Pregnant Worker Fired After Missing Work to Have a Baby

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📊 HR Trends: Pregnant Worker Fired After Missing Work to Have a Baby

An HR employee shared a recent experience confronting a manager who terminated a pregnant worker for “no-call, no-show” after she went into labor. This incident underscores the ongoing tension between rigid absence policies and compassionate accommodations for expectant mothers. It also highlights the need for HR teams to ensure policies allow for empathy and lawful flexibility during major life events. Read more.

🎧 HR Insights: AI Predicts Who May Quit—So Employers Can Act

Companies are turning to AI-powered “flight risk” models to anticipate when employees might leave. By analyzing trends like sentiment shifts, declining engagement, training drop-offs, and performance changes, HR can intervene before resignations happen. Employers using these tools report attrition reductions between 20 to 30 percent, such as IBM’s success in cutting turnover by roughly 30 percent through targeted retention strategies.

💡 HR Tips & Tricks

Tip of the Day: Host a “Wellness Walk and Talk” during the workday—employees pair up or form small groups for a brief walk around the office or grounds to talk about non-work topics. It promotes well-being and informal connection.

Trick of the Day: Launch “Office Library Days” by placing books related to personal development and soft skills in a communal area. Invite employees to borrow, share notes, or recommend reads each month, inspiring continuous learning.

🧾 HR Case Files - Retention, Not Hiring, Tops Agenda for Inc. 5000 Companies

According to an Inc. study, among the fastest-growing U.S. private companies, 59 percent ranked retaining top talent among their top three HR priorities—surpassing recruiting (46 percent). Upskilling and training followed with 45 percent, then employee engagement at 43 percent. This signals a shift toward deepening existing talent and building loyalty amid growth.

Key Takeaways

• Retention outranks recruitment as a strategic focus, with nearly 6 in 10 companies prioritizing keeping their best talent.

• Investing in employee development through upskilling is nearly as high a priority as staffing new hires.

• Engagement and well-being are crucial parts of retention strategy even for fast-scaling businesses.

🧰 HR Toolbox

Stay equipped with the latest HR events and resources.

Resource of the Day

This report reveals that employee drug positivity rates in the U.S. continued above the 10-year average in 2024, with marijuana as the most common substance detected. The trend poses ongoing challenges for workplace safety, attendance, and productivity. HR teams must revisit substance-use policies, support programs, and testing practices with sensitivity and clarity.

Event of the Day

The Mortgage Bankers Association will host its in-person Human Resources Symposium on September 9–10, 2025, at their Washington, DC headquarters. The first day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by a shorter wrap-up on the second day. The event is designed to offer SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credit eligibility, with sessions on HR strategy, compliance, and innovation.

For event details and registration, visit the website. 

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