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

DOL rewinds independent contractor guidance . . . again: What you should know

On February 26, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would again revise how workers are classified as employees or independent contractors...

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

Washington’s noncompete law is changing again: What you need to know

The legal landscape for noncompetition agreements in the state of Washington is changing again. Beginning June 30, 2027, nearly all noncompetes will be void and unenforceable in the state. Washington will join at least...

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

DOJ settlement highlights False Claims Act exposure for certain DEI practices

On April 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that IBM agreed to pay approximately $17 million to resolve allegations that certain employment practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI...

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

Reimbursing employees for Uber rides

Q Must we reimburse an employee for the expense of an Uber ride if we normally reimburse her for taking the bus? She needs to go to another worksite for business purposes, and there’s no bus option. Employers are...

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

Losing side tagged for $221,383.53 in costs

Some people sue, thinking, “What have I got to lose? If the jury finds against me, I’ll just move on with my life.” Well, it’s not what you don’t know that hurts you but what you think is so that isn’t. Read on. SMU...

Jun 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Texas

Checking boxes and banning boxes: Compliance when considering criminal background

Q We recently conducted a background check for a candidate we offered a job to and found the person has a pending felony conviction for theft that wasn’t disclosed. Because the job requires access to maintenance...

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

Changing legal landscape of performance improvement plans: What you need to know

Performance improvement plans (PIPs) have long been a routine part of performance management. Employers use them to address underperformance, set expectations, and document efforts to help employees improve. But in...

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

June 2026 Iowa Q&A roundup

Q We granted an employee who normally works 40 hours per week a Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) accommodation to work only 36 hours per week. May we require the employee to use paid time off (PTO) for the remaining...

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

DOL issues proposed rule on joint employer liability under FLSA, FMLA, and MSPA

On April 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to clarify the standard for determining joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical...

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

Lawsuit challenging employer health plan options survives motion to dismiss

A pending lawsuit against Northwestern University and its health plan fiduciaries raises novel claims that could be problematic for employers that offer multiple medical benefit options if the court’s recent denial of...

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

Holding the line on telework as reasonable accommodation

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently issued guidance on the use of telework as a reasonable accommodation for a disability. Although directed to the federal government sector, the guidance still...

Jun 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Texas

Texas court rejects challenge to arbitration clause

Many of you have an arbitration agreement or are considering implementing one. A question that arises is whether the employer and the employee are allowed to bring representatives. For a new case dealing with this issue...

Jun 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Texas

Form I-9: Not merely an administrative task but a legal obligation

Every employer in the United States is required by federal law to properly complete a Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification for each employee. Here’s what you need to know. What employers must do To satisfy this...

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

Artificial intelligence in hiring: Innovation meets legal risk

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the hiring process promises a level of efficiency that would have been impossible just a few years ago. Employers can now deploy AI tools that parse applications almost...

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

In praise of corporate jargon? How you say what you say matters

Should we reconsider how we think about corporate jargon? The answer is “yes,” according to Andrea Javor in a column in the April 30, 2026, Wall Street Journal titled “Corporate Jargon Saved My Self-Esteem.” She opened...

Jun 01, 2026 · Employment Law Letter · Texas