November 14, 2025 Montreal — A recent study of apprentice welders revealed a “significant increase” in metal levels in urine, nail and hair samples taken over the duration of their three-module training program. A team from the Canadian research organization IRSST and the University of Montreal followed 116 apprentice welders to examine their exposure levels to welding fumes and their metallic components. “ Heavy metal poisoning (toxicity) is the result of exposure to heav

November 14, 2025 Starting on February 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, employers must provide each current and new employee with a stand-alone written Workplace Know Your Rights Act Notice via regular communication methods (e.g., in person, email, or text). This notice requirement (imposed by Senate Bill 294 ) is in addition to any existing required Labor Code notices. The Labor Commissioner will release a template notice by January 1, 2026, update it yearly, and will publ

November 14, 2025 Four Co-Defendants Previously Pleaded Guilty for Their Roles in Compelling the Labor of H-2A Visa Recipients Throughout the Southeastern United States Alexander Villatoro Moreno, also known as “Quichi,” 53, made his first appearance in federal court today after the Mexican government recently apprehended and extradited him to the United States. Villatoro Moreno faces four charges, including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizat

November 13, 20205 Skills-first hiring should be treated as a companywide transformation rather than just an HR project, researchers said. Employers may risk falling behind if they still prioritize the traditional credentials of job candidates over their capabilities and skills, according to a Nov. 6 report from The Conference Board and OneTen, a nonprofit organization focused on helping talent without four-year degrees. As artificial intelligence tools continue to transfor

November 13, 2025 New report shows candidate engagement declining amid stagnant hiring times HR leaders are being urged to underscore the importance of hiring speed as a new report indicates that stagnant hiring times are bringing down candidate engagement. The latest iCIMS Workforce Insights report revealed that applications dropped by seven per cent between September and October as the time to fill vacancies remained unchanged at 39 days in the US labor market. It noted

November 12, 2025 On an early October morning on the south side of San Antonio, a 79-year-old worker at a manufactured-home dealership lost his life in a workplace incident now under federal investigation. Federal safety officials are probing the fatal event at the company to determine whether safety protocols were followed and whether broader hazards exist. The Incident Unfolds Around 5:00 a.m., the employee arrived at the site of Palm Harbor Homes (Elmendorf, Texas) and

November 12, 2025 Manoa, HI — Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Oregon State University will partner to create best safety practices “based on the nature and stresses of small construction businesses.” Funded by a grant from the nonprofit Job-Site Safety Institute, the project “embeds researchers directly within real jobsites.” The goal: to produce a guide encompassing best practices, training and behavioral interventions for construction operations wit

November 11, 2025 On November 5, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published guidance giving employers a break from penalties for new reporting requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s (OBBBA) provision regarding taxes on employee tips and overtime pay. Under the provision, for tax years 2025 -2028, employees may take an above-the-line tax deduction on qualified overtime pay and qualified tips. To help accomplish this, employers must report the total amount of qua

November 6, 2025 On November 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance confirming employers will not be penalized for failing to report cash tips and overtime compensation in the manner required in the latest federal budget reconciliation bill. This guidance may be especially relevant to employers in the entertainment, hospitality, restaurant, and tourism industries. Quick Hits New guidance from the Treasury Departme

November 6, 2025 Even as Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed for Florida to be the most aggressive state in assisting the federal government with immigration enforcement, state law still allows hundreds of thousands of companies to skip doing an E-Verify check. In Florida, private companies with fewer than 25 employees don't need to use the federal database that confirms an employee's immigration status. On Wednesday, a state House committee moved forward a bill that would require