The HR Specialist

01/05/2026

While the federal minimum wage has not risen since being set at $7.25 per hour in 2009, many state and local governments have implemented increases to keep up with rising costs. Here are some of the increases effective Jan. 1.

01/05/2026

While no federal law specifies that employers must provide each employee with an up-to-date job description, it’s a serious mistake not to do so.

01/02/2026

The latest employment data paints a sobering picture: Unemployment hit 4.6% in November 2025, the highest rate since September 2021, as employers added only 64,000 jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the numbers tell an incomplete story, they reveal a labor market under strain from multiple pressures.

12/19/2025

The panic about AI stealing jobs might be overblown. According to a report from Wakefield Research, a market research firm, 41% of U.S. executives believe AI will remove barriers and reduce the complexity of hiring and managing global teams in 2026—fundamentally changing how and where companies compete for talent. Only 22% think AI will replace too many jobs too quickly.

12/05/2025

Burnout continues to surge across U.S. workplaces, with new data from Eagle Hill Consulting showing that 55% of employees are currently experiencing it. For HR professionals, the findings highlight an urgent need to guide managers, stabilize teams and address the structural issues fueling employee exhaustion.

12/01/2025

Sometimes business is booming. Other times, not so much. We appear to be heading into a downturn, and that means you may have to make some hard decisions, including terminations of some long-time employees. Is there a way to do so compassionately? According to lawyers at Littler participating in a recent webinar, the answer is yes.