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.

By Caroline Colvin • Dec. 4, 2025

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.

By Ginger Christ • Dec. 4, 2025

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.

By Emilie Shumway • Dec. 4, 2025

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.”

By Ginger Christ • Dec. 3, 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.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated 14 hours ago

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.

By Susan Best, Stephanie Jones and Y’Noka Bass • Dec. 2, 2025

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.

By Laurel Kalser • Dec. 2, 2025

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.

By Benjamin Shippen • Dec. 2, 2025

Manager’s repeated dining invites weren’t harassment, 6th Circuit holds

The employer also took several actions after receiving a complaint against the manager, the court noted.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 1, 2025

‘Disturbing’ FLSA trends include uptick in regular-rate litigation

The plaintiffs’ bar is homing in on mistakes employers may make in excluding certain bonuses and other payments from workers’ regular rates, one attorney said.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 1, 2025

Cleveland health system to face time-rounding lawsuit, judge rules

The plaintiff alleged that the timekeeping policy is "'rigged' in MetroHealth’s favor and was designed to willfully pay less time than worked."

By Ginger Christ • Nov. 26, 2025

Under new SCOTUS precedent, ‘slights’ and ‘psyche’ damage are workplace lawsuit fodder

Plaintiffs must show “some harm” resulting from an employment decision after Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, but not all subsequent cases have come out in employees’ favor.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 25, 2025

Worker’s sexual assault need not be workplace-related to avoid arbitration, judge rules

A former employee of an Oregon company can move forward with discrimination and other claims after a federal judge found the EFAA applied to her case.

By Emilie Shumway • Nov. 25, 2025

‘Expect the unexpected’ in EEOC’s new era, attorneys say

Management-side counsel anticipate clashes on pronoun use, bathroom policies, mentorship programs and other workplace issues.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 24, 2025

Company pays $2M to settle claims it mistreated HR director for hiring women

Glunt Industries also replaced the director’s female hires with men, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 24, 2025

IRS’ temporary relief grants more workers eligibility under Trump’s ‘no tax on tips’ law

The new guidance grants employees and employers “transition relief” until Jan. 1 of the first calendar year after final rules are issued to determine if they fall under a category for exemptions.

By Ginger Christ • Nov. 24, 2025

Have employees in multiple states? Avoid a PTO quagmire by planning ahead.

Among other things, HR should stay on top of employees’ locations and the laws governing those states, writes Catherine Strauss, partner at law firm Ice Miller.

By Catherine Strauss • Nov. 21, 2025

Bipartisan voices urge SCOTUS to uphold precedent outlawing agency firings

While some conservative groups have pushed for more executive power, many other conservatives — including former judges, lawmakers and governors — have pushed back against the idea.

By Emilie Shumway • Nov. 21, 2025

EEOC asks court to force Penn response in antisemitism probe

The university allegedly failed to comply with a September deadline to produce requested information, a claim denied by a spokesperson.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 21, 2025

6 stories from the ABA’s employment law conference

Attorneys discussed this year’s hot topics — most notably, how to respond to the White House’s crackdown on “illegal” DEI.

By Kate Tornone • Nov. 20, 2025

EEOC hints at 2026 priorities with national origin bias guidance

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission continues to emphasize anti-American bias, publishing a technical assistance document tying it to potential Title VII violations.

By Caroline Colvin • Nov. 20, 2025

Mailbag: Should we follow EEOC’s lead on gender identity policy?

A University of Colorado Law School professor weighed in Friday at the American Bar Association’s annual labor and employment law conference.

By Kate Tornone • Nov. 19, 2025

HVAC technician sues Trane for dispatching a woman to work with him

The plaintiff said it’s his deeply held religious belief that he shouldn’t work with a woman unless others are at the jobsite along with them.

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 18, 2025

Employee fired for false expense report not entitled to severance pay, court rules

Lilly USA appropriately denied the claim under ERISA because its severance pay plan expressly excluded employees terminated for falsifying a report, a federal court held.

By Laurel Kalser • Nov. 17, 2025

EEOC kicks back into gear, settles harassment claims against chicken shop

An Arkansas restaurant operator ignored complaints against a shift manager, leading to even more complaints over the span of just a few months, the commission claimed.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 17, 2025