Author: James W. Ward
Federal Court Strikes Down $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
On June 8, 2026, a federal district court in Massachusetts vacated the $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions that was established in September 2025 by…
U.S. DOL Officially Rescinds Its 2024 Overtime Rule
On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the publication of a technical amendment that will officially rescind the DOL’s 2024 overtime…
Protecting Workers from Wildfire Smoke: Safety Reminders for California Employers
Wind and dry conditions have contributed to several wildfires springing up in California this week, jumpstarting California’s peak fire season. Though wildfires are a year-round…
EEOC Looking to End EEO-1 Reporting
For decades, private employers with 100 or more employees have submitted reports with workforce demographic data, including data by job category, sex and race or…
School’s Out, Summer Hiring Is In: California Rules for Hiring Minors, Interns
As the school year ends, many employers are gearing up to hire high school students and interns for summer jobs. Hiring teenagers and interns over…
Cal/OSHA Publishes Updated Workplace Safety Notice
Recently, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) updated its “Safety and Health Protection on the Job” notice, making minor revisions to Cal/OSHA’s…
U.S. DOL Proposes New Joint-Employer Rule
On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published its proposed rule setting the standard for when two or more employers may be…
ICE Changes Form I-9 Enforcement Policy, Increasing Penalty Risk
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently revised its Form I-9 Inspection Under Immigration and Nationality Act § 274A fact sheet to take more…
Executive Order Creates New DEI Rules for Federal Contractors
On March 26, 2026, President Trump issued an executive order — “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors” — that creates new DEI-related requirements for federal…
California’s Workplace Know Your Rights Act Deadline Approaching: What Employers Must Do
Remember, under California’s new Workplace Know Your Rights Act, employers have until March 30, 2026, to provide their employees with the opportunity to designate emergency…
