ICE activity is again drawing widespread attention, with enforcement actions that carry direct implications for employers. An ICE visit is no longer a theoretical risk – it’s a real-time event that can disrupt operations and demand immediate decisions. In those first few minutes of an ICE visit at work (or near a worksite), who engages […]
You know you must prevent harassment in the workplace. For a lot of reasons. It’s costly to your bottom line and reputation. But what’s worse? It’s unfair. What’s Up in This Episode: Preventing Harassment That’s why in this episode of HRMorning’s 3-Point, we talk with Michael Cohen, a Partner in the Employment, Labor, Benefits and […]
As AI hiring tools become embedded in core HR workflows, AI hiring compliance is moving higher on HR leaders’ priority lists. A class action lawsuit against Eightfold serves as an early reminder that adopting AI-enabled tools requires a clear understanding of how those systems operate, even when key processes happen behind the scenes. To understand […]
If you’re looking for employment law predictions for 2026, a new survey from Norton Rose Fulbright highlights where employment and labor risk remains most persistent for employers. The firm’s 21st Annual Litigation Trends Survey examines where businesses faced litigation in 2025 and how that legal risk is expected to shift in the year ahead. Just […]
Most HR teams already pay for jury duty. Many pay for bereavement leave. Some pay for short-term sick leave without much debate. Courts are now finding that those everyday policy choices can quietly trigger paid military leave obligations, whether HR intended that result or not. The $18.5 million settlement in Huntsman v. Southwest Airlines shows […]
A California roofing and painting contractor will pay more than $320,000 after federal investigators found overtime violations tied to off-the-clock work that was never counted as paid time. An investigation by the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division found Howard and Sons Inc. failed to pay 62 employees for some of the hours they worked, a […]
HR teams using AI in hiring and other employment decisions are caught in the middle of a federal-state power struggle over regulation. On Dec. 11, President Trump added to his executive orders, signing one that aims to block state AI laws, raising immediate questions for employers that have been preparing compliance plans for 2026. What […]
Think it’s OK to agree with other employers not to recruit their employees if they won’t go after yours? Think again. That kind of arrangement can get you into some legal trouble. Just ask a group of asset and wealth management companies that recently got hammered to the tune of $25.5 million for entering into […]
Every winter storm puts the same three questions in HR’s inbox: Are we open today? Who has to be here? And how is everyone getting paid? Recent snow day lawsuits are a reminder to check that your inclement weather policies align with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) before a long winter of delays and […]
A new ruling in a case from Alabama provides valuable insight for HR pros on the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In the ruling, a federal appeals court revived a former FedEx employee’s claim that the employer violated the law when it reprimanded him and then terminated his employment because he […]
Misclassification is front and center again after Minnesota’s attorney general secured an $800K settlement over tightly controlled delivery work that looked more like employment than independent contracting. Every time managers lean on “1099s” who have set shifts, must follow company procedures, and perform critical daily work, HR absorbs the misclassification fallout if regulators come calling. […]
How far can HR go to regulate employee messages on work uniforms? A new federal appeals court decision on a Black Lives Matter (BLM) controversy provides valuable guidance. The case began after employees at a Minnesota Home Depot displayed “BLM” on their work aprons, sparking a legal fight over how much control employers have over […]
State regulators in California have imposed a substantial misclassification penalty on a global employer. It’s yet another reminder for HR pros: Treating workers as independent contractors when they should be classified as employees can be a very expensive mistake. States Ramp Up Scrutiny of Worker Misclassification In recent weeks, state regulators have sharpened their scrutiny […]
Most HR leaders know that rejecting a promotion candidate solely because of age is unlawful age discrimination. But a new federal court ruling warns that even choosing a younger candidate without posting the job can raise the same legal risks. The decision reinforces that informal promotion practices can carry hidden bias risks for employers. The […]
This wage claim shows how everyday workplace routines like security checks can turn into multimillion-dollar liabilities. Retail giant Target has agreed to pay $4.6 million to settle charges that it violated New Jersey law by failing to pay warehouse workers for time spent undergoing security screenings and walking across a warehouse floor to and from […]
Workplace investigations are among HR’s most difficult tasks, especially when harassment allegations are involved. Yet one serious risk often goes unnoticed: The risk of a defamation claim from the accused employee. A decision from a federal court in Ohio offers a good example of the danger that exists – and how employers can avoid liability […]
