Safety/Health

4 keys to care for employees’ mental health and wellness

03/23/2023

According to the nonprofit American Institute of Stress, work-related stress and associated absenteeism, diminished productivity and turnover cost employers at least $187 billion per year. To relieve employees’ stress and improve their mental health, try these tactics.

Compliance guidance for the construction industry

03/16/2023

Employers in the construction industry face special challenges in complying with federal anti-discrimination and workplace safety laws. The nature of construction work, oversight by government enforcement agencies and the zeal of opportunistic plaintiffs’ lawyers make it essential for construction companies to nail their compliance responsibilities.

Shift to remote work has a mental-health downside

03/15/2023

An analysis by the nonprofit Integrated Benefits Institute found that 40% of fully remote workers and 38% of hybrid workers were more likely than in-person workers to report symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.

Medical marijuana and positive drug tests: Employer rights

03/06/2023

As more states legalize medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, employers have to grapple with confusing and seemingly contradictory rules.

Is work to blame for employee health problems? How HR can help

03/01/2023

A new survey by Resume-Now provides some valuable insights to HR professionals regarding physical and mental health trends and how they relate to the workplace.

Prepare for more aggressive OSHA oversight of ‘high-gravity’ safety violations

02/07/2023

OSHA just raised the stakes for employers that repeatedly tolerate or encourage dangerous conditions on job sites. Enforcement guidance issued Jan. 26 grants OSHA regional administrators and directors greater authority to issue immediate citations when inspectors identify particularly hazardous safety violations.

Long COVID may affect 7% of infected employees

02/07/2023

A study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute found that, while long-COVID prevalence was highest among workers who were hospitalized during an acute stage of disease, even some workers who needed limited medical care following infection developed long-COVID symptoms.

Spending bill promotes mental-health parity

01/17/2023

Tucked into the mammoth omnibus government spending bill President Biden signed into law on Dec. 29 was a provision that expands the number of public employees whose health insurance plans must now cover mental-health services on a par with coverage offered for other conditions.

Appeals court: Federal contractors don’t have to ensure their employees are vaccinated

12/22/2022

In a 2-1 decision, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s preliminary injunction blocking a federal mandate requiring federal contractors to ensure their employees are vaccinated against COVID as a condition of receiving government work.

Ready for inspection? Dollar Tree was not

12/21/2022

A recent OSHA ruling is clear: Fix safety issues or face the consequences.