The Latest

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  Starbucks’ ‘illegal race-based’ DEI at center of Florida AG’s lawsuit

  Starbucks said its hiring practices are “inclusive, fair and competitive, and designed to ensure the strongest candidate for every job, every time.”

  Compliance

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  Sponsored by SAP SuccessFactors

  Making people analytics more intelligent: New future of work research shines spotlight on AI-driven insights

  HR has the potential to reshape the future of work. A new report explores the possibilities that lie ahead and how to realize them.

  HR Tech & Analytics

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  2026 may mean an extra biweekly pay period. Here’s how HR can prepare.

  The phenomenon occurs approximately every 11 to 12 years for affected employers, necessitating a 27th pay day.

  Compliance

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  This week in 5 numbers: Workers say they’re losing control of their professional future

  Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including what might be the “largest age discrimination verdict ever recorded in the United States,” per attorneys.

  Talent

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  ‘Autonomy crisis’ may be leaving workers burned out

  Instead of continuing to treat growth opportunities for workers as optional, view them as essential, the University of Phoenix white paper said.

  Talent

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  AI barriers, complex application processes lead to job search burnout, report finds

  Employers can address these challenges by simplifying the hiring process and making it more transparent, LiveCareer says.

  Talent

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  7 in 10 employers say they have high confidence in higher ed

  The AAC&U-Morning Consult findings contrast with recent polling showing large shares of adults are questioning whether college is worth the cost.

  Talent

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  Jury slams Liberty Mutual with $103M verdict after age bias trial

  Lawyers for the plaintiff said this is “believed to be the largest age discrimination verdict ever recorded in the United States.”

  Compliance

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  Employers’ flat 2026 pay plans point to ‘disconnect,’ Mercer says

  Organizations seek in-demand skills and market competitiveness, but most plan to spread pay increases evenly rather than keying in on certain employees, according to the firm.

  Comp & Benefits

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  Trump pledges order addressing patchwork of state AI laws

  The move comes after the president and big tech unsuccessfully pushed for congressional action on the issue.

  Compliance

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  AT&T’s promise to scrap DEI decried as ‘short-sighted’

  Many corporate analysts, talent strategists and ESG advocates have condemned the decision, which was tied to the Federal Communications Commission’s pending approval of an acquisition.

  Compliance

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  ‘No holiday cheer’ for job seekers as BLS reports a near-stall in hiring

  Despite a five-month peak in job openings, “almost no one is getting hired right now,” economist Heather Long said.

  Talent

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  Health insurance, PTO still king among benefits, Indeed finds

  While better pay leads among job seeker desires, “better benefits” — particularly traditional offerings — comes in second.

  Talent

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  EEOC opens claims process in $21M Columbia University settlement

  The agency alleged the university engaged in a pattern or practice of harassment against Jewish employees since at least Oct. 7, 2023.

  Compliance

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  Opinion

  FLSA misclassification is common, costly and completely avoidable

  Compliance can be easy, writes Jones Walker partner Sid Lewis, but employers too often fall asleep at the wheel.

  Compliance

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  Workers are serious about L&D, but heavy workloads hold them back

  Training is no longer a “nice to have,” but a business necessity for retention, a recent survey showed.

  Learning

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  CHRO turnover is up, showcasing the role’s exposure to risk

  HR leaders tend to be hired as partners in workforce transformations, but are most often the ones to suffer the consequences if such efforts fail, a new report said.

  Talent

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  AT&T drops DEI, gets $1B acquisition of UScellular greenlit

  The telecommunications company committed to scrapping policies and programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in a bid to get a deal approved by the FCC.

  Compliance

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  Younger employees report generational tensions at work

  Younger employees say the divide has brought them to tears and made them seriously consider quitting within their first year, says Kahoot.

  Talent

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  Jury hits SHRM with $11.5M verdict in racial bias, retaliation trial

  The HR organization said the claim had no merit and vowed to appeal the decision.

  Compliance

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  CEOs eye AI adoption as primary 2026 goal with job cuts expected to continue

  The tech will reduce head count, but an array of uncertainties have made it difficult for executives to plan for the year ahead, a SHRM official told HR Dive.

  Talent

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  SCOTUS poised to deal blow to federal agency independence

  Multiple members of the high court’s conservative majority criticized a 90-year-old decision that blocked presidents from firing regulatory leaders at will.

  Compliance

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  6 recent lawsuits alleging ADA violations at work

  Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers must provide a reasonable accommodation to workers with disabilities unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.

  Compliance

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  Companies likely have ‘lowered their tolerance for change,’ report says

  CEO exits are lower compared to November 2024, but job cuts are unusually high for the month, per two Challenger, Gray & Christmas reports.

  Talent

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  Education Department outlines potential Workforce Pell regulations

  A draft of regulatory language shares how programs as short as eight weeks could begin qualifying and remain eligible for Pell Grants.

  Learning

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  Hiring managers name the top hard skills and soft skills for 2026

  Among soft skills, professionalism ranked second — potentially hinting at the younger generation of workers being laid-back, one expert said.

  Talent

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