Construction and extraction occupations accounted for the second highest number of occupational deaths out of the total 5,190 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in the 2021 calendar year, according to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Safety and Health Statistics program. This marks an 8.9% increase from the 4,764 fatal work injuries reported in 2020.
Archives for March 30, 2023
OSHA Focusing Enforcement Efforts on ‘Vulnerable Workers’ at Construction Sites
Top leaders of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have detailed new and upcoming enforcement efforts to protect “vulnerable workers” (i.e., immigrant, minority, female, and lower-paid) who may be more vulnerable to workplace hazards.
OSHA’s Plans for the Construction Industry
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Directorate of Construction Director Scott Ketcham gave a review of the agency’s focus on the construction industry at the American Bar Association’s 2023 Midwinter Meeting of the Workplace and Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee on March 10, 2023
Construction Industry Workplace Law Update – Spring 2023
Keeping Up With the Changing Law Restricting Employee Competition in the Construction Industry
Keeping Up With the Changing Law Restricting Employee Competition in the Construction Industry
The legal landscape is rapidly changing with regards to restrictive covenants used by employers to protect against unfair competition and solicitation by current or former employees.
Labor Trends in Warehousing and Distribution Industry to Watch
The warehousing and distribution industry has one of the highest overall union membership rates in the United States.
What Retailers Should Know About California Scheduling Ordinances
The City of Los Angeles’s Retail Fair Workweek Ordinance, which takes effect April 1, 2023, is not the only local ordinance in the Golden State that affects how retailers and other employers handle scheduling.
Complying with Wage and Hour Obligations in the Face of Crisis
The recent seizure and shutdown of two prominent regional banks – Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank – highlights for employers the issues that an unexpected liquidity crisis may bring. And, it’s not just banking institutions that face wage and hour violations after unanticipated liquidity issues. In 2021, a major Human Resources technology provider, the Ultimate Kronos Group experienced a ransomware attack that prevented their clients, employers, from accessing time and pay records for their employees. As a result, attendance, scheduling, and payroll were all thrown for a loop, and litigation ensued.
Whether failing financial systems, unexpected cyberattacks, or an economic downturn for businesses, employers are still required to honor their wage and hour obligations. Because crisis typically strikes with little to no warning, employers should plan to ensure they can make payroll and consider how to handle furloughs and layoffs in advance of crisis.
FASHION HISTORY LESSON: THE ORIGINS AND RECENT STRIDES OF THE U.S. GARMENT LABOR MOVEMENT
The fight for labor rights in apparel manufacturing dates back to slavery, and it’s still going strong today.
As Bargaining Deadline Looms, N.B.A. and Players’ Union Enjoy Friendly Ties
The connections between team owners and players are stronger now than in previous years. A deadline to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement offers a test of that relationship.
Do We Know How Many People Are Working From Home?
New Labor Department numbers indicate that fewer Americans worked remotely last year. But many experts criticize the government’s data collection.
Less Than Half of US Workers Use All Their Vacation Days
Fear of falling behind and the availability of remote work are leading many Americans to skip out on paid time off.
Still Desperately Seeking Workers
Even banking woes might not detract much from businesses’ still-heady demand for workers
Why the NLRB’s decision won’t put an end to confidentiality clauses
The National Labor Relations Board ruled recently that non-disparagement clauses in severance agreements could not be enforced. But what does this really mean for workers?
More companies are watching their remote workers WFH on camera—but it’s costing them big time
The panopticon might be realer than we realize.