The NLRB has taken another step towards reducing its case numbers. This time, the move consists of saying it has no jurisdiction over the industry in which the employer allegedly operates.

In February, the commission sent letters to several law firms questioning their participation in a certification program run by a company called Diversity Lab. The company created the Mansfield Certification Program, which was supposed to help law firms achieve common diversity goals in the delivery of legal services.

• Gain a thorough review of the PWFA and what it requires, as well as when the FMLA covers pregnancy and recovery.
• Learn about the EEOC’s plans to revise PWFA regulations and which protections are on the chopping block.
• Learn all about fertility treatments under the PWFA—which ones are covered and which definitely are not.
• See what’s a reasonable accommodation under the PWFA and when it overlaps with intermittent leave under the FMLA.
• Learn all about child bonding versus post-partum recovery—is there an overlap?
• Determine which post-pregnancy accommodations are also serious health conditions under the FMLA.
• Learn why you should always dock FMLA leave when employees take leave as a reasonable pregnancy-related accommodation.

It’s often tempting to ask applicants to explain any gaps in their work history on job applications. But asking that simple question can reveal information you don’t want to have, like their criminal history. That’s especially troublesome if you operate in a state with strict rules about using an applicant’s criminal record to make the hiring decision.

Some states and major cities have stepped in, telling employers that workers are entitled to predictable schedules so they can plan for child care, second jobs, education and time away. While that’s great for workers, the patchwork of laws and rules can complicate management, especially for employers with operations across multiple jurisdictions.

Employees who broadly value their jobs and benefits packages remain stubbornly disengaged, financially stressed and skeptical about what the future holds.

A staff member wants to take Saturdays off to celebrate Shabbat. We are a 24/7 residential care facility and require staff to work an every-other-weekend rotating schedule. Under religious accommodation, would we be required to change the schedule to allow her Saturdays off, thereby having other staff members that now will have to be scheduled every weekend to cover the open shifts?

Employers shouldn’t assume that just because no one is reporting harassment, it’s not happening.

For now, contractors, grant recipients and employers will have to work with their attorneys to determine whether their programs discriminate.

The January report signals a labor market operating in a persistent low-hire, low-fire pattern that will likely extend through 2026. HR leaders should prepare for continued wage pressure even as hiring slows, particularly in health care and technical roles, where competition remains fierce.