Mar 03, 2026

1. Subject: Employee or Independent Contractor? DOL Proposes New Rules

   Summary: The Department of Labor has proposed new rules that revert to a more business-friendly approach in classifying workers between employees and independent contractors. This follows recent changes impacting workplace benefits and compliance culture. HR leaders should stay updated on these evolving rules to manage classifications accurately and avoid legal risks.

2. Subject: March 2 – EEOC: Agencies may restrict trans workers’ bathroom access | HR pros on the moves

   Summary: The EEOC has overturned a 2015 ruling and now allows agencies to restrict bathroom access for transgender federal workers consistent with their biological sex, impacting workplace policy on gender identity. Meanwhile, HR continues to face challenges regarding state-law compliance, turnover in HR leadership involving AI skills, and evolving employee engagement strategies.

3. Subject: March 2 – AI skills the most difficult to find | A productivity problem looms?

   Summary: AI-related skills have surpassed IT and engineering as the hardest to hire for, signaling a new talent crisis. At the same time, CHROs must balance technical upskilling with preserving fundamental HR skills. Additionally, there are concerns about workplace productivity and the EEOC’s updated stance on bathroom policies for trans workers.

4. Subject: 📓 Metrics that matter

   Summary: Traditional HR metrics like engagement scores and turnover rates may no longer be effective in today’s rapidly changing, AI-driven work environment. Instead, organizations should focus on measuring collaboration through Organizational Network Analysis, quality of decision-making by managers, and learning velocity to understand how employees acquire and apply new skills quickly. These new metrics provide deeper insights into how work actually gets done and support better people decisions.

5. Subject: March 2 – A flurry of federal compliance activity | Trump touts ‘we ended DEI’

   Summary: Recent activities from federal labor and employment agencies include significant compliance updates and legal challenges, such as the DOJ suing University of California over antisemitism allegations and the NLRB’s application of joint employer standards. Meanwhile, former President Trump claims to have ended DEI initiatives, which has led to mixed employer responses regarding diversity programs.

6. Subject: How to build an effective bystander culture

   Summary: Building a strong bystander culture involves more than policies—it requires creating strategic infrastructures such as team-based codes of conduct, gentle corrections, and optimized operational rhythms to promote civil and lawful workplace behavior. HR professionals are encouraged to develop such frameworks to foster high-performance, inclusive behaviors and effectively address issues like job abandonment.

7. Subject: Is your harassment training decision defensible?

   Summary: Harassment training impacts every employee, making the choice of vendor critical for HR and compliance teams. Emtrain’s free 2026 Harassment Training Buyer’s Guide assists in selecting providers that ensure legal compliance and drive genuine behavior change rather than just training completion. This guide aims to help organizations make defensible, effective decisions in harassment prevention.

Stay Well!