‘Alienating and cruel’: EEOC files lawsuit against employer for segregating DEI training by race

This iteration of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has been vocal about cracking down on DEI in the context of Title VII.

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 13, 2026

Columbia faces discrimination lawsuit from Palestinian employees and students

Plaintiffs allege the Ivy League institution “actively participated in and amplified” racial and political targeting of its campus members.

By Laura Spitalniak • Aug. 13, 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

This week in 5 numbers: Employees say bosses don’t work as hard

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week — including how much Apple will pay to settle U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions allegations.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 13, 2026

Brookings researchers slam assumptions in work requirements rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are being accused of fudging the data at the center of a rule that makes it harder for Medicaid enrollees to prove they’re exempt from work requirements.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 13, 2026

Apple settles EEOC’s claims the company denied Jewish worker his Sabbath days off

Despite agreeing to the consent decree, the company denies the allegations, per court documents.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 12, 2026

Haverford College settles with group accusing college of fostering antisemitism

Under the settlement terms, the private institution will bar discrimination against Zionist, Jewish and Israeli students and employees.

By Natalie Schwartz • Aug. 11, 2026

NLRB confirmations secure Republican majority

The three-member Republican majority will now allow the board “to overturn prior precedential decisions,” according to an Ogletree Deakins blog post.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 10, 2026

5 stories from DMEC26

Artificial intelligence may present opportunities to transform how people with disabilities approach work, according to the assistant secretary of labor.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 10, 2026

Could climate change lead to increased FMLA use? Attorneys are afraid so.

The U.S.’s recent spate of wildfire-induced air pollution provided a view of the direct effect extreme weather events may have on leave management.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 10, 2026

ADA may require reassignment despite worker’s inability to perform essential functions, 4th Circuit says

The law’s “accommodation of last resort” has historically proven difficult for employers to administer.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 7, 2026

OpenAI settles DOJ allegation it shut US workers out of lucrative jobs

OpenAI allegedly didn’t advertise certain jobs on its external website or let U.S. workers apply online, according to the settlement.

By Laurel Kalser • Aug. 7, 2026

Must employers always wait before clarifying FMLA certifications with providers? Not necessarily, 4th Circuit says

The ruling suggests employers don’t necessarily have to wait for workers to fix authenticity problems with Family and Medical Leave Act certification documents.

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 6, 2026

DMEC CEO: Leave should be a strategic objective

“We still design for the able-bodied person more than we think about the population as a whole,” Bryon Bass told HR Dive.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 5, 2026

5th Circuit applies longstanding discrimination test even as judges call it ‘wrong’

A majority of the court appeared open to reconsidering the U.S. Supreme Court’s McDonnell Douglas framework, the soundness of which has come into question in recent years.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 5, 2026

Jury was ‘inflamed by prejudice,’ SHRM appeal argues

In an opening appeal, SHRM argued that a trial it lost late last year was unfair due to how the jury was directed and its “excessive” award of $11.5 million.

By Emilie Shumway • Aug. 4, 2026

Worker alleges lack of fossil fuel-free 401(k) option violated his religious rights

A lawsuit tying a worker’s climate objections to his Christian beliefs could set a precedent in the post-Groff landscape, his attorneys argued.

By Emilie Shumway • Aug. 4, 2026

How will AI affect workplace accommodations?

“AI is busting down barriers,” said Julie Hocker, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 4, 2026

After leave, return-to-work approaches should be ‘early, coordinated and sustained,’ DOL official says

The likelihood of an employee returning to work after injury drops off significantly as the weeks go on, Julie Hocker said.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 3, 2026

Barber school settles claim it wouldn’t employ more than one pregnant worker

Pregnancy discrimination claims have featured heavily in recent EEOC litigation despite ongoing controversy over agency regulations.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 3, 2026

NLRB’s structure is unconstitutional but its activities may proceed, Texas judge rules

The decision follows up on the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent expansion of presidential power to dismiss leaders of federal agencies.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 3, 2026

Florida employers can ding workers for off-duty medical marijuana use, state appeals court says

Only a portion of states that have legalized medical marijuana also prohibit employers from discriminating against workers who have a valid prescription.

By Ryan Golden • July 31, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: Why some workers aren’t AI upskilling

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week — including how many C-suite, CHRO and senior talent acquisition leaders think their leaders are “highly prepared” to lead AI adoption.

By Ginger Christ • July 30, 2026

Philadelphia DEI officer alleges she was fired for reporting a Black worker’s harassment

The officer also said she was forbidden to speak publicly about equity. 

By Caroline Colvin • July 30, 2026

SHRM’s insurance carrier says it’s not on the hook for $10M jury verdict

The insurer sued SHRM Tuesday, alleging state law prohibits it from indemnifying the organization because the jury found intentional race discrimination.

By Kate Tornone • Updated July 29, 2026

Northwestern Mutual must fork over DEI data in EEOC probe of alleged failure to promote White worker

The company unsuccessfully claimed that the agency’s information requests were overbroad and too indefinite, according to a Wisconsin federal judge.

By Ryan Golden • July 29, 2026