Author: James W. Ward

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Posted in Exempt/Nonexempt

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…

749
Posted in Workplace Safety

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…

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Posted in Reporting Requirements

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
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Posted in Hiring

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
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Posted in Posters and Notices

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…

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Posted in Hiring

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
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Posted in Form I-9

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
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Posted in Discrimination

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
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Posted in Workplace Policies

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…

U.S. DOL Proposes Changes to Federal Independent Contractor Rule
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Posted in Independent Contractor

U.S. DOL Proposes Changes to Federal Independent Contractor Rule

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a proposed independent contractor rule rescinding their 2024 rule and returning the federal independent contractor analysis to…