HR Alerts

Latest DEI Executive Order raises compliance issues for federal contractors

by Tammy Binford

President Donald Trump’s latest order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices by employers brings up issues about how employers with federal contracts can ensure compliance.

Apr 06, 2026 · HR Alerts · California · New York · Texas · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington
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Analysis

4th Circuit bars contractual shortening of Title VII, ADEA filing deadlines

For years, some employers have attempted to shorten the applicable statute of limitations for certain federal discrimination claims by contracting with their employees. The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (which has...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia

Severance tradeoff: What employers and employees should know

A severance agreement isn’t just a payment document—it’s a legal exchange. The employer offers new compensation or benefits, and the employee typically releases potential legal claims and accepts certain post-employment...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Creating useful performance reviews

I didn’t like giving reviews, and I don’t like receiving them. There must be a better way. Here are some suggestions generated by “Gen AI Could Fix Performance Reviews—or Make Them Even Worse,” an article in the Harvard...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Texas

Severance agreements: Parting ways without parting claims

Employers that terminate or mutually agree to part ways with an employee may negotiate, elect to enter, or be obligated by an existing employment agreement to enter into a severance agreement with the departing employee...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin

2026 Minnesota legislative session wrap-up: What employers need to know

The 2026 Minnesota legislative session adjourned on May 18, 2026. Although last year’s session delivered a wave of changes to meal and rest breaks, earned sick and safe time, and (of course) the launch of Minnesota Paid...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota

Professor sues SMU for ‘race’ discrimination

“Race” is in quotes in the headline because the lawsuit covered in this article illuminates a definition of “race” that might surprise you. Tenure denied, terminal year triggered, lawsuit filed Academia is a self...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Texas

ICE updates I-9 inspection fact sheet

For the first time in almost 30 years, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has updated its Form I-9 inspection fact sheet. The changes were issued without any notice in the Federal Register, and there was no...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin

DOL formally reinstates pre-2024 salary thresholds after court rulings

On May 14, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a technical amendment formally reinstating the 2019 regulation establishing the salary threshold for exempt executive, administrative, and professional employees...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia

PWFA claims have arrived: Anatomy of a lawsuit

Cases are just now starting to come out involving the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). For lessons on how one employer ran afoul of its obligations, read on. Timeline It’s often helpful in a factually dense case to...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Texas

Counsel and correct, don’t punish: PIPs after Walsh v. HNTB

Employers regularly use performance improvement plans (PIPs) as tools for addressing employee performance deficiencies. But in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis—which...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

OSHA issues updated workplace heat directive for employers

With temperatures on the rise all across the nation, employers need to stay on top of workplace heat issues to protect workers from preventable heat-related illnesses and injuries. In April 2026, the Occupational Health...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma

EEOC brings claims for anti-American national origin discrimination

On May 12, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against Oregon-based Advanced Technology Group, Inc., a project-based construction services company with jobsites nationwide. The...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming

How long is long enough? ERISA record retention rules every employer should know

A common question employers ask is: How long do we need to keep records related to employee benefits, and what are the rules? This summary covers the requirements for benefit plans governed by ERISA (the Employee...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia

Tennessee’s new restrictive covenant legislation

Tennessee is on the verge of enacting sweeping changes to the enforceability of restrictive covenants. A bill that cleared both chambers of the General Assembly in April now awaits Governor Bill Lee’s signature, and...

Jul 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia