HR Brew // Morning Brew // Update

TOTAL REWARDS

Two people passing a joint, marijuana, weed

Getty Images

Cannabis advocates’ efforts to ease regulations surrounding the drug reached a new high last month when the Trump administration announced it would reschedule medical marijuana under a less strict category.

State medical marijuana products will be moved from Schedule I, the most regulated category, for drugs like heroin with no medical use and high potential for abuse, to Schedule III, for drugs with low potential for abuse like Tylenol with codeine and testosterone, according to an April 23 order from the Department of Justice. The order also moves FDA-approved products that contain marijuana to the less-regulated category, though only a few such products have been greenlit by the agency.

Though the decision to reschedule medical marijuana isn’t expected to have a major impact on employers for now, it could pave the way for more employees to request accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, legal experts told HR Brew.

For more on why rescheduling marijuana could prompt more ADA requests, keep reading here.—CV

Sponsored By Indeed

Don’t wait on better hiring

In an AI-driven world, it’s the people who matter more than ever.

And Indeed FutureWorks 2026 is where hiring professionals from across the globe will come together to explore how human judgment is their strongest advantage, especially right now.

Trust in hiring has eroded, which makes the opportunity to rebuild crucial in this moment. Discover where the talent is, how smart organizations are reaching them, and how organizations like yours are supercharging their talent teams with cutting-edge tools and trusted, in-depth data.

The virtual event is free and easy to join. Reserve your spot now, and step into the future of hiring this Sept. 2–3.

TOTAL REWARDS

The GOAT gets behind GLP-1s

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Tom Brady is the latest celebrity to tout GLP-1 medications for weight loss, and he’s pitching them specifically to healthcare workers.

EMed, will sell GLP-1s to healthcare organizations at a cost of $25 per covered life per month through a program Brady spreadheaded. The former NFL quarterback is an investor in eMed, and was named as its chief wellness officer in January. For $99 a month, eligible employees will be able to access all FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, the company said on April 15.

Linda Yaccarino, who left X to join eMed as CEO last August, told HR Brew she believes GLP-1 coverage can help healthcare employers stand out in a competitive labor market.

For more on eMed’s position in the GLP-1 landscape, keep reading here.—CV

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION

Tick tock, tick tock

"Now hiring" sign with "still" written in

Francis Scialabba

Time may fly when you’re having fun, but certainly not when you’re hiring for a tech role.

According to an April report by recruiting software company Ashby, the average technical hire needed 23.3 hours of collective interview time in Q1 2026. In comparison, the average business hire took only 12.2 hours of interview hours. Of the technical roles examined in the report (data, product management, engineering, design, and IT and security), data roles were the timeliest investment for recruiters, requiring an average of 24.9 interview hours per hire.

For more on how the hiring process can be tightened up, keep reading on IT Brew.—BM

Sponsored By Indeed

A people-first hiring world is crucial. Indeed FutureWorks 2026 is where hiring professionals from across the globe will come together to explore how human judgment is their strongest advantage. Trust in hiring has eroded, which makes the opportunity to rebuild crucial. Reserve your virtual spot now for Sept. 2–3.

WORK PERKS

A desktop computer plugged into a green couch.

Francis Scialabba

Today’s top HR reads.

Stat: More than 2,000 University of California IT and tech workers have voted to join the country’s largest tech worker union, which now represents roughly 8,400 members. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Quote: “This is exactly why you should *never* sacrifice too much for these companies. You are always disposable to them.”—a Capital One employee on social media platform Blind about the layoff anxiety among tech workers (the New York Times)

Read: In the age of AI, the American Dream may be more attainable to blue-collar than white-collar workers. (CNBC)

Hiring needs help: Indeed FutureWorks 2026 is where hiring professionals from across the globe will come together to explore how human judgment is their strongest advantage, especially right now. Reserve your virtual spot for Sept. 2–3.*

^{*A message from our sponsor.}

SHARE THE BREW

Share the Brew, watch your referral count climb, and unlock brag-worthy swag.

Your friends get smarter. You get rewarded. Win-win.

Your referral count: 0

Click to Share

Or copy & paste your referral link to others:
hr-brew.com/r/?kid=12b4b9db

Written by Courtney Vinopal, Brianna Monsanto, and Mikaela Cohen

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.

Get smarter in just 5 minutes

Business News: Morning Brew
Tech & AI News: Tech Brew
Markets News: Brew Markets
Real Estate News: The Playbook
Money & Career: Bossy

Take The Brew to work

Interested in podcasts?

Check out People Person on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

ADVERTISE // CAREERS // SHOP // FAQ

Update your email preferences or unsubscribe .
View our privacy policy .

Copyright © 2026 Morning Brew Inc. All rights reserved.
22 W 19th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011

☕ A new high