AI-curated news for your industry

Although employment immigration laws have not changed over the past two years, the rise of remote work and the backlog in the immigration system have presented employers with new challenges. Based on insights from multiple management-side attorneys, this article analyzes key risk points such as H-1B employees working remotely from different locations, changes in salary standards, virtual I-9 form reviews, and consular delays, and offers compliance recommendations.

Hybrid work models are increasingly common in return-to-work plans, but the reasonable accommodation needs of visually impaired and hearing-impaired employees may be overlooked. Experts point out that employers need to provide personalized support in equipment configuration, virtual meetings, recruitment processes, and other areas, and comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the 'Stop WOKE Act' on April 22, 2022, which takes effect on July 1, prohibiting public and private employers with 15 or more employees from teaching eight categories of concepts based on race, color, sex, and national origin in workplace training. Legal expert Cindy-Ann L. Thomas stated that businesses with operations or employees in Florida are subject to the law, and its vague wording may prompt employers to adopt a 'strategic pause' strategy. Meanwhile, plaintiffs, including DEI consultant Tami Hodo, have filed lawsuits, with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for June 21.

U.S. federal regulators focused on workers with employment gaps on Thursday. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Charlotte Burrows noted that this diverse group faces "greater difficulty" in achieving equal employment opportunities. During an online event on April 28, officials and experts discussed employment barriers faced by four groups during the pandemic—caregivers, older workers, people with disabilities, and those with criminal records—and proposed measures companies could take to improve.

In an interview with HR Dive, Zoe Gross, Director of Advocacy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), pointed out that employers should abandon derogatory terms such as "deficits" and truly support autistic employees through inclusive language and reasonable accommodations. The article explores systematic improvement paths from recruitment interviews to the office environment.

Ahead of the April 22 shareholder meeting, Guess's board is backing co-founder Paul Marciano's re-election, but lawsuits over sexual misconduct allegations, opposition from activist investors, and insurers' retreat have put board governance issues in focus. Legal experts note that the board's 2019 decision to reinstate Marciano could constitute 'aiding and abetting sexual harassment,' while brand monitoring data shows the public does not closely associate the Guess brand with Marciano himself, contradicting the board's claim that 'Paul is Guess.'

As the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) prepares new rules for 2022, human resources (HR) may become a focal point. In 2020, the SEC revised rules requiring companies to disclose 'human capital resources,' but lacked specifics. This year may bring more concrete requirements, including board diversity and human capital management disclosures. Investors are increasing pressure on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, and the role of the CHRO will undergo fundamental changes.

In December 2021, Kronos Private Cloud was hit by a ransomware attack, causing payroll and attendance disruptions for multiple employers. Although the outage was described as 'unprecedented,' most surveyed customers said they would continue using Kronos, but the incident also sparked discussions about vendor dependency, backup plans, and legal risks.

As the U.S. labor market tightens, employers increase wages, but inflation offsets real gains. Companies are adopting more flexible financial rewards such as mid-year raises and instant bonuses, while also focusing on non-compensation factors like career development and flexibility to stay competitive in the talent war.