The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission got a relatively slow start this year, largely hampered by its sudden lack of a quorum in late January. But with the recent confirmation of Brittany Pannuccio restoring that quorum, the agency has signaled it will pursue a range of Trump-specific priorities.
We’re no longer just talking about artificial intelligence — it’s now being integrated into the workplace, although without much strategy or organization. Employers are putting a premium on AI-skilled workers, but employees said they still don’t have access to the training that might help, leaving the workforce at a digital impasse.
First Amendment cases grew in importance this year, particularly after the Sept. 10 fatal shooting of conservative speaker Charlie Kirk. Employees reacted to Kirk’s killing on social media, with some posts resulting in calls for them to be fired. If organizations didn’t have a social media policy in place, HR may be scrambling to develop one now.
We’ll be watching these and other trends in the new year. As you follow along, please consider sharing our newsletter with your colleagues and industry peers. You can help them sign up here: https://www.hrdive.com/signup/insiders/?signup_referred_by=5ee032955287d560c951f019
We hope you have a safe and peaceful new year, and we’ll be back in your inboxes in 2026.
Emilie Shumway, Editor, HR Dive
December 30, 2025