Compliance Stuff

On the afternoon of July 5, 2024, when absolutely nobody was paying attention, the administration released its Spring 2024 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions . The semiannual agendas, which are customarily released in the fall and spring of each year, set forth the administration’s planned regulatory activity for the next sixth months . This most recent agenda is of particular significance because it is a presidential election year and because it might be the last agenda issued by the Biden administration. Some administrative regulatory priorities have already been finalized, such as the Wage and Hour Division’s overtime and independent contractor rules, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) walkaround regulation. Some others—such as OSHA’s proposed heat standard—are just getting started and represent second-term goals . Here is what some of our favorite agencies have planned, according to the agenda: Workplace Safety (OSHA) Powered Industri...

 Biden-Harris administration announces proposed rule to protect indoor, outdoor workers from extreme heat WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has r eleased a proposed rule with the goal of protecting millions of workers from the significant health risks of extreme heat . If finalized, the proposed rule would help protect approximately 36 million workers in indoor and outdoor work settings and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses and deaths in the workplace.  Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. Excessive workplace heat can lead to heat stroke and even death. While heat hazards impact workers in many industries, workers of color have a higher likelihood of working in jobs with hazardous heat exposure.   “Every worker should come home safe and healthy at the end of the day, which is why the Biden-Harris administration is taking this significant step to protect workers from the dangers posed by extreme heat,” said Acting Secretary of...

On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the Biden-Harris administration announced that a final rule that increases overtime protections for the nation's lower-paid salaried workers to exempt salaried bona fide executive, administrative or professional employees from federal overtime pay requirements.   This rule ensures salaried workers making less than  $58,656  receive fair pay for working over 40 hours---meaning, they will qualify for overtime.     By increasing the salary threshold, this will be giving more workers pay or valuable time back with their family:  by better identifying which employees are executive, administrative or professional employees who should be overtime exempt.  The rule ensures that those employees who are not exempt, receive time-and-a-half pay when working more than 40 hours in a week or gain more time with their families.   The rule will also establish regular to the salary thresholds every three years to reflect changes in earni...