Articles by Editorial Staff

Department of Labor Adjusts Child Labor Penalties

December 5, 2023

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On November 28th, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) updating child labor penalties. According to the federal agency, in recent years, there has been a significant rise in child labor violations. Subsequently, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) implemented new procedures for assessing Child Labor Civil Money Penalties (CL CMP). Specifically, th...

November 28, 2023

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NLRB Finalizes 2023 Joint Employer Rule

RECENT UPDATES: For updates on the status of this rule, click here. On October 26th, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or the Board) released its joint employer final rule. The final rule rescinds the previous 2020 final rule. According to the NLRB, the previous rule set a higher threshold and included joint employment descriptions contrary to the statute and Congressional inten...

EEOC Systemic Discrimination Cases Double

November 21, 2023

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According to a new report, in 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) took significant strides against systemic discrimination. All in all, the agency states that this was a year of robust action and impactful outcomes. Overall, the EEOC’s Fiscal Year 2023 Agency Financial Report (AFR) sheds light on its financial management and key performance results. The agency made the...

Employers Report Surge in Previous Year Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

November 14, 2023

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A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report revealed that employers reported increased nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2022. This surge within private industry workplaces showed a 7.5 percent rise from 2021 and raised significant concerns within the workforce. Overall, the report examines the key factors contributing to the increase as reported to the BLS. In December 2022, th...

OSHA & NLRB Boost Whistleblower Protections

November 7, 2023

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On October 31st, 2023, two federal agencies announced that they joined forces to fortify whistleblower protections in the workplace. Accordingly, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) shared details about this collaboration. In summary, the two agencies will provide more information-sharing, outreach, and training efforts on whistleblower provisions. Both a...

IRS Announces Higher 2024 Retirement Limits

November 7, 2023

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On November 1st, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) unveiled updated retirement contribution limits for retirement plans beginning in 2024. In summary, the agency stated that these adjustments are part of its commitment to help Americans secure their financial futures. Previously, in August 2023, the IRS announced a two-year transitional period for employers to implement a Roth IRA catch-...

Deadly Rooftop Fall Underscores Urgency of Fall Prevention Measures

November 6, 2023

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As stated in a November 3 news release, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited a construction company that failed to institute proper fall prevention measures. In this case, the incident occurred at a Glen Cove, New York, worksite on April 14th, 2023. Subsequently, a federal workplace safety investigation under OSHA found that a Huntington contractor could have ...

Good-Faith Compliance May Prevent Penalties

March 7, 2023

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On February 27, the California Court of Appeal, 2nd District, announced a ruling involving wage penalties and “good faith compliance.” Markedly, the decision was in response to a May 2022 California Supreme Court ruling on meal and rest break premiums. Generally, that ruling stated that premium payments owed under Labor Code section 226.7 for meal and rest breaks constitute “wages.” The Court ...

DOL Replaces Contractor Religious Exemption Rule

March 7, 2023

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On February 28, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) released a memo on religious exemption. By and large, the document explains the rescission of a previous 2020 rule that applied religious exemption to federal contractors and subcontractors. That rule, “Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exempt...

Employer Willfully Exposed Workers to Eye Hazards

March 7, 2023

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According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a Texas metal-plating company willfully exposed workers to eye injuries for over a decade. Markedly, the El Paso jewelry metal-plating finisher exposed workers to serious hazards. Such hazards include willfully failing to protect people working with dangerous acids and other chemicals. Previously, in January 2023, OSHA issue...

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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