October 2, 2025   The president’s campaign promise of no taxes on tips and no taxes on overtime pay was fulfilled with the signing of the tax law, H.R. 1, in July 2025. With only four months left in the year, employees who receive this additional compensation and employers who need to understand their requirements are starting to ask how this will be put into action.   The IRS began providing guidance on the types of jobs that are covered by this provision in the law, and the

October 1, 2025   As of September 30, 2025, Florida’s minimum wage has increased to $14 per hour for non-tipped employees and $10.98 for tipped workers.   Many believe it’s a significant step toward the $15 target set for 2026 by the state’s 2020 constitutional amendment. This Florida minimum wage increase has compelled HR professionals across industries to update their payroll systems and ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).   To help employers, we’ve

October 1, 2025   The legality of firearms possession in Florida continues to evolve, with an important change as of September 25, 2025.   After the First District Court of Appeal struck down the state’s decades-old Open Carry ban in  McDaniels v. State  on September 10, 2025, declaring § 790.053, Fla. Stat., unconstitutional, Florida’s attorney general instructed prosecutors and law enforcement not to enforce the ban, making Open Carry the new “law of the state.” In plain En

Oct 1, 2025   Exoskeletons, an increasingly common technology used in manual labor to help reduce the lifting mechanisms that can cause musculoskeletal injuries, provide “minimal and inconsistent benefits” in reducing shoulder muscle strain during simulated construction tasks, according to a study.   The study, reported in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s October newsletter and conducted by researchers at Texas Tech University and the University of

September 30, 2025   California’s workplace heat standard, which requires access to water and shade and includes provisions for high heat and training, has resulted in fewer heat-related illnesses for several industry segments, according to the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute.   A WCRI study estimated that California’s heat standard, enacted in 2005 in a first in the country, resulted in a decline in work-related injuries on hot days for industries with “substantial

September 26, 2025 A recent survey found that 44% of respondents currently experience chronic, ongoing foot pain. Foot pain is a prevalent issue. In a new survey of 1,000 Americans, sponsored by  KURU Footwear,  44% said they currently experience chronic, ongoing foot pain. Foot Pain by the Numbers When asked how often the pain strikes, the answers were as follows: 56% experience foot pain daily 24% feel it less than once a week 15% deal with it weekly 3% say it hits monthly

September 26, 2025   Key Highlights Most workers are aware of their organization’s safety and health initiatives, but nearly 1 in 5 don’t have a good understanding of MSDs and very few demonstrate understanding of how tasks can contribute to MSD risk. Just under 60% of workers say they consistently have access to proper ergonomic tools and equipment. Stronger safety culture and trust are linked to better perceptions of MSD prevention and more proactive reporting. A recent sur

September 25, 2025   What's going on in Florida workers' compensation? A recent  WCRI webinar  covered trends, costs, and, as you might expect for the Sunshine State, the role of hot temperatures in workplace injuries.   Medical Workforce Addressing the trend of decreasing physicians and increasing demand for them, WCRI CEO Ramona Tanabe explored who's providing care. "The average number of physicians per person has decreased, and there is increasing demand because of populat

September 24, 2025 Kitakyushu, Japan — Workers who have stronger connections with co-workers and management are less likely to be injured...

September 24, 2025 Workplace safety experts say industries are moving forward with heat safety precautions despite the lack of a federal...