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The beginning of summer often aligns with the beginning of the growing season for many Midwest farmers. With the rising temperatures, fruits and vegetables aren’t the only things growing this summer. Heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related injuries are major risks for employees. So how do employers ensure their workers stay safe during long days […]
In a popular television show, a parent is panicking because he can’t find his 17-year-old daughter. His best friend looks at him and says, “Well, just check the chip, didn’t you chip her? Our dog got chipped before we even left the shelter.” While it was a joke clearly designed for laughs, as we’ve seen […]
Most employees don’t spend a lot of time thinking about compliance issues, unless their job focuses on compliance or a related area. But it isn’t just the compliance, legal, and HR teams that need to be aware of and compliant with legal and compliance requirements applicable to the company. Every department, every team, and every […]
It’s winter, and when the cold winds blow, blizzards, ice storms, and dangerous temperatures often disrupt business. Certainly, bad weather can hit at any time of year, so employers always need to understand their legal obligations. But an organization’s response should go beyond those requirements. Employers also need to know how to help their employees, […]
This is part one of a two-part update on changes at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Part one discusses the regulatory changes OSHA made during fiscal year (FY) 2024. The most recent regulatory changes at OSHA have been the Employee Representative Walk-Around Rule (effective May 31, 2024), the Proposed Emergency Response Standard (published […]
On May 31, 2024, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) revisions to the “walkaround rule” went into effect. The walkaround rule sets forth a process for OSHA to conduct on-site inspections and previously allowed an employee representative to attend the inspection. What’s New with the Rule? The revisions to the walkaround rule remove […]
Twisters was a great summer movie. It had action, the hint of romance, subtle nods to original, questionable science and Glen Powell in a cowboy hat. What more can you ask for? I’m an employment lawyer living in the heart of tornado alley. So, I know a thing or two about tornados and what to […]
The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on employers’ balancing of in-person policy with potential health risks, and recent court decisions have highlighted the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) concerted collaborative efforts in protecting whistleblowing employees speaking out about on-the-job safety. NLRB, OSHA Doubling Down on Workplace Protections Top officials […]
As a proud Gen Xer, I cannot say that I watch anything on television that would be considered “new” or “current.” So when I had the flu recently, I turned to an old reliable and watched reruns of The Office (which, if you refuse to cut the cord, can be found at all times on […]
A new measure signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that prohibits local workplace standards requiring drinking water and cooling measures increases the risk of worker deaths from heat exposure, according to worker safety advocates. “The bill in Florida threatens to strip millions of workers of fundamental heat protection measures, such as access to […]