Ginger Christ

This week in 5 numbers: For some workers, a cavity is better than talking politics Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how many employers are advertising training opportunities to potential candidates.

Talking politics at work? No thanks, employees say. “Employers need to establish clear boundaries that foster respect, neutrality, and inclusion,” a Monster career expert said.

House bill would codify Trump’s order to allow cryptocurrency in 401(k) plans The Retirement Investment Choice Act is meant to “democratiz[e] access to alternative investments for 401(k) investors.”

Countdown is on for employers to comply with California’s ‘stringent’ AI regulations The rules will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026, and will likely be the most restrictive in the country, Littler attorneys say.

Brittany Panuccio confirmed by Senate as commissioner, restoring EEOC quorum EEOC has operated with only two commissioners since January, when President Donald Trump fired Democratic commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels.

Hiring managers say they will pay for in-demand skills “Specialized skills are the currency of today’s job market,” Robert Half’s operational president said.

This week in 5 numbers: Hiring managers eye new benefits to recruit workers Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how many big U.S. companies are under scrutiny for their H-1B hiring practices.

EEOC sues Apple for allegedly discriminating, retaliating against a Jewish worker The lawsuit is the latest in a series of religious accommodation complaints filed by the agency, demonstrating the Trump administration’s priorities.

Join me at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday, Oct. 8 for an HR Dive panel discussion with J. Michael McMillan of Deel and Mari Peterson of USI Insurance Services about how rising healthcare costs are affecting companies' open enrollment strategies.

Building open enrollment for 2026 and on | DiveLive It’s an open secret that employers’ healthcare benefits costs have grown at an unsustainable rate; the average plan expected increases of more than 10% in 2025 alone, according to WTW data. Combine that with general cost-of-living increases, and it’s no wonder why employers and their insurers ...

Have you had to pay to apply for a job? Or does your company charge a fee to applicants?

A recent survey found that 1 in 5 organizations were considering adopting a pay-to-pay model in recruiting amid the proliferation of AI-driven resumes.

I'd love to hear your experience or insights for an upcoming column. Feel free to comment or send me a message or email ([email protected]).

1 in 5 Employers May Adopt Pay-to-Apply Model as AI Resumes Overwhelm Hiring Teams - Airesumebuilder.com An AIResumeBuilder survey found that 1 in 5 hiring managers say more than half of the resumes they receive are AI-generated.

2026 raises expected to hold steady, compensation leaders report “Today’s labor market is one of recalibration, not retreat,” an economist at The Conference Board said.

Appeals court rules that Georgia county can exclude gender-affirming surgeries from insurance coverage In a rehearing, the court reversed its May 2024 opinion, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial U.S. v. Skrmetti decision from June.