Southern California has experienced devastating wildfires in recent weeks, affecting the thousands of people who live and work in the region. And for HR pros in the area, the current crisis may serve as a reminder of the importance of having a plan in place to keep employees safe.

“There’s a whole host of considerations, starting with safety concerns that might be first and foremost for employers,” said Andrew Sommer, employment lawyer at law firm Fisher Phillips. He told HR Brew that there are some protocols that California employers are required to follow under the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA.

Sommer and Tracy Watts, a senior partner and national leader for US health policy at consulting firm Mercer, shared with HR Brew what California people pros should do to protect employees amid wildfires.

What HR is required to do. Workplaces that are outdoors, or exposed to outdoor conditions, like a mechanic shop, are required to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) in order to limit employees’ exposure to poor air quality, Sommer said.

Keep reading here.—MC

Corporate America’s DE&I programming just took another hit. On Jan. 24, retail giant Target announced it would change several aspects of its DE&I programming, including ending its three-year DE&I goals, focusing its employee resource groups (ERGs) on development and mentorship, and ceasing reporting to external groups like the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index, which benchmarks corporate policies for LGBTQ+ inclusion.

The company said, however, that it remains “focused on driving our business by creating a sense of belonging for our team, guests and communities through a commitment to inclusion.”

An LGBTQ+ leader. Prior to its DE&I rollback, Target had long been hailed as a top employer for LGBTQ+ workers, earning its first perfect score on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, designating it a “leader in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion,” in 2009. It earned that same score on the 2025 ranking. Its ERG for LGBTQ+ workers also won an “Outie” award for “ERG of the Year” from LGBTQ+ workplace activism nonprofit Out & Equal in 2013. Now, it seems Target may have even removed from its website press releases related to its LGBTQ+ activism.

Zoom out. The retail giant is the latest of several large companies to backtrack on DE&I programming, including participation in the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.

Keep reading here.—PM

Many execs have long insisted that AI is here to augment rather than replace human workers. Or that jobs made obsolete by AI will be offset by new roles the technology creates. But as LLMs evolve, could that math be changing?

Recent reports paint perhaps a more troubling picture of the impact that advanced AI capabilities could have on jobs. While many businesses are still figuring out how generative AI fits into their operations, execs are already starting to consider the tech as a factor in hiring.

The wave of reports also comes as experts expect AI systems to grow more autonomous, as agents that can perform routine tasks replace chatbots as the object of business fixation.

Keep reading on Tech Brew.—PK

Wellness programs can sometimes miss the mark, impacting how employers support their workers’ mental, physical, and financial well-being. Explore strategies to align initiatives with employee needs and rebuild trust. Empower your workforce with meaningful, effective programs that truly make a difference.