1 year into Trump 2.0, HR professionals are ‘caught in the middle’ of the DEI debate

As the White House and EEOC solidify their anti-DEI stances, here are a few things HR can keep in mind.

The hidden ‘tax’ of using AI: HR pros say they must often redo its output

Some employees lost as many as 1.5 weeks per year fixing AI outputs, with HR workers reporting the highest levels of AI rework, per Workday.

Updated Jan. 21, 2026

Tech hiring intentions are down despite demand for tech-oriented skills, report says

“What we’re seeing is a move from broad, volume hiring to precision hiring,” Kye Mitchell, president of Experis U.S., said.

Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act. HR should prepare now for workplace disruptions.

When federal troops deploy to American cities, employers can experience challenges with attendance, travel and more, write Seyfarth attorneys.

Transgender woman’s ERISA lawsuit fails as facial surgery was deemed ‘cosmetic’

Under ERISA, the relevant question is not whether an employer’s provider group “should cover certain procedures, but only whether it actually did agree to cover them,” the judge in the case said.

Is the traditional career ladder broken?

Some workers are rejecting the career ladder in favor of “portfolio careers,” Randstad said.

In a major shift, most workers say they would not quit over mandatory RTO

Amid a tight job market, employees are more resigned to accepting less flexible working arrangements, according to a MyPerfectResume survey.

Human touch vs. AI: Navigating the new hiring landscape

Job seekers are struggling to stand out in an increasingly automated landscape, a senior director of research in the Gartner HR Practice said.

Employee who seemingly told work he would misuse FMLA leave still gets jury trial

The decision shows just how thoroughly a court may scrutinize an employer’s handling of intermittent Family and Medical Leave Act leave.

EEOC’s recent move will consolidate power in chair, past commissioners warn

Republican commissioners voted to rescind a procedure that allowed time for commissioners to review proposed actions and discuss their concerns. 

Culture dissonance and AI among top workplace challenges in 2026

As companies embrace new technology, CHROs will need to focus on personal interactions in order to counteract these impacts, according to Gartner.  

PNC mandates 5-day RTO starting May 4

Whispers about a return to full-time office work have been stirring at PNC since CEO Bill Demchak said in a December fireside chat that remote work “hurts” companies.

‘No Other Choice’ reflects the job market right now, data shows

The Park Chan-wook thriller about a man who takes out his job competition may be over-the-top, but it gets to the heart of what job-seekers are going through, data shows.

Butterball piece-rate employee can’t revive wage claim, 4th Circuit says

The turkey loader’s claim of withheld pay was invalid, the North Carolina federal court and 4th Circuit agreed.

State paid family leave benefit changes in 2026

An Epstein Becker & Green attorney noted that navigating the logistics of multiple state leave plans can get tricky.

This week in 5 numbers: Companies see 50 more applicants per role

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how likely candidates are to score an interview from an online application.

Front-line supervisors are often promoted without leadership skills, Gallup says

Employees tend to “rise to a level of respective incompetence,” being promoted “until their performance declines,” a report found.

Nearly 40% of top execs say they weighed quitting in the past year

A third of respondents cited the desire for a better work-life balance as their primary reason for wanting to leave. Other motivations included burnout, stress and the need for promotion.

In 2026, workers want tangible job security and professional agility, Adecco finds

Only a third of organizations invest in data needed to understand how employees can transition into new internal roles, according to the report.

EEOC, Tesla head to private mediation in race-based harassment lawsuit

The parties are in the process of selecting a mediator and expect mediation to start in March or April.

SHRM research finds ‘chasm’ emerging between supportive, unsupportive employers

In response, HR departments told the organization they will prioritize leadership and management development this year.

Gender pay gap in healthcare still exists, analysis shows

Despite being overrepresented in the field, women in healthcare are still paid less than their male peers, according to Premier Law Group data analysis.

Recruiters are doing more ‘legwork’ to find candidates, Glassdoor finds

Even as recruiter sourcing increases, online applications led to 1.5 times as many job offers compared to all other sources combined, Glassdoor said.

Companies are hiring faster from a deeper talent pool

Three-month retention rates have dropped, but full-year retention rates have nearly doubled, according to new data from Employ.

SCOTUS asks White House to opine on shipbuilders’ no-poach dispute

Employees in the case alleged that several companies maintained an “unwritten rule” not to hire each other’s naval engineers and conspired to suppress wages.