Artificial Intelligence, Productivity, and the Workforce

A 2026 survey of roughly 750 corporate executives offers a clear view of how AI is showing up in organizations today. The message is straightforward. AI is being adopted widely, but not evenly. It is improving productivity in real ways, but those gains are still early and uneven. And most importantly for HR, it is changing the mix of jobs more than the total number of jobs.

More than half of companies have already invested in AI. Larger companies are much further along, while smaller organizations are still experimenting or starting small. The implication for HR departments is the need to understand that employees will not experience AI at the same pace. Talent expectations, job design, and skill needs will diverge depending on company size and maturity.

Read More

ADA Web and Mobile Accessibility Compliance – Are You Ready?

For organizations, the upcoming April 24, 2026, deadline tied to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) web and mobile accessibility compliance is more than a technical issue. It’s a workforce, risk, and inclusion priority.

The new rules formalize expectations that certain digital property websites and mobile apps must meet accessibility standards. While enforcement has historically been inconsistent, the financial penalties are clear: fines can reach $75,000 for a first violation and $150,000 for subsequent ones. More importantly, noncompliance can expose organizations to reputational damage, legal disputes, and barriers to talent and customer engagement.

Read More

Changes to I-9 Enforcement That Employers Need to Know

The U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued new rules regarding substantive and technical violations of Form I-9 on March 16. 2026. These rules have changed several technical violations into substantive violations.  The difference is the amount of the fine per day if the violations are found in an ICE audit.

In the past, specific violations, such as technical errors, did not require remediation prior to the start of an ICE I-9 audit. ICE would allow time to correct these errors during the audit process. But with the rules changing, and many technical errors being classified as substantive violations, these errors must be remediated before ICE issues their Notice of Inspection (NOI), which is sent to employers prior to the audit requesting employers to produce Forms I-9 and various employment-related documents.

Read More

Satisfaction is Not the Same as Loyalty: What Employers Need to Know Right Now   A new workforce study from HR technology company Isolved is raising important questions for employers who assume their workforce is stable. The findings, drawn from a survey of more than 1,300 full-time U.S. employees, reveal a gap between how workers feel and what they are actually planning to do next.   Read More Rethinking Return to Office: How Employers Can Earn the Commute   As organizations continue to navigate hybrid and return-to-office strategies, employees are making their expectations clear: they don’t want to come into the office just to sit on Zoom calls. With rising gas prices and general uncertainty in the air, they need to see tangible value in being in the workplace rather than at home. Employers must make the commute worthwhile by offering clear benefits such as collaboration, community, and quiet spaces for deep thinking, which are often more effective than simply enforcing in-office attendance.   Read More

The Small Business Briefing   We’ve got the pulse of small business. Tune in every Monday at 3pm ET for SBAM’s Small Business Briefing! Hosts Brian Calley and Sarah Miller bring you the latest news impacting Michigan small businesses.   Watch live on Facebook at 3PM or via Zoom.     2026 Upcoming Events   O2O Marquette Marquette May 6, 2026 Register Now!   O2O Washtenaw Ann Arbor May 19, 2026 Register Now!   O2O Kalamazoo Kalamazoo June 2, 2026 Register Now!   O2O Great Lakes Bay Bay City July 23, 2026 Register Now!