Compliance Stuff

The recent $18.5 million settlement in  Huntsman v. Southwest Airlines Co.  represents the largest USERRA class action recovery reported to date and signals a significant shift in how employers approach paid short term military leave when other comparable short leaves (e.g., jury duty, bereavement) are paid. Under the proposed deal, approximately 2,791 employees will share monetary relief and—importantly—the company will implement up to 10 paid days per year of short term military leave beginning in 2026 and continuing through 2030. This paid-leave policy acts as a practical benchmark for HR leaders across industries. Courts across multiple circuits—including the Seventh, Third, and Ninth—now agree: if you pay for jury duty or bereavement leave, you must treat short-term military leave equally . This is not an industry-specific issue; retail and logistics employers have also faced multimillion-dollar settlements. The policy implemented under the  Huntsman  settlemen...

Despite months of intense lobbying and a last-minute legislative scramble, Colorado’s sweeping AI anti-bias law is still set to take effect on February 1, 2026 . But the tech industry isn’t done fighting. After lawmakers just adjourned the 2025 legislative session without passing any changes to the artificial intelligence law, a coalition of tech companies and business groups is now pressuring Governor Jared Polis to call a special session to delay or revise the law before it kicks in . The latest developments mark a dramatic turn in the most closely watched state AI battle in the country, but they leave employers wondering how to face an uncertain regulatory landscape. What do you need to know about these developments and what should you do as we await final resolution? Starter Pack of FP Resources on Colorado’s AI Law 📄  Read our summary of the law’s core provisions. 📄  See what the state’s AI task force said about compliance complexity. 📄  Track Colorado’s earlier ...