Expert Compliance Insights & Tips for Businesses

On January 16th, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued antitrust guidelines for business activities affecting workers. Markedly, these guidelines were jointly issued with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Antitrust Division. In general, the guidelines explain how both the FTC and DOJ assess whether business practices affecting workers violate antitrust laws.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released its 2024 Annual Performance Report (APR). The APR contains the EEOC’s program results, accomplishments, and management challenges for the fiscal year 2024.  

On January 10th, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) made civil monetary penalty adjustments for 2025. In brief, these penalties are assessed annually and enforced by the DOL. Altogether, the adjustments are pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act). The final rule is effective January 15th, 2025. 

On December 19th, 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its 2023 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), providing a count of workplace fatalities in the U.S. during the calendar year. In total, the BLS recorded 5,283 workplace fatalities in 2023. 

On December 11th, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a regulatory update regarding personal protective equipment (PPE). Specifically, the DOL stated that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized revisions to the PPE standard for construction. 

On December 3, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it recovered a significant amount in wage and hour damages for employees. Specifically, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) stated that it received more than $2.4 million for 341 employees. 

On November 25, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced updates to the annual benefits plan report/return filings. In general, the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) teamed up with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). As part of this joint effort, the agencies released informational copies of the 2024 Form 5500, Form 5500-SF, IRS Form 5500-EZ, IRS Form 5558, and related instructions online. Subsequently, the IRS will release paper copies of Form 5500-EZ and instructions for 2024 separately on its website. This will occur after January 1st, 2025. Previously, in February 2024, the DOL announced that under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the EBSA recovered $1.435 billion for ERISA complaints and other benefits violations in fiscal year (FY) 2023.

On November 19, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it recovered a significant amount in back wages and damages for employees. Specifically, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) stated that it received more than $1.4 million for 36 Mexican engineers. 

Previously, WorkWise Compliance reported that a Texas District Court blocked the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) new overtime exemption rules for Texas government employees. Specifically, on June 28th, 2024, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the DOL likely exceeded its authority in implementing its final overtime provisions rule. Additionally, the State of Texas (in State of Texas v. U.S. Dep’t of Labor) filed suit trying to stop the new overtime rule from taking place. 

A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report revealed that employers reported decreased nonfatal workplace illnesses and injuries in 2023. This drop within private industry workplaces showed an 8.4 percent fall from 2022. A 56.6 percent drop in illnesses drove the decrease. Overall, the report examines the key factors contributing to the increase as reported to the BLS. In November 2023, the BLS released its 2022 Survey of Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses. The 2022 Survey, however, showed an increase in workplace illness and injuries year over year.