Starbucks, Florida AG ink deal to end lawsuit over alleged illegal DEI practices

Attorney General James Uthmeier alleged that the coffee chain excluded or disfavored nonminorities in a lawsuit that mirrored recent federal enforcement activity.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 18, 2026

Butterball settles EEOC allegation it was liable for vendor’s failure to process ADA leave request

Employers can’t delegate their responsibility for complying with federal law to a third-party administrator, an EEOC attorney said.

By Laurel Kalser • Sept. 18, 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

Ignoring a doctor’s note can be costly, EEOC reminds employers

Employers should “leave the work of identifying pregnancy-related risks and limitations to qualified medical professionals,” the agency said in conciliating two separate cases.

By Caroline Colvin • Sept. 17, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: Amazon will give grocery benefits to workers

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week — including how many employers say artificial intelligence is actually slowing down the hiring process.

By Ginger Christ • Sept. 17, 2026

Activision Blizzard hit with new sexual assault, harassment claims in lawsuit

The video game publisher’s HR department — previously alleged to have condoned a “frat boy culture” — was dismissive of the plaintiff’s complaints, she claimed.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 17, 2026

Safety risk insufficient to show religious accommodation posed undue hardship, court rules

The case adds to the 9th Circuit’s analysis of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and religious accommodation, a topic on which the court has sometimes sided with employers.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 15, 2026

Alleged DEI-motivated hirings and promotions cost Accenture $25M in DOJ settlement

The U.S. Department of Justice said certain candidates were highlighted to leadership and directed into a “pipeline” due to their race and sex characteristics.

By Emilie Shumway • Sept. 15, 2026

Judge says disability bias lawsuit against SHRM must proceed

A candidate previously alleged that the HR organization rescinded a job offer after she requested to have her trained service dog accompany her to the office as a reasonable accommodation.

By Ginger Christ • Updated Sept. 16, 2026

Postal worker removed from office argument by police fails to reopen bias case

Other staff may have engaged in similar disputes, but the plaintiff couldn’t show that those workers were given more favorable treatment, the 7th Circuit said.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 14, 2026

EEOC solicits anti-American bias charges

“Have you been harassed at work for speaking English or for being too American?” the agency’s chair asked workers in a video.

By Kate Tornone • Sept. 14, 2026

HR must set boundaries as it embraces AI notetakers, experts caution

Practitioners are increasingly responsible for vetting such tools before they are deployed in a workplace or recruitment setting, SHRM CHRO Jim Link told HR Dive.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 14, 2026

Hemorrhoid pain can be a disability, EEOC argues to court

In an amicus brief filed Wednesday, the agency supported a FedEx worker’s appeal, arguing pain can amount to a substantial limitation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

By Emilie Shumway • Sept. 11, 2026

Jury should decide if university’s hiring process was tainted by diversity goals, court rules

A White former associate director for Rochester Institute of Technology claimed the university used race-based criteria to select a Black candidate as director instead of promoting her.

By Laurel Kalser • Sept. 11, 2026

DHS proposes end to 60-day H-1B grace period, calling it a ‘burden’

The move would leave some workers with no cushion period in which to depart the U.S. 

By Kathryn Moody • Sept. 11, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: Tech employment grew in August, despite layoffs

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the past week — including what percentage of workers may become attention-seeking or have difficulty sharing the spotlight under pressure.

By Emilie Shumway • Sept. 10, 2026

EEOC asks judge to assist in probe of San Francisco government’s DEI trainings

The City and County of San Francisco allegedly required attendance of a seminar series featuring “derogatory and vitriolic statements” about White people and White women.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 9, 2026

Schedule changes, transfers may be retaliation under USERRA, feds caution

The warning follows a 2025 amendment that expanded the law’s coverage.

By Kate Tornone • Sept. 9, 2026

14-minute walk to break area didn’t necessarily create FLSA violations, DOL says

The department weighed in on several wage-and-hour questions in a trio of opinion letters made public Tuesday.

By Kate Tornone • Sept. 9, 2026

Fact or fiction? Deepfakes complicate harassment investigations

As technology evolves, employers must consider new issues when conducting harassment investigations, writes Tracey Diamond, a partner at Troutman Pepper Locke.

By Tracey Diamond • Sept. 8, 2026

Rodeo tickets and nude dancers: DOL details alleged policy violations under former secretary

The Office of Inspector General recommended the department strengthen whistleblower protections and mandate annual training on inappropriate workplace relationships.

By Emilie Shumway • Sept. 8, 2026

Race bias claims tied to drug test can go to jury, 11th Circuit says

Evidence showed an employer rehired a White employee but not two Black employees after firing all three for the same conduct, the court said.

By Laurel Kalser • Sept. 4, 2026

Amtrak’s ‘relaxed’ COVID-era FMLA policy didn’t cover plaintiff’s unexplained absences, judge rules

The court’s analysis demonstrates the importance of thorough documentation in intermittent Family and Medical Leave Act compliance.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 4, 2026

Company’s inability to explain one manager’s firing over another keeps FMLA claim alive

Comparators can make or break many types of employment lawsuits, including those involving protected leave.

By Emilie Shumway • Sept. 3, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: The right personality could make up for a skills gap

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week — including how many work-related jams HR Dive compiled for readers to listen to this Labor Day weekend.

By Ginger Christ • Sept. 3, 2026

Former Golden State Warriors employees allege retaliation for engagement survey responses

The plaintiffs said they “encountered a workplace marked by discrimination, hostility, and retaliation,” while GSW said the allegations were “without merit.”

By Ginger Christ • Sept. 2, 2026