December 17, 2025 What Do You Think? The exclusivity rule protects employers from injured workers’ negligence lawsuits and from potentially large money judgments. But what if an employer assigns an employee to temporarily work for another company? Can the employee sue the second company if he’s injured? A recent case involving a laborer answers that question. He tripped and fell on a piece of asphalt while excavating and sued the company supervising the work for negligence. P

December 18, 2025 In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, employers may face unannounced visits from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These visits can take the form of Form I-9 inspections, worksite enforcement actions or inquiries involving individual employees. While such events may be disruptive, having a well-developed workplace response supports legal compliance, protects business operations and promotes employee confidence. Why a response plan matter

December 15, 2025 Overview U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented major changes to Employment Authorization Document (EAD) policies. These updates end the automatic 540‑day extension for most EAD renewals and reduce the maximum EAD validity period to 18 months for certain categories, including adjustment of status applicants, asylum seekers and refugees.   End of Automatic EAD Extensions (Effective October 30, 2025) The Interim Final Rule (IFR), pub

December 12, 20205 In Florida, two recent court rulings and a number of laws enacted in 2025 will directly impact employers. This article summarizes the two cases and the new laws, which address open carry of guns, medical marijuana use by employees, restrictive covenants with employees, workers’ compensation rules, and insurance coverage for fertility preservation services. Quick Hits In 2025, Florida enacted new laws concerning restrictive covenants with employees, workers’

December 11, 2025 A Florida bill demanding all businesses use a federal database to check employees’ immigration status cleared its final House committee Thursday, despite silence from the Senate.   HB 197, co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Berny Jacques and Kiyan Michael, is one of the few bills the House has fast-tracked without a Senate companion. It would expand a 2023 law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to require all employers — not just public businesses and larger priv

December 11, 2025 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Wednesday announced that it has issued seven new interpretation letters aimed at clarifying federal workplace safety and health requirements, part of a wider push by the administration to offer more compliance guidance to employers.   The letters, released this week, provide official explanations of how OSHA standards apply in specific workplace situations, ranging from confined-space hazards to recordkeep

December 10, 2025 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today that it has issued seven letters of interpretation to ensure the consistent and transparent application of federal workplace safety and health standards. As part of the Trump Administration's broader emphasis on compliance assistance, OSHA's letters of interpretation provide official explanations of the agency's requirements and how they apply to specifi

December 10, 2025 Neenah, WI — Jobsite safety ranks among the top challenges construction companies face, according to the results of a recent survey. J. J. Keller & Associates Inc., a provider of regulatory, safety and compliance solutions, and the American Society of Safety Professionals surveyed 719 construction professionals to gain insights into the industry’s evolving safety landscape. Respondents represented a wide range of construction trades. Around 1 out of 3 of the

December 8, 2025 Watertown, SD — Workers who encounter droppings from birds or pests such rodents and insects should stop work immediately, leave the area and wash any exposed skin with soap and water, a new safety resource states. Developed by NATE : The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, the guide states that contamination from such waste and residues may occur through direct contact; inhalation; or via contaminated clothing, tools or surfaces. Exposure

December 4, 2025 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced a new legislative push to reform the state’s workers’ compensation laws, stating that the current statute improperly allows illegal aliens to receive benefits. The move is part of a broader strategy to eliminate incentives for illegal immigration. “It’s really weird, but our workers comp statute in the state of Florida basically says that the people that are eligible for workers com