• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Hiring

Beware criminal-record questions that ignore state rules

02/23/2026
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.

January jobs surge tempered by sharp downward revisions

02/17/2026
Employers added 130,000 jobs in January, exceeding expectations and marking the strongest monthly gain since December 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report released Feb. 11. The unemployment rate declined to 4.3%, down from 4.4% in December.

How to assess candidate motivation during the interview process

02/17/2026
The question that separates average hires from exceptional ones centers on motivation: What genuinely drives a candidate to excel once they’re in the role?

Fraud topples talent scarcity as hiring’s biggest threat

02/17/2026
According to the 2026 Hiring Insights Report from interview scheduling platform GoodTime, 27% of talent-acquisition leaders now rank fake or AI-generated candidates as their top anticipated challenge—narrowly edging out the 26% concerned about talent scarcity.

DHS and DOL announce more H-2A visas for 2026

02/09/2026
The cap on nonimmigrant H-2A visas in the agriculture industry has been increased by the availability of over 64,000 additional visas for fiscal year 2026.

When the entry-level pipeline runs dry

02/02/2026
Entry-level corporate jobs once served as the default on-ramp for new graduates, but that assumption no longer holds. In a January 2026 Fortune interview, the CEO of staffing firm Randstad warned that AI is eroding many junior white-collar roles and pushing young workers toward trades and hospitality instead.

Hiring foreign workers? Here’s your plan for 2026 and beyond

02/02/2026
Here’s a plan for making sure you have the labor you need, whether you’re a health-care facility, a nursing home, a high-tech enterprise or in the agriculture, hotel and hospitality sectors.

DHS altering work-authorization expiration dates

02/02/2026
For many years, when DHS issued Employment Authorization Documents, many were valid for a five-year period. But effective Dec. 4, the valid period has changed to just 18 months.

Why hiring and layoffs can coexist in Q1 2026

02/02/2026
Nine in 10 companies say they plan to hire in 2026, yet six in 10 also expect layoffs, according to new survey data. That tension isn’t a contradiction so much as a signal.

Are you ready for the older Americans heading back to work?

01/26/2026
As an employer, you may be worried about hiring older workers. Questions may include: Are older applicants healthy enough to resume work? Do they possess the current skills necessary? How long will they stay? Unfortunately, practical as those concerns may be, legally they are irrelevant.