A trial is set to begin in December in a case alleging that the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) engaged in racial discrimination and retaliation against a former employee.

In the case, Mohamed v. Society for Human Resource Management, Rehab Mohamed alleges her former employer terminated her from her role as a senior instructional designer after she lodged a complaint against her supervisor, whom she claimed treated her differently than her white colleagues.

That SHRM? Yes. That SHRM. The employment lawsuit was filed against one of the country’s “leading experts in human resources’ best practices,” as put in their own words in the civil complaint. The judge noted in his judgment, “Defendant is a HR membership organization that trains people on how to do HR tasks.”

What’s at issue? According to court documents, the judge concluded a jury should adjudicate some of the facts in the wrongful termination and discrimination case, including about Mohammed’s performance reviews ahead of her termination, the timing of her termination in relation to the complaint of discrimination based on race she filed, and Mohammed’s manager’s treatment of her and her fellow colleagues who were white.

For more on what to expect from the trial, keep reading here.—AD

For decades, Japan has grappled with a culture of long working hours, leading to dissatisfaction, mental health issues, and a declining birth rate. Since at least 2018, the country has stepped up efforts to encourage better work-life balance.

But Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is raising concerns that the government may abandon efforts to help exhausted workers.

In early November, shortly after the election on October 21, Takaichi called a meeting with top aides at 3am, and later told reporters that she only sleeps two-to-four hours a night, DW news reported, prompting concerns from government officials and labor unions.

Takaichi has also called on Japan’s labor minister to look into how the government could ease overtime restrictions, according to DW.

For more on Japan’s efforts to balance competing economic and mental health interests, keep reading here.—KP

Does the IT industry really have a talent and skills shortage?

That was the question of the hour for panelists during a Nov. 20 panel at Live 360! Tech Con in Orlando. The panel, moderated by TriCon Elite Consulting Principal Consultant Dave Kawula, included Veeam Software Technologist Karinne Bessette, Azure Innovators Founder John O’Neill Sr., TriCon Elite Consulting Principal Consultant Émile Cabot, and Cloud Mechanix Managing Director Aidan Finn.

The IT skills shortage has been an ongoing topic of discussion. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates computer and IT jobs will have an average of 317,700 new open roles each year between 2024 and 2034, and experts say talent shortages in areas like AI and cybersecurity will stand in the way of companies looking to hire.

For more on the IT talent shortage, keep reading on IT Brew.—BM