It's a tough hiring environment these days. Many businesses have slowed or paused hiring amid economic uncertainty. So, any employer increasing its hiring volume is like a magnet for job-seekers.

That’s the case for Progressive. The insurance giant recently announced plans to hire more than 12,000 employees for 2025, up from 10,000 new hires last year. Additionally, the company’s talent acquisition team expects to receive hundreds of thousands of applications this year, Progressive’s business leader of talent acquisition, Neil Lenane, tells HR Brew. Lenane shared how the company plans to manage that volume of résumés while supporting the business’s growth.

Much of Progressive’s growth stems from booming business. Last year, Progressive added more than 5 million policies while net premiums collected grew by 21% to $74.4 billion. On top of that, the company has already added 1.3 million policies in the first quarter of 2025.

For more on Progressive’s expansion efforts amid a recruitment slowdown, keep reading here.—PM

A federal judge in Texas has struck down portions of an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) harassment guidance intended to protect LGBTQ+ employees from workplace discrimination.

In a ruling issued on May 15, Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, found that the agency exceeded its authority in issuing updated guidance in 2024 that indicated certain behaviors could violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Citing the 2020 Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which held that workplace discrimination against LGBTQ+ workers is illegal, that guidance warned against misgendering workers, as well as keeping them from accessing bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. It also indicated that requiring workers to adhere to dress codes inconsistent with their gender identity could constitute harassment under Title VII.

For more on why the judge rebuffed big parts of the EEOC’s 2024 guidance, keep reading here.—CV

Wellhub is adding Reebok fitness classes to its suite of offerings, the corporate wellness platform announced on May 21.

With the partnership, Wellhub users in the US, UK, and Germany will have access to the Reebok Fitness App, which includes workout programs, run tracking, and mindfulness offerings.

Reebok is the latest brand to sign on with Wellhub, which counts more than 3.5 million employees in its network. The company announced a similar deal with Nike Studios in January, and also has partnerships with Apple Fitness+ and Strava.

For more on how this new wellness offering may boost employee participation rates, keep reading here.—CV