Articles by Editorial Staff

December 1, 2020

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Interim Final Rule on H-1B Visa Classification to Go into Effect

On December 7th, 2020, an important interim final rule (IFR) from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will officially take effect. This IFR, “Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program," was originally published on October 8th, 2020. According to the DHS, the IFR strengthens H-1B nonimmigrant visa programs, protects U.S. workers, and restores the program’s integr...

November 30, 2020

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Department of Labor: Protect Workers and Their Pay During the Holidays

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has a reminder for employers this holiday season regarding safety and pay. Firstly, as enforced by the DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers must keep employees safe in the workplace. Secondly, under laws enforced by the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), employers must also protect worker pay by following proper wage & ho...

November 30, 2020

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EEOC Seeks Input on Religious Discrimination Enforcement Guidance

On November 17th, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced its need for public input on updated guidance. The guidance discusses how Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) protects individuals from workplace religious discrimination. It also sets forth the legal protections available to religious employers. The updated information will be in the EEOC’s Comp...

November 25, 2020

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OSHA Updates Guidance on Cloth Face Coverings

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published an update to COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions. Released November 18th, the resource now addresses OSHA’s opinions on cloth face coverings as “personal protective equipment” (PPE). The update comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced their own findings about clot...

November 24, 2020

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DHS Extends Form I-9 Flexibility

On November 18th, 2020, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of rule flexibilities related to Form I-9 compliance. The initial rule update, announced earlier this year, was set to expire on November 19th, 2020. Due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend this policy until December 31st, 2020. Background of Original O...

November 23, 2020

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IRS Guidance on PPP Expense Deductions

On November 18th, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued additional guidance on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Created in conjunction with the Treasury Department (Treasury), the guidance addresses the tax treatment of PPP expenses. More specifically, when a loan from the Small Business Administration’s PPP is not forgiven by the end of the year. As part of the guidance, b...

November 19, 2020

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EEOC Recovers Record $535 Million for Discrimination Victims in FY2020

On November 16th, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its annual Fiscal Year 2020 Agency Financial Report. According to the report, the agency secured a record $535 million in recovery for victims of discrimination in the workplace during fiscal year 2020, which ended September 30th, 2020. Additionally, the agency also made significant progress in managing pe...

November 17, 2020

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Labor Department Announces Requirements for Pooled Benefit Plans

On November 12th, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule establishing registration requirements for pooled benefit plan providers. The rule implements registration requirements pursuant to the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act). Background of the SECURE Act The SECURE Act amended both the Employee Retirement Income Security ...

November 16, 2020

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Final Rule Restricts Retirement Investment Fiduciary Considerations

On October 30th, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) released final rule “Financial Factors in Selecting Plan Investments.” In an earlier proposed rule, the DOL aimed to regulate environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing by employee benefit plans. These were plans that fall subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). In the final rule, however, the DOL ...

November 10, 2020

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OSHA Releases Most Frequently Cited Standards Related to COVID-19

On November 7th, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued guidance for employers. The guidance included a one-pager created to help employers understand what standards are most frequently cited during coronavirus-related inspections. OSHA based these documents on data from citations recently issued. Many of the findings were the re...

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Editorial Staff

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Practical articles on HR, Safety, compliance, and people operations—written for real businesses, not legal textbooks.

EPA Aligns Hazardous Chemical Requirements with Latest Hazard Communication Standard

At the end of June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule updating the agency’s current hazardous chemical inventory reporting requirements. Specifically, the rule aligns those requirements with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA’s) Hazard...

EEOC Rescinds Permissible Affirmative Action Guidance

On June 30, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) officially rescinded two longstanding documents relating to permissible affirmative action. The documents were part of the EEOC's guidance on affirmative action under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

USCIS, E-Verify Issues Updated Temporary Protected Status Guidance for Seven Countries

On June 25th, 2026, the United States Supreme Court (Court) issued a decision in Mullin v. Doe that has ramifications for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for some employees. Specifically, the decision allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to move forward with ending...

DOJ Challenges EEOC's Stance on Disparate Impact Claims

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently issued a legal opinion that may signal major changes ahead in federal workplace discrimination enforcement. In a June 9, 2026 memorandum, the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) expressed the opinion that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's...

Department of Labor Issues 2026 Civil Penalty Update: No Adjustments This Year

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently published its annual update announcement regarding federal civil monetary penalties under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. In a notice published in the Federal Register on May 27th, 2026, the DOL announced that no penalty increases...

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Articles by Editorial Staff