Jury awards $3.3M to CPO allegedly fired for speaking up about pay bias

The plaintiff, a lawyer at a Tennessee-based firm, said she was branded as “disloyal,” demoted and then fired for raising compliance concerns.

This week in 5 numbers: Burnout mentions on Glassdoor soar past pre-pandemic levels

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including the number of working moms who were asked by their employer to cut their maternity leave short.

Working moms say motherhood derailed their careers

An overwhelming majority of survey respondents said they were asked to cut their maternity leave short — or otherwise alter it — to benefit their employer.

Application process should take less than 30 minutes, US workers say

More than one-third of respondents said they left a job within 90 days because of a “mismatch” between what they were told during the interview process and the reality of the role, Employ reported.

About 1 in 8 US workers could be displaced due to automation

Roughly half of all jobs face a slight or moderate risk of automation in the near future, SHRM said.

Why Lyft’s CEO regularly spends time as a driver

Lyft CEO David Risher often picks up riders and speaks with drivers to see where the experience may be falling short.

Trump to name Florida DOJ attorney Brittany Panuccio to EEOC

If confirmed, Panuccio would restore a quorum at EEOC, allowing the agency to resume exercising key responsibilities.

DEI may go largely unchanged despite Trump attacks, Littler says

However, the firm found that a growing share of employers are concerned about the potential for DEI-related litigation.

How mentorship helps Asian American women ‘rewrite the code’ at work

The challenges of being a woman at work can be compounded for women of color, especially in a male-dominated field.

Burnout at highest rate in nearly a decade, Glassdoor says

Mention of burnout by employee reviewers on the site is connected with 26% lower ratings for employers on average. 

Tailored HR programs can help hourly employees, report finds

“HR leaders must be willing to challenge legacy thinking that hourly programs are too complex or not worth the investment,” a McLean executive said.

Where IVF benefits stand in the age of Trump

“Comprehensive fertility benefits, parental leave, and return to work support can make a meaningful difference to employees,” a senior principal in Mercer’s health and benefits team said.

Jury returns win for Levi Strauss in sex discrimination case

The outcome is somewhat unusual, as employers often choose to settle in advance of a trial.

Employers don’t understand workers’ generative AI training needs, report says

IT decision makers said limited training budgets also hinder upskilling efforts.

Employee mobility remains critical for addressing talent gaps, report indicates

Evolved mobility programs contribute to greater revenue growth and better talent attraction and retention, EY says.

Kohl’s CEO fired over conflicts of interest

Ashley Buchanan, who only took the post in January, was terminated for cause following an investigation into vendor transactions, the department store said.

2025 raises fell short of employers’ recent projections, Mercer finds

An ongoing decline in compensation budgets is driven in part by a softening labor market, the report said.

Feds say states lack standing to challenge anti-harassment guidance

The government’s stance could be a strategic choice in anticipation of challenges to future agency guidance, said Jonathan Segal, partner at Duane Morris.

Associate professor sues Kansas State University for alleged transgender bias

A transgender faculty member claimed his supervisor forced him to drastically cut short his leave to recover from a hysterectomy, according to the lawsuit. 

RTO is going poorly. How can HR smooth the process?

Organizations need to start with the basics — like access cards and working internet — to make sure employees have a good experience, experts said.

Front-line workers say they are stressed about US trade policy changes

Just over half of workers surveyed by UKG said they’ve experienced noticeable changes at work due to tariffs.

DOL orders staff not to enforce Biden-era independent contractor rule

The Labor Department is still considering whether to rescind the rule, which faces ongoing litigation, it said Thursday.

Trump administration court filing may spell end of overtime final rule

The U.S. Department of Labor is still reconsidering the Biden-era effort to expand overtime pay eligibility, according to court documents.

April jobs report remains strong — but economists see Trump impact looming

“So far in 2025, the market has been marked by a low firing, low hiring trend that can’t last forever,” one economist said.

Job seeker says Paycom background check included twin brother’s charges

A job candidate — Rodney — said he lost out on a role at a manufacturing company because of charges belonging to his twin brother, Rod.