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independent contractor

Test for Classifying Workers is Shifting Away From ‘Economic Reality’

In May 2025, the Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published guidance saying that it would stop enforcing a Biden-era rule—one that had rescinded a rule created during the first Trump administration—on the factors distinguishing independent contractors from employees. Although the Biden-era rule remains “on the books” for now while the DOL considers replacing […]

shareholder

Skills-Based Credentials Drive Higher Salaries and Lower Training Costs

As workforce requirements shift dramatically in an era of rapidly developing technology—including generative AI (GenAI), employers are shifting their focus from educational credentials to a focus on specific skills.  New data from Coursera’s 2025 Micro-Credentials Impact Report supports this shift and offers insights into how employers can develop a more skills-based focus for their talent […]

Faces of HR: How Stephen Pearson Builds Collaborative Workforces

Stephen Pearson isn’t just an HR Manager at Matern Professional Engineering; he’s an architect of talent. With over two decades of experience in the technical and engineering sectors, Pearson has spent more than a decade at Matern cultivating a renowned culture of collaboration across multiple sites. He’s the force behind their highly effective Lunch & […]

interview

4 Strategies to Eliminate Bias in Virtual Interviews 

Remote work has grown increasingly popular in the post-pandemic world. To reach candidates globally, recruiters are turning to tools like video call platforms to conduct interviews virtually. This shift has made hiring international talent and offering flexibility to both interviewers and interviewees easier.  But online interviews offer as many challenges as they do opportunities. While […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Microsoft’s AI Insight—It’s a Mindset, Not Just Tech

Forget everything you think you know about AI in the workplace. While the rapid advancements of generative AI models might seem like just another tech upgrade, Matthew Duncan, Head of Future of Work Thought Leadership at Microsoft, has a message for HR leaders: it’s a fundamental cultural revolution. At Spark HR 2025, Duncan shared insights […]

Unwavering Commitment: LaToya Rose’s Approach to DEI at Macmillan 

With a background in marketing and advertising, LaToya Rose found her niche in another role that requires strong communication skills and a solid understanding of human behaviors and motivations— Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Macmillan Publishers.  “It was both an unexpected and natural progression,” she reflects, sharing that she was approached […]

The Burnout You Don’t See Coming: Why High Performers Are Often the Most at Risk

Burnout doesn’t always look like an impending collapse. More often, it creeps in quietly—masked by productivity, professionalism, and a packed calendar. In fact, according to a new report from Alua, which surveyed digital creators and business professionals, burnout is often misidentified or dismissed entirely. Their research highlights seven overlooked signs of burnout that may already […]

Recruiting in the DEI Crossfire: How Recruiters Can Champion Inclusivity Amidst Shifting Sands

The landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is experiencing a significant tremor, sparked by recent federal actions aimed at scaling back DEI programs within the federal workforce and among federal contractors. This ripple effect is prompting leaders across various sectors to reevaluate their DEI initiatives, creating a complex environment for HR professionals. For recruiters, […]

contractors

DOL Signals Return to Employer-Friendly Worker Classification Standards

Surging changes to workplace laws understandably have employers suffering from whiplash. Historically, employment laws have shifted when presidential administrations have changed. A May 1, 2025, announcement by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) about its intended approach to the classification of individuals as independent contractors is a recent example. Background on Independent Contractors A number […]

Crisis

Are We Experiencing an Employee Engagement Crisis? 

For only the second time in over a decade, global employee engagement has declined, dropping from 23% to 21% in 2024, according to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report.   This downturn is not just a meaningless statistic—it translates to a staggering $438 billion in lost productivity worldwide.   The decline is most pronounced among […]