From lapel pins to lanyards to slogans on uniforms, employees are bringing social causes to work, and HR is left balancing expression, inclusion, and workplace order. A recent federal court decision involving a “BLM” message on a Home Depot apron shows where those boundaries start to take shape. Continue reading
Sometimes the timing writes the headline for you. On October 31, a federal court in New Jersey decided a harassment case that involved an unforgettable Halloween costume and a reminder that bad taste is not always a legal violation. Continue reading
An airline services company once thought a single scheduled break was enough time for a new mom to pump breast milk. The result? A federal lawsuit that is still headed to trial, and a reminder of what today’s PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act now makes crystal clear. Continue reading
“Heads I win, tails you lose.”
That’s how the Sixth Circuit described one hospital’s strategy after it tried to switch to arbitration only after losing some key early motions in court. The judges didn’t flip for it. Continue reading
In 2022, Congress passed a law that makes it harder for employers to require arbitration in certain workplace cases. Some employees are now trying to use that law to keep sex discrimination lawsuits in court. A recent case in Connecticut shows the limits of that strategy: not every sex discrimination claim counts as sexual harassment, and only sexual harassment (or sexual assault) cases are exempt from arbitration. Continue reading
It started with a sick day, a spreadsheet literally called “My Passwords.xlsx,” and a colleague trying to help. It ended with a company accusing two former employees of federal computer crimes and trade secret theft.
The Third Circuit’s response? Nice try — but workplace policy violations aren’t hacking. Continue reading
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is now law—and it brings big changes for employers: new W‑2 reporting rules, new benefit structures, ACA verification requirements, and more.
At Noon ET today, I’ll be moderating a live Zoom panel with three of the sharpest tax and benefits minds I know:
Greg McKenzie – U.S. and international tax strategist
Liz Delnegro – Corporate and tax partner advising on regulatory and credit strategy
Jewell Lim Esposito – Employee benefits lawyer with decades of ERISA experience
📍 It’s free, it’s live, and it’s happening soon.
We’ll cover what’s changing, when it takes effect, and what employers should do now. No slides—just smart insight + Q&A.
Where have I been? I took a short break from July 4 through July 14 to spend some time offline on vacation with my family. Thanks for your patience—and I promise this one was worth the wait.
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) became law on July 4—and with it, major new tax and reporting obligations for employers. From payroll compliance to fringe benefit design, much of what’s in this law affects HR, legal, and finance teams directly.
To help employers get ahead of the coming changes, we’re hosting a live Zoom panel discussion (with time for audience Q&A) featuring three top minds in tax and benefits law.
🗓️ Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Noon ET
📍 Zoom: Register here
Continue reading
The ADA bars discrimination against employees with disabilities. But what if the discrimination doesn’t happen until after the employee retires? According to the Supreme Court, the ADA doesn’t follow you into retirement. Continue reading
A pair of lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle just dropped one of the most ambitious paid leave proposals in years. It won’t create a national mandate—but it could reshape the paid leave landscape for employers across the country. Continue reading
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