November 21, 2025 An immigrant building contractor with a grade-school education has admitted overseeing a far-flung scam that shielded nearly $150 million in construction payrolls from insurance and tax obligations.   Rene Mauricio Escobar, 55, pleaded guilty in Jacksonville’s federal court to conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, charges that together can carry a prison sentence as long as 25 years. The case continues a year

November 20, 2025 Bay Lake, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A fight on a construction site at Florida’s Walt Disney World resort left one employee hospitalized and another in handcuffs, officials at the park said.   On Nov. 17, police said a fight at the future location of Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, the next Disney Vacation Club Resort broke out between the two employees. According to the report, deputies responded to reports of an unconscious man at the Disney-owned site of th

November 20, 20205 Employers often assume liability for wage-and-hour violations rests solely with the company. But under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), managers, supervisors, HR professionals, and even executives can face personal liability for unpaid wages, overtime violations, and recordkeeping failures. Unlike many other employment statutes, the FLSA’s definition of “employer” is expansive; it’s broad enough to capture individuals who exercise control over pay pra

November 19, 2025 Bill 59, the Act to modernize the occupational health and safety regime (the "AMOHSR"), received assent on October 6, 2021. This legislation represents a major reform of the occupational health and safety regime, resulting in significant changes to the Act respecting occupational health and safety (the "AOHS") and the Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases (the "AIAOD").   Among these changes was the implementation of an interim regime

November 18, 2025 Florida’s insurance commissioner has approved a 6.9% average decrease in workers’ compensation rates for the voluntary market for 2026, marking the ninth straight year of rate cuts in the state.   The average rate reduction will be for new and renewal workers’ comp policies, starting Jan. 1. Like most states, Florida has seen a steady drop in experience, or worker injury rates, in the last decade in most job classifications. Florida also has seen a decline i

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