Researchers differentiate AI‑compatible encoded and embedded knowledge from AI‑incompatible embodied, encultured,...
Manufacturers Test AI-Translation Tech to Improve Worker Communications
U.S. manufacturers are increasingly deploying AI‑driven translation tools to bridge language gaps on the shop floor, from translating SOPs and safety signs to providing live captioning for town‑hall meetings. A Pennsylvania foundry with 1,000 employees is piloting real‑time earpieces for...
Waffle House Not Liable for Worker Stabbing Customer in Face, 11th Circuit Says
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that Waffle House is not liable for a Florida employee who stabbed a customer after leaving his shift. The court held the stabbing was not reasonably foreseeable and occurred outside the scope...
Popeyes Dodges Lawsuit over Fingerprint Scans, but Court Leaves Door Open for Redo
A U.S. District Court in Illinois dismissed Popeyes' liability in a biometric privacy lawsuit, finding the fast‑food chain lacked direct control over a franchisee’s fingerprint‑time‑clock system. The plaintiff, an employee of an Illinois Popeyes franchise, alleged violations of the Biometric...
The 4 Biggest HR Compliance Risks for SMBs — and How to Avoid Them
Small and midsize businesses are accelerating global expansion, but doing so exposes them to heightened HR compliance risks. The four most critical threats identified are worker misclassification, lagging behind rapid regulatory changes, inadequate data‑privacy safeguards, and non‑standardized employment documentation. Missteps...
Jury Awards Cemex Driver $5M in ‘Egregious’ Disability and Race Bias Lawsuit
A federal jury in California awarded $5 million to a former Cemex truck driver who proved race and disability harassment, finding the company created a hostile work environment under Title VII and California law. The plaintiff’s claims against individual coworkers were...
Gen Z Interns Want Practical Experiences that Can’t Be Digitized, Survey Finds
A KPMG U.S. survey of 361 interns reveals Generation Z interns prioritize hands‑on, in‑person experiences, mentoring and networking over digital training. They aim to showcase critical thinking, problem‑solving, and creativity—skills AI cannot replace. The cohort would sacrifice about $5,000 in annual...
Florida Poker Business Wrongfully Ousted Pregnant Workers, EEOC Alleges
The EEOC filed a lawsuit against BestBet Jacksonville, alleging the casino‑style poker venue violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act by refusing reasonable accommodations for multiple pregnant employees. One worker with low‑blood‑pressure issues and a subchorionic hematoma was denied a doctor‑recommended...
New Graduates Say They Would Sacrifice Pay for Job Stability
Monster’s 2026 State of the Graduate Report shows 67 % of new graduates would accept lower pay for greater job stability, while 68 % still list salary as their top consideration. Confidence in landing a role within three months slipped to 79 %...
H-1B Visa Program Hits Cap for the Next Fiscal Year
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it has filled the 2027 H‑1B visa cap of 85,000, including the 20,000 advanced‑degree slots. The fiscal year’s lottery introduced a weighted selection system that gives preference to higher‑skill, higher‑paid candidates. Recent policy shifts—such...
Kroger Store Violated ADA by Revoking Worker’s Accommodation, EEOC Claims
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against a Texas Kroger store for revoking a previously granted ADA accommodation for an employee with neuropathy. The employee had been allowed to use a walker and take frequent sitting breaks,...
Does DEI Still Have a Role to Play in Employer Branding?
The diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) landscape has shifted dramatically, with many Fortune 500 firms scaling back programs amid political pressure and legal scrutiny. Companies now face a branding dilemma: public DEI commitments can attract regulatory ire, while abandoning them risks...
Workers Don’t Know How to Use AI — and Companies Are to Blame, Research Finds
Forrester’s latest AI proficiency study reveals an "alarming" gap: only 26% of workers demonstrated adequate AI understanding in 2025, a modest 4‑point rise from the previous year. Despite hefty corporate investments in AI pilots and licenses, most employees lack basic...
More Companies Say Equity Benefits Are Being Used to Attract Talent
A Computershare survey of 600 HR and total‑rewards leaders shows that 82% expect higher employee participation in stock purchase and equity plans in 2026. The data reflects a broader shift toward treating equity as a core benefit rather than a...
Visibility Ends for Certain Free Single-Source XML Feeds on Indeed
Indeed announced that, starting Tuesday, jobs submitted through single‑source XML feeds that can be routed via an applicant tracking system (ATS) will no longer appear for free on its platform; only sponsored listings will be visible. Feeds from non‑integrated ATSs...
HR Can Be ‘Unreasonable’ as Long as It’s Not Discriminatory, 5th Circuit Says
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a healthcare IT firm’s termination of a Black female employee, who had reported alleged racial and gender bias, did not constitute unlawful retaliation under Title VII. Although the court noted the close...
What Makes an Exceptional Leader?
New research by The Grossman Group and The Harris Poll finds only 30% of U.S. employees consider senior leaders "exceptional," while 16% label them "outdated" and blame them for burnout. Exceptional leaders outperform "good" leaders by more than two‑fold in...
Week in Review: How the Performance Review Has Changed
Performance reviews have shifted dramatically over the past 15 years, moving from annual check‑ins to frequent, often quarterly, continuous feedback loops. This change reflects heightened expectations for real‑time manager‑employee dialogue and is driven by digital tools that enable ongoing performance...