The Future Of Work Under The New Administration: Labor Laws, AI Regulations, & Hiring Trends
With a new administration in the White House, shifts in economic policies, taxation, trade, and the broader business landscape are inevitable. Following President Trump’s inauguration, companies and employees alike are closely watching the potential impacts on hiring, workforce regulations, and market conditions.
With so many changes on the horizon, we were thrilled to partner with Charter, the workplace media company, for our March webinar to help make sense of it all. Massella Dukuly, Head of Workplace Strategy & Innovation, has been at the forefront of tracking these shifts and dove into policy changes, DEI, AI regulations, and more.
Check out the full 1-hour webinar below or read on for a brief synopsis of the three topic areas that were covered.
Before we dove in, we shared some exciting news—Pillar is now part of the Employ family! A few weeks ago, we announced our acquisition by Employ, the market-leading intelligent hiring platform. Together, we’re eliminating inefficiencies, removing bottlenecks, and empowering hiring teams to focus on what they do best—connecting with top talent.
With that, we jumped right into the first topic…
1.) Navigating Recent & Upcoming Policy Changes
With the new administration, we've seen some key policy shifts, including the rollback of DEI initiatives, a wave of executive orders, and significant immigration changes. As a result, the responsibility now falls on employers to navigate these evolving challenges.
When it comes to immigration, Massella highlighted several critical considerations for organizations:
- Relocating employees to more stable locations
- Providing legal support for affected employees
- Auditing your workforce (identifying remote workers, potential documentation concerns, etc.)
- Reviewing employment policies in light of evolving labor laws
- Monitoring state-level actions, which may diverge from federal priorities
Given the complexity of these changes, Massella recommends forming a cross-functional task force and prioritizing scenario planning to stay ahead.
2.) A New Framework For DEI
Despite increasing attacks on corporate DEI initiatives, a live audience poll revealed that 76% of organizations are still making DEI a priority. According to Massella, companies are embedding DEI into their culture by linking it to tangible business outcomes rather than just rhetoric.
To navigate the evolving DEI landscape, organizations should focus on four key actions:
- Define and reframe your DEI philosophy – shift the focus from terminology to measurable impact
- Audit your programs – ensure you understand why each initiative matters to the business
- Move from ideology to outcomes – focus on data-driven results rather than abstract ideals
- Show what DEI means in action – demonstrate real progress through policies and programs
Once again, forming a cross-functional task force—not just HR—can help drive meaningful impact.
3.) Laying The Foundation For AI
Charter has been closely monitoring AI regulations worldwide, with the EU AI Act leading the charge by categorizing AI systems based on risk. In contrast, the U.S. is taking a slower approach, making it crucial for organizations to stay informed about state-level regulations.
Another key consideration? Training. Massella emphasizes that AI training should be mandatory—not just on how to use AI, but also on its risks and limitations. Allowing employees to opt out could create a major skills gap within organizations, making it essential to ensure everyone is equipped to navigate the evolving AI landscape.
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To wrap up, Massella emphasized that policy changes are creating a lot of noise, making it hard to keep up. Charter is actively tracking these developments, so be sure to check them out here for real-time insights on what’s happening and the key actions organizations should take right now.
Huge thanks to Massella for joining us today and sharing all her great knowledge and perspectives! Don't forget to check out the entire webinar linked above to uncover even more of her insights around these three areas.
Before we wrap up, we’d usually share the link to our next webinar—but this time, we have a little update! This was our final Pillar webinar. Moving forward, you can catch us on Employ webinars, so be sure to follow them on LinkedIn to stay in the loop on all upcoming events.
