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National origin discrimination and race discrimination aren’t the same thing

by Kevin McCormick In a recent decision, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland affirmed the notion that discrimination on the basis of race and discrimination based on national origin are distinct legal claims. Moreover, because 42 USC § 1981 only prohibits discrimination based on race, a claim alleging national origin discrimination under […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: AI Helps You Do “More with Less”

At Spark HR 2025, Matthew Duncan, who leads Microsoft’s thinking on the future of work, shared a big truth from Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Report: people at work are hitting their limits. With people facing hundreds of interruptions each day and most feeling a constant time crunch, the old ways of boosting output simply don’t […]

Massachusetts

‘Impossible Demands’ Lead to Disability Discrimination Lawsuit

by John S. Gannon Employers routinely ask employees to provide adequate documentation demonstrating that they can perform the essential functions of a job. That documentation may come in the form of physical or mental examinations—commonly referred to as fitness-for-duty examinations. However, problems arise when an employer disagrees with the physician who certifies the employee as […]

Trying applicants on for size: Know the limits of job tryouts

Ever been fooled in a job interview? Some applicants interview well but then turn out to be disappointments on the job. Others might seem iffy during the interview process but become star employees. The uncertainty inherent in the hiring process has led many employers to devise ways to test candidates in real world situations, either […]

Do You Really Know Who You’re Hiring?

With many U.S. states having experienced record-low unemployment rates earlier in 2023, finding qualified candidates continues to be a major challenge for many employers across the whole country. According to HireRight’s 2023 Global Benchmark Report, over three-quarters of respondents from North America—comprising HR, risk, and recruitment professionals—expect talent acquisition to be a significant challenge for […]

jobism

In Defense of Not-My-Jobism

One of the most derided phrases in the workplace is “that’s not my job.” It’s been assumed that those who use this phrase are unwilling to help their colleagues for the benefit of the broader team and company and are indifferent to problems that don’t precisely fit their job descriptions. The lack of ownership captured […]

ADA Stakeholder Predicts More Disabled Will Be Employed

The United States should expect substantial changes to its disability employment statistics in the near future, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, announced on July 26, the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. “I believe our country is on the verge of major progress on the issue of disability employment,” he wrote in a letter […]

onboarding

Onboarding Seasonal Workers a Top Factor in Determining Business Success

To plan for seasonal hiring, companies invest significant time and money to prepare, starting as early as Q1 for the year’s holiday season. Unfortunately, most don’t have the right processes and technology in place to accommodate all those new employees. The holidays are the most stressful time of the year for hiring new staff, with summer a distant second.

How to Help Employees Cope with the Aftermath of a Mass Layoff

During the last few months, many large technology companies such as Netflix, Amazon, Meta, and Twitter have carried out mass layoffs, with other smaller companies also culling large numbers of staff. In such tumultuous times, much support is rightly given to those who are laid off, but there’s also an impact on those who are […]