Tag: HR professionals

Employee Political Speech: Protected or Not?

Political discussions between employees at work become heated, negative political social media posts go viral, off-duty employees are photographed participating in off-duty protests, or workers show up at work wearing pins, buttons, or shirts emblazoned with political slogans. It seems these things are happening more frequently, and third parties are more willing to complain to […]

STEM

Building a Resilient STEM Workforce Starts in the Classroom 

The education sector is faced with a whirlwind of changes, from delays of billions in expected federal education funds for K-12 schools to the actions that redefine the federal government’s future role in education.   As conversations arise around how changes targeting education will impact students in the near-term, it’s critical that these discussions also […]

States, NLRB Battle Over Authority Over Unionization

The disarray at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), now with only one member and an acting general counsel (GC), has prompted states to start acting on their own to provide methods of resolving labor disputes that the Board is unable to address and also to provide paths to union organizing, particularly for “gig” workers […]

Rethinking Retention: Why Hiring Practices Need an Overhaul

More than 9 in 10 workers are actively looking for or planning to change jobs this year, according to Monster’s 2025 Work Watch Report. That statistic is often cited as proof of a disengaged workforce. But what’s often overlooked is the growing disconnect between how most companies hire and what actually drives success on the […]

DOJ Sending FCA Investigatory Letters on DEI

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has started investigating federal contractors and grant recipients for allegations that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs violate antidiscrimination laws.  Background In addition to revoking Executive Order (EO) 11246, President Trump’s January 31, 2025, EO 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, also added a new certification requirement […]

Administration, EEOC, and Courts Limit Workers’ Gender Identity Protections

Beginning with President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government, the Trump administration has made clear it will recognize only two biological sexes and has been erasing policies, practices, and procedures that acknowledge or support gender identity or transgender individuals. EEOC Position on […]

EntertainHR: What Love Island USA Teaches Us About Handling Discriminatory Language in the Workplace 

“Yulissa has left the villa.”   Two episodes into Season 7 of the Peacock dating series Love Island USA, contestant Yulissa Escobar was abruptly removed after podcast clips resurfaced of her using a racial slur.  Later in the season, contestant Cierra Ortega was similarly removed for what the series described as a “personal situation.” Fans quickly attributed […]

You Can’t Skip the Paperwork: Careful Review of EEOC Charges Matters

A recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana highlights a critical lesson for employers facing workplace discrimination claims: All employee filings with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) should be heavily scrutinized—if an employee didn’t raise an issue in the EEOC charge, they may not be able to include […]

Employees’ Free Speech Rights Have Limits, Even on Their Own Time

“I can do what I want!” “You’re not the boss of my mind!” “I have a First Amendment right to say whatever I want!” Whether from a precocious preteen or a challenging subordinate, the last of these exclamations can challenge even an experienced parent or supervisor. Fortunately for you (and me), this isn’t a parenting […]

10 Ways Employers Negate Their FMLA Rights

Although the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has been in effect since 1993, employers still make administrative mistakes that limit their rights and can lead to litigation. Here is my Top 10 list of employer and supervisor misconceptions about the FMLA that limit their ability to manage employee leave use or to defend against […]