EEOC: Refusing to hire applicants for taking methadone violates ADA

Although the ADA doesn’t cover people currently using illegal drugs, it does protect those with a past addiction, per the agency.

NYC to move ahead with pay data reporting after mayor’s veto overridden

States and localities continue to advance pay equity legislation while federal action stalls.

5 questions (and answers) about employee handbooks for 2026

Joycelyn Stevenson, office managing shareholder at Litter, shares the top five handbook questions she receives from clients this time of year.

State laws regulating AI take effect in the new year. Here’s what HR needs to know.

Employers will have to wrestle with tension between federal policy and state legislation.

CHROs face paradoxes that could redefine HR leadership in 2026

Gaps exist between where CHROs want their role to go and where the C-suite will allow it to go, The Josh Bersin Company said.

H-1B visa applicants will now have their social media scrutinized

The move is the latest measure from President Donald Trump’s administration to make the immigration process more stringent.

San Diego restaurant chain owners settle sexual harassment allegations for $650K

The restaurant operator “engaged in a pattern of hiring teenage girls as young as 16 years old based on their appearance and vulnerability,” according to a 2023 complaint from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The wage divide is growing — and AI may be the culprit

The data runs “contrary to narratives that AI is mostly impacting high-earning, white-collar jobs,” Revelio experts wrote.

This week in 5 numbers: Trial in SHRM’s 3-year-old lawsuit begins

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how many U.S. workers say they’re burnt out.

Seasonal job postings surge, but long-term hiring is uncertain, Indeed finds

Logistics-related roles, such as driving and loading, contributed to the spike, while retail remained essentially flat, according to Indeed’s Hiring Lab.

Talent development pros want more training, too, research shows

Data analysis skills, in particular, could help learning leaders improve evidence-based decision-making, ATD says.

4 strategies to boost recruiting through employer branding

Retaining and upskilling construction workers requires a clear message and follow-through on employer culture, writes a strategic communication leader.

Trump administration illegally fired workers for real or perceived DEI roles, lawsuit alleges

The president’s “anti-DEI”-related directives allegedly “were targeted actions intended to punish perceived political enemies.”

EEOC hints court should reject transgender bias nonenforcement lawsuit after disparate-impact win

A federal judge's decision that a plaintiff lacked standing to challenge the commission's enforcement decisions is relevant to the ongoing case over its treatment of transgender bias charges, the agency claimed.

Updated Dec. 2, 2025

Starbucks to pay $39M in New York City labor settlement

New York City alleged the company violated its Fair Workweek rules upwards of 500,000 times between 2021 and 2024.

Updated Dec. 4, 2025

Men want flexibility at work, too

Hybrid work and four-day workweeks are topping men’s professional wishlists, according to data from U.K. firm WorkL.

More than half of US workers report burnout ahead of holiday season, survey shows

The research is a “wake-up call for employers,” Eagle Hill Consulting said, especially amid the most demanding months of the year.

A critical but overlooked skills gap is undermining U.S. business. Here’s how to close it.

Organizations are pouring more resources than ever into workforce development programs, yet one critical competency — language — continues to be overlooked.

SHRM discrimination trial kicks off following months of controversy for the organization

A jury will weigh in on a lawsuit alleging a former SHRM employee was fired because of her race.

Seward and Son to pay $150K for allegedly preferring non-Americans over Black American workers

The Mississippi farming operation allegedly hired non-Black foreign agricultural workers and assigned them less strenuous, higher-paying jobs than Black American employees, according to an EEOC lawsuit.

Navigating the maze: A practical guide for employers dealing with employment administrative agencies

There are several steps HR and management can take to avoid common pitfalls at the administrative agency level, according to Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP attorneys.

The case for ‘a deliberate redesign of the people leader role’

McLean & Co. research found the role needs to be reimagined to allow leaders to focus on “enabling people, fostering resilience, and translating strategy into meaningful action.”

As major firms green-light AI for performance reviews, should others follow suit?

Artificial intelligence promises efficiency and data-driven insights, but it could also subject employers to bias claims and compliance obligations, sources say.

Fear of AI-driven job displacement nearly doubles in a year: KPMG

The finding comes as two U.S. senators are pushing legislation that would require some AI-related layoffs to be reported to the Labor Department.

Employers should proactively analyze AI hiring processes for adverse impact

An ongoing lawsuit filed against Workday shows that AI risk in hiring is not theoretical, writes Benjamin Shippen of BRG.