October 22, 2025 Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspections will continue during the federal government shutdown, but rulemaking and other processes, including informal conferences between employers and officials, have been halted, legal experts say.   The conferences, which occur between employers and OSHA officials after a citation is issued, ceased after Congress failed to pass funding legislation for 2026, furloughing many federal workers and shutting down

October 22, 2025 Woodinville, WA — Do you go to work when you’re sick? Nearly 1 out of 3 people would prefer you didn’t, results of a recent survey show.   Energy drink producer Zipfizz commissioned an online survey of 2,000 Americans to learn about their approaches to cold and flu and the “evolving etiquette around rest and recovery.”   Thirty-one percent of respondents said going into work while coughing or fighting through sickness shouldn’t be considered a badge of honor.

October 20, 2025 The National Council on Compensation Insurance is again recommending a reduction in workers’ compensation rates in Florida and Alabama, and regulators in both states have scheduled public hearings about the proposed changes. In Alabama, the NCCI recently called for a 4.5% average reduction in loss costs, effective March 1, 2026. That follows a 6.1% decrease for 2025, approved late last year. The NCCI also is recommending a 3.6% decrease in the assigned risk r

October 17, 2025 A Florida appellate court upheld a determination that an injured worker was fired for misconduct and not entitled to disability benefits after losing his job.   As documented in Cobb v. TECO Energy Inc., Leroy Cobb Jr. was working for TECO Energy in 2023 when he injured his wrist. He was released to light-duty work after the accident, and TECO accommodated his restrictions.   The company fired Cobb in May 2023 based on reports that he had been sitting in a tr

October 17, 2025 Washington — Nearly 60% of small-business employees have witnessed a workplace injury in the past year, and almost half of those injuries were considered preventable, results of a recent survey show.   Pie Insurance, a commercial insurance provider for small businesses, commissioned a survey of more than 1,000 full- or part-time workers at businesses with 500 or fewer employees.   It found: Two-thirds of the respondents have ongoing safety concerns at work, b

October 17, 2025 Over the past decade, employers have faced an increasing number of employees who take prescribed medication for a variety of conditions, including pain, anxiety, depression, and other long-term conditions. The employees may disclose their prescription drug use as part of return-to-work discussions or in conjunction with a drug screening.   In some situations, employers become concerned over the impact of prescription drugs on safe and effective work performan

October 17, 2025 For those thinking that classifying workers as independent contractors is a cheaper way of doing business, beware.   A California court just ordered a home healthcare business to pay $10 million in restitution and civil penalties for misclassifying its home care workers as independent contractors.   The judgment in the case states that the company already was on notice for the misclassification and also had represented to its customers that the workers were a

October 16, 2025 Rep. Berny Jacques is trying again to pass his bill expanding E-Verify compliance to all private employers.   A Florida Republican on Thursday re-filed a bill from last year requiring all private employers to use a federal database verifying whether new hires are legally in the country.   Rep. Berny Jacques, a Seminole Republican, issued HB 197 to mandate all private businesses use E-Verify, a federally operated system allowing employers to electronically ver

October 16, 2025 Online safety training proactively prevents workplace accidents, reducing claims and associated costs.   Key Highlights Online safety training reduces accident rates by equipping workers with hazard recognition and safe procedures, preventing costly claims before they occur. Regulatory compliance is simplified through digital training libraries, helping employers avoid fines and penalties that can increase workers’ comp costs. A strong safety culture, support

October 16, 2025 Seasonal employment can be a great way to add temporary workers for retail, restaurants and catering, delivery, customer support and more. But is your business compliant and protected?   The holiday shopping, service and tourism rush can be a very lucrative time of year for small businesses — but holiday hiring logistics can be a challenge. NEXT highlights what business owners need to know: when to start recruiting, how pay and overtime work, and if seasonal

October 16, 2025 More than 50% of Florida’s manufacturing workforce is 45 years or older.   While Florida leads the nation in attracting and developing skilled workers, headwinds are approaching, according to Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly.   Florida is now third in the nation in terms of total manufacturing companies, but only 10th in the number of manufacturing employees, at approximately 430,000. Since 2014, Florida has increased manufacturing employment by 23.3% an

October 15, 2025 On September 19, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a False Claims Act (FCA) settlement with a New Jersey shipyard that allegedly hired subcontractors employing undocumented workers.   The recent settlement highlights an ongoing shift in the federal government’s strategy to enforce immigration laws aimed at businesses with federal contracts. It also underscores the Trump administration’s stated focus on enforcing immigration laws through various l