A federal court jury in Wisconsin awarded more than $125 million in punitive damages -- reduced by the judge to the statutory maximum of $300,000 -- to a Walmart employee who has Down syndrome and was fired for excessive absences. The case against the company was brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the ruling "sends a strong message to employers that disability discrimination is unacceptable in our nation's workplaces," said Charlotte Burrows, EEOC chair.

Forty percent of US employees feel very unhappy or unhappy about the prospect of returning to the office, while 36% of employers have scheduled a return date, according to a study by SmartBrief and TechRadar Pro that delves into the future of work. Among the other insights highlighted in this infographic, 52% of employers are not open to hiring remote workers, and 58% of employees say companies should subsidize internet costs for remote work, while 71% think employers should provide equipment.

A taxpayer-funded plan that would guarantee income for certain pregnant people and young people leaving foster care has passed the California Legislature with unanimous support. The program would allocate $35 million for monthly payments with no spending restrictions.

Some employers are preparing for hybrid working by partnering with local community organizations and retailers to provide work hubs in areas with high employee density to give remote workers collaborative spaces. "We have given ourselves permission to find a better way to work that factors in what towns we want to live in, what lifestyles we want and need, what is sustainable environmentally and economically, and how the team in each location is made of the communities that are there," says Greg Malpass, CEO of app developer Traction.

My son’s first year as a homeschooler was bumpy. In the first few weeks of him learning from home, he told me that, on the days when I commuted to the office, he felt so alone it overwhelmed him. His confession broke my heart.

We came up with an arrangement. He would go with me to the Valley and work from the Starbucks close to my office. After a couple hours there, he’d walk across the street to the bookstore at the mall, have lunch and finish up his work.

Poof! The feelings of isolation and being overwhelmed ended. He enjoyed getting out of the house and being around people. College students frequented the bookstore so he made friends and shed some of his shyness. His grades never suffered and he matured a ton during this time.

So I’m all for creative workspaces, as we see in today’s HR Leader story. For those employees who will continue to work remotely, a workspace that’s close by but not their living room coffee table is a huge plus. I look forward to seeing how communities respond to this demand.

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