Articles by Editorial Staff

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New Workplace Mental Health Framework Issued

October 25, 2022

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On October 20th, 2022, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a workplace mental health framework outlining employee health and well-being. Overall, the Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace promotes the concept that workplaces play a prominent role in an employee’s health and well-being. Particularly given that the average worker spends half their l...

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Employers Cited Over $518K for Willful Electrical Safety Violations

October 25, 2022

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued citations to three contractors for willful electrical safety violations totaling $518,037. In summary, the three New Jersey-based entities exposed employees to harm by allowing them to work near energized power lines. Released on October 18, the press release touting the citations continues the tradition of OSHA’s quest to...

NLRB Releases Proposed Joint Employer Rule

September 7, 2022

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This week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) addressing the joint employer rule. Overall, the NPRM proposes to rescind and replace the joint employer rule that took effect on April 27th, 2020. In effect, the proposed changes would ground the rule in established common-law agency principles. It would be consistent with previous NLRB precede...

Bank to Pay $22M in Whistleblower Retaliation Lawsuit

September 7, 2022

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On September 1st, 2022, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a ruling in a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit. In summary, OSHA found that Wells Fargo violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Markedly, the agency found the financial institution improperly terminated a Chicago area-based senior manager ...

CA Improves Laws for Fast Food Workers

September 7, 2022

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This week, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced landmark legislation to empower fast food workers. Known as AB 257, the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (Act) authorizes the creation of the Fast Food Council (Council). Specifically, the Council is comprised of representatives from labor and management and sets minimum standards for fast food workers. Previously, a Calif...

Sixth Circuit Decision on Vaccine Mandate for Large Employers

Circuit Court Releases Deadlines for Vaccine Mandate Decision

November 30, 2021

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Sixth Circuit) recently released deadlines regarding its future vaccine mandate decision. In short, the Sixth Circuit will hear arguments against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration‘s (OSHA’s) COVID-19 vaccine mandate. At the present time, the mandate is part of a recent OSHA emergency temporary standard (ETS). Correspondingly, afte...

SBA Fact Sheet on COVID-19 Disaster Loans

SBA Touts Accomplishments as COVID Disaster Loan Deadline Looms

November 30, 2021

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On November 24th, 2021, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released a fact sheet sharing details of one of its COVID-19 recovery programs, the COVID Disaster Loan program. Generally, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) assists businesses, renters, and homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters. In March 2020, under the CARES Act, the SBA created the COVID-rel...

IRS Health Insurance Coverage Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

IRS Proposes Changes to Coverage Reporting

November 30, 2021

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On November 22nd, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking involving health insurance coverage reporting. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) would generally define the term “minimum essential coverage” (MEC) differently than previously used. The proposed regulations would also allow automatic filing extensions, alternative notices, and make changes ...

Sixth Circuit will decide the fate of the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Sixth Circuit Court to Hear Arguments on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

November 23, 2021

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It is now official! The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Sixth Circuit) will decide the merits of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. In short, the Sixth Circuit “won” a Multi-District Litigation Lottery. The Lottery determined the circuit court to hear the arguments levied against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration‘s (OSHA’s) vaccine mandate and emergency temporary standar...

EEOC Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance

November 23, 2021

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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), on November 17th, 2021, announced the release of updated COVID-19 guidance. In short, it provides employers with crucial information on how to avoid possible workplace discrimination claims during the coronavirus pandemic. Indeed, as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the EEOC wants employers to avoid receiving retaliation claims involving CO...

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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