The U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Labor (DOL) announced a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to increase the frequency and effectiveness of criminal prosecutions of so-called worker endangerment statutes.
Considered the last legislative feat of 2015, Congress approved a massive tax and spending package on Friday that includes some positive and negative provisions for employers.
While employers should take prudent measures to protect workplaces, employers should not overreact or impose drastic measures that are disproportionate to the actual risk, are unnecessarily costly, or are likely to be ineffective.
The new two-year bipartisan budget, signed by President Obama on November 2, 2015, allows (in fact requires) OSHA to raise its citation penalties for the first time in 25 years.
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico recently reaffirmed that an act of aggression against a coworker is sufficient to establish just cause for termination under Puerto Rico's Unjustified Dismissal statute, even if a first-time offense.
Continuing its emphasis on its Whistleblower Protection Program, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an updated Whistleblower Investigations Manual.
Federal agencies have released their spring regulatory agendas, offering significant clues as to where the administration is headed in the months to come.