ATLANTA – 1st Franklin Financial Corporation, a consumer lender with more than 370 branches throughout the southeastern United States, violated federal law by discriminating against a class of employees when it denied them reasonable accommodations and then fired them because of their disabilities, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Archives for July 2, 2025
Research: Executives Who Used Gen AI Made Worse Predictions
In a recent experiment, nearly 300 executives and managers were shown recent stock prices for the chip-maker Nvidia and then asked to predict the stock’s price in a month’s time. Then, half the group was given the opportunity to ask questions of ChatGPT while the other half were allowed to consult with their peers about Nvidia’s stock. The executives who used ChatGPT became significantly more optimistic, confident, and produced worse forecasts than the group who discussed with their peers. This is likely because the authoritative voice of the AI—and the level of detail of it gave in it’s answer—produced a strong sense of assurance, unchecked by the social regulation, emotional responsiveness, and useful skepticism that caused the peer-discussion group to become more conservative in their predictions. In order to harness the benefits of AI, executives need to understand the ways it can bias their own critical thinking.
Case Study: Do We Reskill or Replace Our Workforce?
To remain competitive in the internet-of-things era, should the CEO of SolidTech Innovations, a fictional elevator company, invest a lot of money in reskilling its entire staff? The industry is moving from hardware to software in the form of smart, connected elevators. But instead of laying off legacy hardware staff and hiring new talent, the CEO wants to offer the employees a “Grand Bargain”: The company will pay for voluntary reskilling and retraining, but the workers will need to take responsibility for their own futures. Those who opt in will gain valuable skills and have a future with the company; those who don’t may face demotions and pay cuts. However, there is pushback from the company’s shareholders and leaders. Some want to use the program as a fig leaf for laying off staff; others think it costs too much and might put the company at a competitive disadvantage relative to companies that are hiring technologically skilled people right away. Leaders are worried that longtime workers will balk at learning these new skills and end up quitting, causing the company to lose hundreds of years of cumulative experience. The CEO is now unsure of how to proceed.
Gen-Z Is Learning the Unwritten Rules of the Office. These Coaches Are Helping
There are unspoken rules about how to behave in offices. Not everyone has gotten the memo.
Why Healthy Curiosity At Work Can Help Break Addictive Work Habits
Curiosity helps people break out of unhelpful habits, stay focused, and find meaning at work. It turns routine tasks into chances to learn and grow.
Cultivating Workplace Culture Through Meaningful Dialogue
Esther Perel, renowned psychotherapist and relationship expert, explores how to bridge the dialogue gap to build healthy and productive workplace cultures.
AI + EQ: The Power of Emotional Intelligence in the Adoption of AI
Explore how HR leaders can drive successful AI adoption by prioritizing emotional intelligence, transparency, and trust.
Supreme Court Decisions Opened Door to More Title VII Claims
Learn how significant Supreme Court decisions strengthen protections against workplace discrimination, resulting in organizations scrutinizing their practices.
5 Ways HR Can Unlock Civility in the Workplace
Workplace civility thrives when toxic behaviors are addressed, managers are empowered, and organizational values align with actions and leadership priorities.
How to Unlock Smarter Skills-Based Talent Acquisition
Learn how to align talent, data, and culture to drive business outcomes by integrating skill-based hiring into your organization’s overall talent strategy.
Supreme Court Rejects District Courts’ Use of Universal Injunctions
Learn about the Supreme Court’s landmark opinion that struck down universal injunctions and said they likely exceed the authority Congress granted lower courts.
City of Los Angeles Hotel Workers’ Minimum Wage Increase Put on Hold
The City of Los Angeles has put the minimum wage increase for hotel workers on hold. Certain provisions were to take effect on July 1, 2025. This decision comes after a referendum petition against the ordinance was filed with the City Clerk’s office on June 27, 2025.
The ordinancewouldincrease wages
U.S. Senate Strikes Proposed 10-Year Ban on State and Local AI Regulation From Spending Bill
On July 1, 2025, the U.S. Senate nearly unanimously voted to remove a proposed ten-year ban that sought to restrict states and municipalities from enacting or enforcing laws and regulations related to artificial intelligence (AI) from President Donald Trump’s significant tax and spending bill. The removal comes as the Trump
Connecticut Appellate Court Upholds Employer’s Right to Require In-Office Work
The Connecticut Appellate Court recently affirmed summary judgment in favor of a law firm employer, holding that a legal assistant’s request to work entirely remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic was not a reasonable accommodation under state anti-discrimination law. The decision in Castelino v. Whitman, Breed, Abbott & Morgan, LLC provides
AI at Work: Who’s Liable When the Algorithm Discriminates? – Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Artificial intelligence is everywhere—from resume screening to productivity tracking—but what happens when the tech gets it wrong? In this episode, Jen dives into the legal minefield of algorithmic bias, EEO compliance, and employer liability. She will break down real-world examples, federal and state enforcement trends, and practical tips for vetting your vendors. Spoiler alert: “The algorithm did it” won’t save you.