North America HR News Flash: Monday, November 2, 2026

Three NYC agencies issue joint AI enforcement policy: 'AI made the decision' is not a defense

• Three NYC agencies issued a joint AI enforcement policy stating employers answer for outcomes when software helps break the law.
• Local Law 144, enforced by DCWP, covers automated employment decision tools used to screen candidates or employees, effective January 1, 2023.
• The report cites penalties of $500 to $1,500 per day; DCWP began enforcement on July 5, 2023.

What employers should do: Inventory automated screening tools used in NYC hiring and confirm whether they fall under Local Law 144.; Check vendors' bias audits and public postings, and retain related records.

EEOC secures October settlements, including $3M from Il Fornaio and $500K from a Texas logistics firm

• The EEOC reached October settlements with several employers; HR Dive highlighted five
• Il Fornaio will pay $3 million to resolve sexual harassment allegations
• A Texas logistics company agreed to pay $500,000 over an alleged male-only hiring policy

What employers should do: Review hiring policies for restrictions based on protected characteristics such as sex; Check internal complaint and anti-harassment training mechanisms

Gator Strong Services to pay $25,000 to settle EEOC sexual harassment suit

• Gator Strong, LLC and Gator Strong NC, LLC agreed to pay $25,000 and provide other relief to settle an EEOC suit
• The suit alleges the former COO harassed an office manager and fired her when she refused to discuss a document
• The suit was filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina; the allegations are the EEOC's, not adjudicated

What employers should do: Review and update sexual harassment complaint handling and executive conduct policies; Guard against retaliatory termination of employees who refuse or complain

About 175 UAW Local 405 workers plan to strike Triumph Engine Control Systems starting Nov. 2

• About 175 workers plan to strike from Nov. 2 over wages, job security and health care
• Members voted 148-1 to authorize the strike; the contract expired at midnight on Oct. 31
• The union alleges multiple unfair labor practices by the company

DHS proposes ending deference to prior approvals in extension reviews; Indian H-1B workers may be hit hardest

• DHS proposes removing the requirement to defer to prior approvals in extension reviews.
• The proposal was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 14; comments are due Nov. 13.
• It covers H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E and P under Form I-129; Indians account for nearly 80% of H-1B continuing-employment approvals, the report says.

What employers should do: Track the comment period closing Nov. 13 and assess the impact on extensions for current foreign national employees.; Compile a list of employees whose I-129 extensions the company files and keep supporting records ready.

KFF survey: family premiums up 5% to $28,303 in 2026; national health plan alone unlikely to replace employer coverage

• Family premiums rose 5% to $28,303 in 2026
• Workers' share of premiums rose 9%
• Increases approaching double digits are forecast for 2027

What employers should do: Build 2027 benefits budget scenarios with double-digit premium increases

Georgia ACA marketplace 2027 premiums rise 11% to 29%, averaging nearly $932 a month

• Eight insurers on Georgia Access finalized 2027 rates 11% to 29% higher than last year
• The average statewide premium will be nearly $932 per month, up roughly 51% from two years ago
• Open enrollment has begun; enrollment through Georgia Access is down one-third since Jan. 1

What employers should do: Assess how 2027 premium increases affect employee benefit costs; Explain ACA marketplace premium changes and coverage options to employees

Anthropic eyes mid-November IPO as HR weighs how to retain newly wealthy staff

• About 3,000 employees may become multimillionaires after the IPO (per a Hill.com analysis)
• About 1,200 could become deca-millionaires and 50 early staff centimillionaires
• HR leaders' retention strategies include additional compensation and new opportunities

Recruitics survey: 74% of TA leaders say at least a quarter of applications contain AI-generated content

• 74% of TA leaders believe at least a quarter of applications contain AI-generated or AI-assisted content
• 77% reported more applications overstating skills; 52% saw candidates using AI in live interviews
• TA teams spend an average of 9 hours weekly on such applications

Mlily owner Healthcare Foam Spain to halt production and begin collective layoffs

• Mlily said its Spanish subsidiary Healthcare Foam S.L.U. will halt production and start collective dismissal procedures under Spanish law.
• US orders previously handled in Spain have moved to the group's US plant.
• The Q3 report cites about RMB 25 million in related management expenses; Spanish union CCOO said the plan covers 125 jobs.

Cisco gives 27-year-old engineer mandate to use AI to replace 98% of legacy code in 24 months

• Cisco plans to replace 98% of existing code with AI within 24 months
• Engineer Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy, 27, leads the project; the assignment came from Jeetu Patel
• According to Fortune, he has unrestricted AI token access and a four-week initial timeline