Articles by Editorial Staff

February 16, 2021

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Investment Advice Exemption Rule Now in Effect

On February 16th, 2021, new fiduciary investment advice guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) went into effect. Enforced by the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the rule follows the guidelines explained within Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2020-02. This final rule comes after the DOL issued a rule on employee benefit plan rights. The Biden administration...

February 15, 2021

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CDC Updates COVID-19 Guidance on Masks, Vaccinations, and Quarantines

Since early February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 guidance pertaining to exposure and containment. Specifically, the updated content has to do with mask protection, when to quarantine, and the use of vaccines. The th...

February 9, 2021

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EEOC Issues Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Performance Report

On January 19th, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a press release discussing the agency’s annual performance report. Namely, the EEOC announced that it secured a record amount of recovery for victims of discrimination. The agency also touted that it continued to provide vital services to the public through the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the EEOC reported on i...

February 8, 2021

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Tech Firm Resolves Discrimination Claims

The Department of Labor (DOL) has reached a settlement with Google LLC to resolve allegations of compensation and hiring discrimination. Announced February 1st, 2021, Google will pay over $3.8 million to more than 5,500 current employees and job applicants. The news release comes weeks after the DOL increased civil monetary fines and penalties for violating the agency’s laws. Background on Cas...

February 5, 2021

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Executive Order Expands Title IX LGBTQ Discrimination Prohibitions

On January 20th, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed Executive Order (EO) 13988 into law. The EO, as issued, expands sex discrimination prohibitions under both Title VII and Title IX. Specifically, the EO states sex discrimination can include discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. EO 13988 was one of the many Executive Orders that President Biden signed during...

February 3, 2021

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Extension for I-9 Compliance Flexibilities Announced

On January 27th, 2021, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension to a temporary policy regarding Form I-9 compliance. This announcement is in addition to similar extensions granted throughout 2020 regarding compliance with Form I-9 rules. Now, due to continued COVID-19 precautions, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend this policy until March 31st, 202...

February 2, 2021

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OSHA Issues Stronger Workplace Guidance on COVID-19

On January 29th, 2021, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced new workplace guidance on COVID-19. The safety guidance helps employers to implement a coronavirus prevention program and better identify workplac...

February 2, 2021

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UPDATED: Executive Order 13950 Training Prohibitions Overturned

Updated February 2nd, 2021 - (Originally Posted January 22nd, 2021) On January 20th, 2021, after taking office, President Joseph R. Biden overturned Executive Order (EO) 13950. Named “Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping,” EO 13950 prohibited federal contractors from including topics in their diversity and inclusion trainings. For example, EO 13950 specifically prohibited anti-American race a...

February 1, 2021

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DOL Ends Self-Reporting Violations Program

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced an immediate end to its Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program. In 2018, DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) launched the PAID program. Generally, PAID allowed employers to self-report federal minimum wage and overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The self-reporting aspect allowed employers to avoid litigat...

January 26, 2021

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Biden Orders OSHA to Create COVID Protections

In his first week in office, President Joseph R. Biden issued and signed a slew of new Executive Orders (EOs). On January 21st, 2021, the president issued an EO entitled “Protecting Worker Health and Safety.” The purpose of this EO is to provide enforcement of more stringent worker safety standards by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Contents of the Executive O...

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Editorial Staff

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Practical articles on HR, Safety, compliance, and people operations—written for real businesses, not legal textbooks.

Latest EEOC Enforcement Data Shows Increased Pre-Litigation Activity

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released its FY 2025 performance and enforcement results. In a news release dated April 6th, 2026, the agency reported increased monetary recoveries for victims of employment discrimination and increased enforcement activity overall....

EEOC Pens Letter to Companies Regarding Title VII Compliance and DEI Initiatives

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently issued a letter to 500 of the largest employers in the United States regarding Title VII compliance and potentially "illegal" DEI initiatives. Notably, the document was drafted for the chief executive officers, general counsel, and board...

NLRB Officially Reinstates Previous 2020 Joint Employer Standard

On February 26th, 2026, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) officially reinstated its 2020 Joint Employer standard. Specifically, to do so, the agency needed to formally withdraw a 2023 Joint Employer standard. That final rule was to go into effect on February 26th, 2024.

OSHA Releases New Job Safety and Health Workplace Poster

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new workplace job safety and health notice. Specifically, the OSHA Cares Job Safety and Health poster informs workers about their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. Per OSHA’s poster page, employers do...

Agency Releases Newly Proposed Independent Contractor Status Rule; Seeks Employer Comments

On February 26th, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule designed to help determine independent contractor status. Overall, the new independent contractor rule would help employers better understand when a worker is an employee. Conversely, the rule will allow employers to...

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Articles by Editorial Staff