EEOC to spotlight ‘reverse bias’ in 2026, attorneys say

Employers should prepare for “aggressive and assertive” activity on this front from the agency, a source told HR Dive.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 11, 2026

Legal group claims victory after EEOC ‘retreated’ on law firm DEI letters

Most of the 20 major law firms that received letters declined to provide the requested information, and the agency said it “considers the matter of responding to those letters closed.”

By Emilie Shumway • Feb. 10, 2026

SHRM: Inadmissible evidence ‘poisoned’ verdict in race bias, retaliation case

The HR organization asked for a new trial after a federal jury awarded $11.5 million to a former employee last year.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 9, 2026

DOL wants you to self-report potential FMLA violations. Should you?

“I am reluctant to counsel an employer to participate in this program,” Jeff Nowak, shareholder at Littler Mendelson, told HR Dive.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 9, 2026

Former OSU football coach alleges his gender doomed his harassment complaint

Both the plaintiff and a female co-worker filed workplace complaints about each other. Following an investigation, the school fired the plaintiff, citing sexual harassment and stalking.

By Kate Tornone • Feb. 9, 2026

Starbucks beats Missouri AG’s lawsuit targeting DEI programs

The state said it will continue to “aggressively” pursue the case, however.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 6, 2026

EEOC obtains $1.1M from Kickback Jack’s for allegedly refusing to hire male servers

“Hiring must be based on merit — not sex — as Title VII requires,” EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas stated in a media release.

By Laurel Kalser • Feb. 6, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: A quarter of employees saw retaliation for reporting misconduct

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how much a jury awarded a former HR benefits generalist who alleged retaliation by her employer.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 5, 2026

Nike among the first targeted by EEOC for DEI activity

The retail giant called the commission’s attempt to enforce an administrative subpoena Wednesday a “surprising and unusual escalation.”

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 4, 2026

A third of workers say they would only report harassment anonymously

Traliant’s 2026 harassment report stressed the need for multiple reporting paths to help employees speak up “in a way that makes them feel safest.”

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 4, 2026

Former HR worker wins over $5M in jury award for retaliation

The hospice company employee was fired a couple months after engaging in an unsuccessful mediation session resulting from a complaint she filed against a supervisor.

By Emilie Shumway • Updated Feb. 5, 2026

With EEOC’s harassment guidance gone, employers could be ‘in a bind’

“It’s going to be uncertain and a real risk calculus for employers for a while,” Sam Schwartz-Fenwick, partner at Seyfarth Shaw, told HR Dive.

By Emilie Shumway • Feb. 3, 2026

Employees say compliance training is ‘disconnected’ from real life

When compliance training reflects real workplace scenarios, it helps employees recognize misconduct and feel more comfortable speaking up, one expert said.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 3, 2026

Lawsuit alleges Cornell ‘brazenly’ refused to consider White candidates for faculty job

The university allowed DEI administrators to create an interview list consisting entirely of “minority” candidates, the complaint alleged.

By Kate Tornone • Feb. 3, 2026

FTC fires warning shot at law firms that pursued DEI certification

Under President Donald Trump, the agency has said it will target “collusion or unlawful coordination on DEI metrics” that diminishes labor competition.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 2, 2026

Taco Bell operators settle claims that harasser’s conduct went unchecked for months

Restaurant industry employers have a particular duty to protect young workers, a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regional attorney said.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 2, 2026

Mailbag: When is an employee’s food allergy an ADA ‘direct threat’?

Employers must assess each employee’s ability to perform essential job functions on a case-by-case basis using objective evidence, not fueled by stereotypes or fears, one attorney told HR Dive.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 2, 2026

Labor Department wants to strong-arm PBMs into being more transparent with employers

The DOL proposed a rule that would force pharmacy benefit managers to share a broad range of pricing and compensation information with their employer clients, calling it the most significant proposed PBM reform in decades.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Jan. 30, 2026

Applicant’s disclosure of armed robbery conviction protected by law, 3rd Circuit says

The applicant sued after he was denied a job based on the conviction, alleging violations of Pennsylvania’s ban-the-box law.

By Emilie Shumway • Jan. 30, 2026

Share your perspective in our 2026 Identity of HR survey

HR Dive would like your insight on the state of the profession and your priorities for the future.

By HR Dive staff • Jan. 30, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: Time-to-hire was up in 2025

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how many leaders say they feel prepared to guide change at their companies. 

By Ginger Christ • Jan. 29, 2026

FTC hearing offers much hate for noncompetes, but a ban isn’t on the table

The agency’s Republican chair said the commission seeks “education through enforcement” rather than the blanket ban pursued by Democrats.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 28, 2026

Citi’s HR department ‘spearheaded’ a harassment campaign, former managing director alleges

The department allegedly opened two “baseless” investigations into the worker’s conduct that ruined her reputation and left her no choice but to leave.

By Emilie Shumway • Jan. 27, 2026

Job applicants can’t bring disparate impact age bias claims, Workday argues

The lawsuit against Workday has spotlit the potential dangers for employers in adopting AI-based hiring tools.

By Emilie Shumway • Jan. 26, 2026

Most EEOC lawsuits now subject to commission approval

A new resolution could help the agency’s Republican majority push forward the Trump administration’s civil rights agenda, one attorney said.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 26, 2026