Every April, organizations across the United States recognize Workplace Violence Awareness Month, an important time to highlight the risks of workplace violence and the steps necessary to prevent it. It is also an opportunity...more
4/2/2025
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Employee Training ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
OSHA ,
OSHRC ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Risk Management ,
State Labor Laws ,
Workplace Violence ,
Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
On February 21, 2025, California Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D), representing San Diego, introduced Assembly Bill (AB) No. 1371 (“Right to Refuse Unsafe Work With Pay”) in the California State Assembly....more
Workplace violence continues to be a primary concern for employers and a challenge to maintaining workplace safety. Still, it is unclear whether there will be further movement on regulation at the federal level under the...more
On March 7, 2025, Virginia’s General Assembly passed House Bill (HB) 1919, requiring by January 1, 2027, any Virginia employer of one hundred or more employees to develop, implement, and maintain a workplace violence policy....more
In what might have been a Valentine’s Day gift for retail employers across New York, on February 14, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law an amendment to the New York Retail Worker Safety Act (S8358B/A8947C, Chapter...more
2/19/2025
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Effective Date ,
Employee Training ,
Enforcement ,
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Retail Workers ,
Retailers ,
State Labor Laws ,
Time Extensions ,
Training Requirements ,
Workplace Safety ,
Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
Although later than anticipated, the New York State Legislature has just passed an amendment to the New York Retail Worker Safety Act (S8358C/A8947C, Chapter 308) that would extend the effective date of the act’s workplace...more
On September 27, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation that requires the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to submit a draft rulemaking proposal to revise the California Code...more
After a summer hiatus, the New York Retail Worker Safety Act (S8358C/A8947C) was delivered to Governor Kathy Hochul on September 4, 2024, and signed into law the same day....more
According to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), California’s new heat illness prevention rules for indoor workplaces became effective on July 23, 2024....more
7/25/2024
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Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Heat Exposure ,
New Regulations ,
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Safety Precautions ,
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Workplace Safety
On June 20, 2024, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted unanimously to adopt the latest draft version of Title 8 CCR § 3396, Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment, after a prior...more
Effective July 1, 2024, nearly every California employer will be required to implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan with very specific requirements....more
On June 3, 2024, the New York State Assembly passed legislation that would provide workplace safety protections for retail workers, including employee access to panic buttons for retail employers with 500 or more employees...more
On May 8, 2024, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board received the expected notice from the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) that the previously approved indoor heat illness standard was disapproved....more
On February 8, 2024, California Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula (D-31) introduced legislation to require employees to obtain heat illness prevention certification from the California Division of Occupational Safety and...more
In response to an increase in workplace violence incidents, many states are enacting laws or regulations designed to prevent workplace violence—a legislative and regulatory trend expected to continue. New York is the latest...more
Effective July 1, 2024, nearly every California employer will be required to implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan with very specific requirements....more
On December 22, 2023, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board published further modifications of the draft indoor heat illness standard. The modifications, which were based on suggestions received in...more
Workplace safety and health hazards have traditionally been associated with unsafe work practices and hazardous conditions but violent acts committed in the workplace are a growing concern.
On September 30, 2023, Governor...more
On September 30, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill (SB) No. 686, legislation that would have extended California’s existing occupational safety and health laws and regulations to the domestic service...more
On September 30, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) No. 553, which requires virtually every California employer to take certain steps to prevent or respond to workplace violence. The new law adds...more
On June 28, 2023, the California State Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment held a hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 553, which if passed as drafted, would establish workplace violence prevention standards applicable to...more
On February 15, 2023, California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-15) introduced Senate Bill (SB) No. 553, which originally aimed to require the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to adopt...more
5/1/2023
/ Cal Code of Civil Procedure ,
Cal-OSHA ,
Employee Training ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Safety ,
Workplace Violence ,
Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
On September 5, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom marked Labor Day 2022 by signing Assembly Bill (AB) No. 257, the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (FAST Recovery Act), into law. ...more
A hot-button issue in California is whether an employer is required to pay for or reimburse an employee for shoes that are required as a condition of employment. A recent ruling by the California Court of Appeal highlights...more