California ban on workplace AI emotion surveillance heads to Newsom’s desk

If passed, the bill also would prohibit the collection of an employee’s “neural data.”

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 31, 2026

Settled: 8 lawsuits that ended in payouts in August

The settlements ranged from $75,000 to $21.5 million, court records show.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 31, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Inside the rapidly changing world of compliance

The HR landscape is ever-shifting, leaving compliance professionals to meet today’s requirements while keeping an eye on the future.

By HR Dive staff

The Washington Post-Karen Attiah saga raises questions about worker social media policies

An arbitrator ordered the Post to reinstate Attiah and provide back pay after firing her for social media posts. Here’s what HR can learn from the situation.

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 31, 2026

Your employees completed compliance training. Can they apply it when it matters?

New Go1 research reveals where compliance confidence and real-world readiness diverge.

Aug. 31, 2026

White HR worker gets partial win in reverse bias lawsuit against polling firm

Among other claims, the plaintiff alleged she was excluded from a company-organized diversity, equity and inclusion webinar described as “not for [W]hite folks.”

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 28, 2026

DOL, other agencies address questions about wellness program surcharges

Aspects of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act that were once seen as “settled” continue to be challenged, an attorney told HR Dive.

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 27, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: Healthcare costs per employee could exceed $19K next year

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week — including how much time The New York Times wants a court to give the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to fulfill a records request.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 27, 2026

Pearson settles claims that workers with visual impairments couldn’t access training, benefits platforms

Accessibility “cannot be an afterthought” when an employer uses online systems for such purposes, an EEOC attorney said.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 27, 2026

SHRM tentatively backs end of EEO-1 reports, but investor group calls them ‘vital’

The pair of public comments pushes back against EEOC’s assertion that the data collection program is overly burdensome.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 26, 2026

Deloitte to pay $21.5M to settle claims its DEI programs violated federal civil rights law

“Government contractors cannot reward or penalize employees based on race or sex,” the attorney general said.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 26, 2026

4th Circuit dismisses some charges against Wells Fargo after jury’s $22.1M fee

Although the appeals court dismissed three of four charges following a worker’s disability trial, in affirming the fourth charge, it allowed him to retain most of his award.

By Emilie Shumway • Aug. 25, 2026

New York Times presses EEOC for White bias records in FOIA lawsuit

The media giant alleged the agency has dragged its feet and ignored the Times’ inquiries about when its requests for information will be met.

By Emilie Shumway • Aug. 25, 2026

United’s retention of harassing pilot may have been criminally negligent, judge finds

The airline allegedly learned of a police investigation into a pilot’s distribution of a worker’s intimate images in April 2024 but didn’t act until his arrest later that year.

By Emilie Shumway • Aug. 24, 2026

Feds to propose H-1B fee that would stack with controversial $100K payment

Employers should expect litigation against the new fee once it is finalized, a source told HR Dive, similar to what occurred after last year’s fee was announced by President Donald Trump.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 24, 2026

EFAA covers claims that emerge during an arbitration proceeding, 9th Circuit says

The parties in the case conducted arbitration proceedings for a full year — but that fact alone can’t prevent plaintiffs from seeking arbitration exemption, the court held.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 24, 2026

Beyond flexibility: Why partnership is becoming the new standard in HR services

Today's employers expect more from their HR partner. See why trust, accountability and co-employment are redefining the HR services landscape.

By Jim Neve • Aug. 24, 2026

Feds axe contractor affirmative action requirements in trio of final rules

The documents follow up on one of President Donald Trump’s first orders that sought to alter the federal government’s antidiscrimination enforcement work.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 21, 2026

Amazon worker fired shortly after disclosing pregnancy has discrimination claim, court rules

The alleged close connection between her disclosure, restrictions on her overtime and her termination indicated adverse action based on the pregnancy, the court said.

By Laurel Kalser • Aug. 21, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: Employees struggle to find time for upskilling

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week — including how many consecutive business days Bank of America employees are allowed to work remotely.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 20, 2026

Meta sued for allegedly firing manager who refused to sign an ‘inaccurate’ immigration letter

The manager’s “refusal was based on his objectively reasonable and good-faith belief that he should not submit materially inaccurate statements to USCIS,” per a complaint.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 19, 2026

Salesforce worker must arbitrate gender-based discrimination case

Gender-based allegations that don't involve sexual harassment cannot invoke the Ending Forced Arbitration Act, a court determined.

By Emilie Shumway • Aug. 19, 2026

Kroger settles claims it wouldn’t give cashier a chair or stool following cancer treatment

Multiple attempts to contact the chain’s management and HR staff failed, EEOC claimed, providing insight into how the ADA’s interactive process can break down.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 18, 2026

4 new legal questions being raised by background and identity checks

Artificial intelligence and politics are some of the elements affecting how the law is applied to background and identity checks. 

By Robert T. Quackenboss and Evangeline C. Paschal • Aug. 17, 2026

Walgreens gets partial win over ex-manager it claimed closed stores too early

Neither of the two racial comparators put forth by the plaintiff to show disparate treatment were sufficiently similar, a New Mexico federal judge determined.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 17, 2026

Mailbag: Do we need Form I-9s for employees hired long ago?

It’s rare to have an employee who doesn’t need an I-9, but it’s possible, according to a Littler attorney.

By Kate Tornone • Aug. 17, 2026