SMPHR Weekly Brew — Monday, June 8

Week two of the Brew — and the HR news cycle did not take a rest day. Whether you're navigating AI compliance, watching pay transparency trends, or bracing for new state laws that hit this week, there's plenty to unpack. Grab your coffee.

This Week in HR

• Colorado's AI Hiring Law Gets a Major Rewrite (Fisher Phillips) — Colorado's landmark AI anti-discrimination law — which would have required employers to conduct risk assessments and bias audits on AI hiring tools starting June 30 — was scrapped and replaced before it ever took effect. The new version is significantly lighter: pre-use notice, plain-language adverse-action explanations within 30 days, and a January 2027 effective date. Why it matters: The compliance window just extended, but the direction of travel is unmistakable. If your org uses AI anywhere in the hiring funnel, use this runway to build the audit trail before the law arrives.
• EU Pay Transparency Deadline Passes — Most Countries Missed It (Morgan Lewis) — The June 7 deadline for EU member states to codify the Pay Transparency Directive into national law came and went with only Italy, Slovakia, and Lithuania in compliance. The Netherlands, Sweden, Czech Republic, and Denmark have announced they'll implement by January 2027. First pay-gap reports for employers with 250+ employees are due June 7, 2027 — using 2026 data. Why it matters: Multinational HR teams need to document job evaluation methodology and start collecting pay equity data now, because the compliance clock starts the day local law passes.
• IL, OR & WA: Three Compliance Deadlines Hit This Week (Newsweek) — Illinois now requires unpaid NICU leave for parents of hospitalized newborns (effective June 1). Oregon prohibits retaliation against employees who update work-authorization documentation — a significant protection given current federal immigration enforcement activity (effective June 5). Washington bans requiring microchip implants as a condition of employment (June 11). Why it matters: If your company has employees in any of these states — including remote workers — check your leave, immigration, and onboarding policies today.
• Making DEI Programs Scrutiny-Proof in 2026 (HR Dive) — Under Executive Order 14398 (effective March 26), federal contractors must now certify their DEI programs don't include preferential treatment in leadership development, mentoring, or training. A 2026 Catalyst/NYU study finds 80% of U.S. companies remain committed to workplace inclusion — but are reframing programs under "culture," "fairness," and "belonging" language to reduce legal exposure. Why it matters: For HR professionals in this community, this is the defining professional challenge of 2026 — building programs that are both genuinely inclusive and legally airtight.

New in the Learning Lab

Five fresh pieces dropped in the SMPHR Learning Lab this week:

• Research: As Careers Get Longer, Midcareer Work Needs to Change — Article (HBR)
• Why Strategic CHROs Don't Wait for an Invitation — Article (HR Executive)
• Individual HSA Contribution Limit to Rise 2.27% in 2027 — Article (HR Executive)
• Accountability Is Leadership's Greatest Weakness — Article (Gallup)
• HR in the Boardroom: How To Build Executive Presence — Article (AIHR)

Coming Up

• 2026 CHRO Roundtable — How Does HR Stay at the Table? — Monday, June 22 | 8:30–10:15 AM | RGA Headquarters, Chesterfield, MO. Two weeks from today: three CHROs in candid conversation about keeping HR's seat at the table as AI rewires how work gets done. Register now.
• Employment Law Legal Update — October 2026 (date TBD) | Featuring employment law expert John Marino. Details coming soon — add it to your fall calendar now.

That's the brew for the week. Forward this to a colleague who needs it, and we'll see you next Monday. ☕