The HR Specialist

09/07/2026

Two recent surveys highlight the anticipated skyrocketing rise in health care costs employers can expect in 2027. The first, performed by consulting firm Marsh, formerly known as Mercer, surveyed employers as part of its continuous National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans. Employers reported that the cost of their current plans would increase by 11% on... View Article

09/07/2026

According to a recent study in the journal Administrative Sciences, for employers that want to retain mothers with young children, the key is workplace flexibility. The study, performed at Sacred Heart University, found that mothers whose jobs provided flexibility were far more likely to remain in the workplace full-time than those who were not provided... View Article

09/07/2026

Two weeks ago, we reported on a case in which the only Black employee was separated from her peers during a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training. As the only Black employee, she was placed in a separate Zoom breakout room during the training. The EEOC sued on her behalf, likening her exclusion to illegal... View Article

09/07/2026

The Department of Homeland Security is updating the cost and scope for filing an H-1B petition. Soon, employers will have to pay a $103,265 fee with each petition to sponsor a foreign worker for one of the limited number of visas available. The proposal is open for public comments until September 25 and goes further... View Article

08/24/2026

With Labor Day quickly approaching, it’s soon time to plan out the rest of the HR year. Some tasks will need to be completed well before the busy last two months of the year, while others can wait a little longer. Here’s a suggested approach: This is a good month to take stock of what... View Article

08/03/2026

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS)-linked employment authorizations for Haitians effective last week. The announcement came as a follow-up to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Mullin v. Doe, in which the court determined that DHS has the authority to terminate TPS for citizens of countries that no... View Article