DOL, other agencies address questions about wellness program surcharges

The Latest

• 

  District HR leaders: Keep humans in decision-making as AI’s presence grows

  With artificial intelligence gaining steam in school districts, some HR leaders also say the technology can help them be more efficient.

  Talent

• 

  SHRM tentatively backs end of EEO-1 reports, but investor group calls them ‘vital’

  The pair of public comments pushes back against EEOC’s assertion that the data collection program is overly burdensome.

  Compliance

• 

  Deloitte to pay $21.5M to settle claims its DEI programs violated federal civil rights law

  “Government contractors cannot reward or penalize employees based on race or sex,” the attorney general said.

  Compliance

• 

  McKinsey data sought in congressional DEI probe

  Brandon Gill, a Republican from Texas, decried McKinsey and Co.’s “heavy-handed” promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion practices through its oft-cited reports.

  Diversity & Inclusion

• 

  AI is evolving faster than humans can assess how best to use it

  Existing frameworks aren’t equipped to understand what performance will look like in the artificial intelligence era, Talogy said in its report.

  Talent

• 

  AI-related growth edges out job cut fears in finance execs’ tech outlook

  In an informal CFO Dive poll, 54% said they see AI’s biggest workforce impact being higher employee productivity.  

  Talent

• 

  New York Times presses EEOC for White bias records in FOIA lawsuit

  The media giant alleged the agency has dragged its feet and ignored the Times’ inquiries about when its requests for information will be met.

  Compliance

• 

  4th Circuit dismisses some charges against Wells Fargo after jury’s $22.1M fee

  Although the appeals court dismissed three or four charges following a worker’s disability trial, in affirming the fourth charge, it allowed him to retain most of his award.

  Compliance

• 

  What mentorship looks like in the disconnected era

  Successful mentorship programs are often guided but not too structured, and they don’t rely on managers being default mentors, experts told HR Dive.

  Talent

• 

  Looks matter more than resume in first impressions, study says

  “People want to think that they are making really high-level analytical decisions based on effectively evaluating evidence,” but that’s not what is happening, one professor said.

  Talent

• 

  Healthcare costs could rise by nearly 10% in 2027

  Employers cover more than 80% of the burden, but employees will also be hit by rising costs, an Aon report found.

  Talent

• 

  Feds to propose H-1B fee that would stack with controversial $100K payment

  Employers should expect litigation against the new fee once it is finalized, a source told HR Dive, similar to what occurred after last year’s fee was announced by President Donald Trump.

  Compliance

• 

  Cheerwine to settle MS disability lawsuit with EEOC for $36K

  The company denied allegations that it required an employee with multiple sclerosis to submit to a medical exam and then fired her when it received the results.

  Updated Aug. 24, 2026

  Compliance

• 

  United’s retention of harassing pilot may have been criminally negligent, judge finds

  The airline allegedly learned of a police investigation into a pilot’s distribution of a worker’s intimate images in April 2024 but didn’t act until his arrest later that year.

  Compliance

• 

  EFAA covers claims that emerge during an arbitration proceeding, 9th Circuit says

  The parties in the case conducted arbitration proceedings for a full year — but that fact alone can’t prevent plaintiffs from seeking arbitration exemption, the court held.

  Compliance

• 

  Companies that roll back DEI don’t perform better financially, study says

  “Large corporations appear to have folded under pressure for no financial gain,” a public policy scholar wrote.

  Diversity & Inclusion

• 

  Week in review: Bank of America bans consecutive remote days

  We’re rounding up last week’s stories, including HR Dive’s summer reading list for 2026.

  Talent

• 

  Feds axe contractor affirmative action requirements in trio of final rules

  The documents follow up on one of President Donald Trump’s first orders that sought to alter the federal government’s antidiscrimination enforcement work.

  Compliance

• 

  Amazon worker fired shortly after disclosing pregnancy has discrimination claim, court rules

  The alleged close connection between her disclosure, restrictions on her overtime and her termination indicated adverse action based on the pregnancy, the court said.

  Compliance

• 

  Women are significantly underrepresented in the AI workforce

  The gender disparity is even more pronounced in the highest-paying jobs and top executive levels, according to research from LinkedIn.

  Talent

• 

  Managers say they are using public AI tools to prepare for hard conversations

  That use can include inputting employee names and performance details into a public artificial intelligence platform, a survey found.

  Talent

• 

  Skilled labor demand is exploding. AI may be both a cause and a solution

  A survey by the National Fire Protection Association found that while AI is putting pressure on an already stretched fire and safety workforce, it is also making their jobs easier.

  Talent

• 

  This week in 5 numbers: Employees struggle to find time for upskilling

  Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week — including how many consecutive business days Bank of America employees are allowed to work remotely.

  Compliance

• 

  Feds propose ‘Trump Account’ regulations as older workers’ retirement hopes dwindle

  Trump Accounts will help eligible children “enjoy years of compound earnings for their future college, retirement and other needs,” an IRS leader said.

  Comp & Benefits

• 

  More than a third of workers say their retirement age has moved later

  Employees’ reasons for delaying retirement included the cost of living, not earning enough and a lack of savings.

  Comp & Benefits

More stories