HR - General

Takeaways

A wave of recently enacted state and local labor and employment legislation is reshaping employer compliance obligations as these measures take effect. Spanning traditional issues such as accommodations and wage and hour requirements as well as emerging areas like employee monitoring and data use, t

Workforce data not only shapes how employment decisions are made — but how they’re scrutinized. Whether addressing pay equity, evaluating AI tools or managing reorganizations, 2026 is a good year for employers to anticipate risk early, align with compliance obligations and support decisions that hol

As the administration enters its second year, employers face a fast‑shifting mix of federal priorities and the state‑level and market responses they prompt. The Year Ahead 2026 connects the dots across agencies, multijurisdictional legislation, litigation, technology and workforce trends — equipping

Takeaways

Littler Lightbulb – December 2025 Employment Appellate Roundup Fourth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Employer in Failure to Promote Race and Gender Discrimination Case tgelbman@littler.com Mon, 01/12/2026 - 08:32

Deepfakes in the Workplace: The Emerging Legal Risks of AI-Driven Harassment A California appellate court recently affirmed a jury verdict awarding $4 million to a police captain who was subjected to a hostile work environment after a sexually explicit, AI-generated image resembling her was widely c

With the turn into the new year 2026, several state law changes affect wage and hour compliance, leave administration, onboarding practices, workplace notices, and even discrimination based on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), took effect as of January 1, 2026. Here is a rundown of some key n

Thryv Remedies: Supreme Court Review Sought - What Employers Should Do Now Employers are facing a rapidly evolving legal landscape as courts tackle the National Labor Relations Board’s controversial Thryv decision.1 This ruling, issued in 2022, expanded remedies for unfair labor practices involving

As we head into annual performance review season, Jen explains how to make reviews meaningful, defensible, and fair. Learn how to coach managers to give...

Ninth Circuit Holds DTSA Does Not Apply CUTSA’s “Reasonable Particularity” Standard to Trade Secret Claims

Mistaken Legal Theory Still Triggers Whistleblower Protection

Workplace romances, social media posts, and conflicts of interest—what happens when personal choices spill into the workplace? Jen explores where the legal...

As we explored in Part 1 of this series, AI-enabled smart glasses are rapidly evolving from niche wearables into powerful tools with broad workplace appeal — but their innovative capabilities bring equally significant legal and privacy concerns. Modern smart glasses blend high-resolution cameras, al

Policy Week in Review – December 12, 2025 President Trump Signs Executive Order to Limit State Regulation of Artificial Intelligence tgelbman@littler.com Fri, 12/12/2025 - 13:34

Employment Regulatory Recap: 2025 As 2026 approaches, many employers have been familiarizing themselves with new laws addressing everything from protected leaves to required employee notices and benefits offerings. Employers should also be aware of regulatory updates, which further clarify or add to

Following failed congressional attempts to limit state AI laws, on December 11, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order titled Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence. The Order represents federal intervention into the growing landscape of state-level AI regulation. Ac

Prediction Markets Permit Employees to Wager on Anything at Any Time: What Employers Need to Know Whether grabbing headlines with multi-billion-dollar valuations or dominating popular culture by being featured on South Park and 60 Minutes, the rapid rise of prediction markets cannot be ignored – par

As employers have become accustomed to basic pay transparency obligations, states and cities have begun ramping up requirements for greater information disclosure. Proactive planning and strong decision-making regarding an organization’s culture can help alleviate the stress employers face.