This week in 5 numbers: Is HR a business driver?

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how much slower women’s employment recovery was post-pandemic compared to men.

By Ginger Christ • March 20, 2025

EEOC acting chair says agency will investigate big law firms’ DEI programs

In their own letter to Andrea Lucas, former EEOC commissioners said Lucas’ letters “imply a duty to respond without any basis in the laws that EEOC enforces.”

By Ryan Golden • March 19, 2025

Christian nonprofit freed from complying with abortion elements of PWFA final rule

While EEOC attempted to secure a stay, pointing to its acting chair’s disagreement with the rule, a federal judge said the agency still has authority to enforce it.

By Emilie Shumway • March 19, 2025

Feds, NLRB’s Wilcox urge quick ruling on reinstatement

The defendants said a district court’s ruling “works a grave harm to the separation of powers and undermines the President’s ability to exercise his authority under the Constitution.”

By Ginger Christ • March 18, 2025

4th Circuit permits Trump anti-DEI orders to move forward — for now

Two members of the court’s three-judge panel expressed support for DEI work even as they sided with the administration in staying a federal judge’s preliminary injunction.

By Ryan Golden • March 17, 2025

Government contractors: It’s time to get comfortable with change

Federal contractors and subcontractors must be prepared to quickly re-evaluate their compensation, hiring and related structures in the coming months and years, write Cozen O’Connor attorneys. 

By Eric Leonard and Rachel Schwartz • March 17, 2025

‘Vertical’ no-hire agreements can be legal, 2nd Circuit reminds in Saks lawsuit

The retailer's no-hire agreements with five high-end brands sold in its stores did not violate the Sherman Act, the court held.

By Laurel Kalser • March 17, 2025

Radical agreement on ‘reverse discrimination’ is yet another reason to review DEI, training programs

A forthcoming ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court likely will accelerate certain types of discrimination claims, writes Duane Morris partner Jonathan Segal.

By Jonathan Segal • March 14, 2025

8 stories on the rise of ‘reverse discrimination’ claims

While such claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act are not entirely new, a law firm’s review found a “flood” of DEI-provoked lawsuits last year.

By Emilie Shumway • March 14, 2025

Federal judge sides with 3M in White male ex-employee’s bias claim

The plaintiff alleged that Black female employees who similarly violated workplace rules were not fired like he was.

By Ryan Golden • March 14, 2025

This week in 5 numbers: Are employers hiring AI talent too quickly?

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including the share of hiring managers who are worried about creating a sustainable pipeline for talent with artificial intelligence skills.

By Ginger Christ • March 13, 2025

2025 could be ‘a year of contention’ over pay, Payscale says

Thanks to a heightened focus on fair pay, organizations ranked compensation as a bigger challenge than recruiting or retention.

By Ginger Christ • March 13, 2025

Trump declared English the official language. Can employers do the same?

While some employers may be tempted to mandate English in the workplace, blanket policies may violate the law, Norris McLaughlin attorneys warn.

By David T. Harmon and Mariya Gonor • March 12, 2025

‘Male only’ hiring instructions lead to $1.6M settlement

EEOC alleged that an HR directory for Security Engineers, Inc., directed staff not to schedule women for certain roles regardless of their relevant experience.

By Ryan Golden • March 12, 2025

California senator introduces ‘No Robo Bosses Act’ in bid to regulate AI at work

States will likely take the lead on AI regulation “for the foreseeable future,” a law firm said.

By Ginger Christ • March 12, 2025

Lori Chavez-DeRemer confirmed as labor secretary

How DOL will proceed now is not clear, though there are hints the agency may be assuming an unusually pro-worker stance for a Republican administration.

By Emilie Shumway • March 11, 2025

Court dismisses White professor’s claim that Penn State Abington maintained racially hostile environment

The plaintiff intends to appeal the decision to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, he told HR Dive in an email.

By Ryan Golden • Updated March 11, 2025

White ex-university employee settles race bias lawsuit after $1M jury win

A jury previously issued a verdict in favor of the plaintiff in May, holding that the university discriminated against him on the basis of his race when it terminated him.

By Ryan Golden • Updated July 15, 2025

Faster Labor Contracts Act garners bipartisan support

The bill, which would condense time between union votes and employer negotiations, marks a change in Republican attitudes on labor.

By Caroline Colvin • March 7, 2025

EEOC targets universities for antisemitic treatment of staff

Protecting workers from religious bias and harassment, particularly antisemitism, is one of the agency’s new priorities, Acting Chair Andrea Lucas recently announced.

By Emilie Shumway • March 6, 2025

Federal judge reinstates fired NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox

Judge Beryl Howell characterized Wilcox’s firing as a “power grab” by the president and called it “a blatant violation of the law.”

By Ginger Christ • Updated March 7, 2025

Fired NLRB member’s attorney says US does not have ‘a king’ in public hearing

The lawsuit debates the merits of a 90-year-old U.S. Supreme Court precedent that denies the president the ability to remove members of independent boards and agencies at will.

By Ginger Christ • March 5, 2025

Honeywell and Christian ex-worker agree to dismiss religious bias claim

In the lawsuit filed in a Georgia federal court, the employee alleged he was discriminated against for his refusal to retake a mandatory training.

By Ryan Golden • Updated Nov. 21, 2025

Taco Bell franchisee allowed sexually hostile environment to fester for over 2 months, EEOC says

EEOC noted in 2024 guidance that an employer who opens an investigation one day after a complaint is made has acted promptly, while one who waits two months “very likely has not acted promptly.”

By Emilie Shumway • March 4, 2025

9th Circuit revives postmaster’s bias lawsuit

The worker, a woman of Chinese descent, was demoted and replaced by a White male — and that was enough to show potential discrimination, the appeals court determined.

By Emilie Shumway • March 4, 2025