Workers’ childcare needs are increasing as they return to the office, and in turn some are looking to their employers to enhance caregiving benefits.

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of working parents are back in the office full-time or in a hybrid arrangement, according to a survey conducted by KinderCare late last year in partnership with Harris Poll. Some of these workers expect employers to offer caregiving benefits as they roll out RTO policies, with 44% wanting subsidized and 41% wanting on-demand childcare.

HR leaders can survey their employees ahead of an RTO to ensure they have the proper caregiving support in place, and consider remaining flexible for workers dealing with scheduling conflicts.

For more on how employers can support working parents ahead of an RTO, keep reading here.—CV

As the Trump administration has ramped up threats against and investigations into companies with DEI initiatives over the last several weeks, more employers have acted toward DEI like a kid trying to hide their veggies under a napkin.

Just two weeks ago, for example, 12 of the 15 biggest US law firms by revenue had publicly available information on their websites touting their commitment to DEI. Now, half of those 12 have reversed course, in an apparent response to a Mar. 17 letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) acting chair, Andrea Lucas. The letter requested information from 20 law firms about their DEI practices, claiming they may be unlawful, without specifics, HR Brew previously reported.

While some of the firms, including A&O Shearman and Hogan Lovells, rebranded their DEI programs, others scrubbed their sites of their diversity messaging. Some firms, including DLA Piper and Dentons, weren’t on the EEOC’s list but made changes anyway..

For more on law firms’ response to the Trump administration’s DEI threats, keep reading here.—KP

President Donald Trump signed an executive order (EO) to end collective bargaining with unions representing an estimate of over one million federal workers, arguing national security interests justify the move.

The EO, dated Mar. 27, applies to federal unions representing workers in a wide range of agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and Treasury. Police and firefighters were exempted from the order.

Taking away these workers’ collective bargaining rights is intended to “ensure that agencies vital to national security can execute their missions without delay and protect the American people,” a fact sheet listing the exempt agencies stated.

For more on what HR needs to know about the EO, keep reading here.—CV

Join us on April 9 for a discussion on integrating digital and financial wellness into your benefits package. Discover how this approach can reduce stress, improve productivity, and boost retention. Learn from experts why cyber safety is becoming essential for employee wellness in 2025.