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Category: Discrimination and Harassment

President Trump Designates English as the Official Language of the United States

President Trump signed an Executive Order on March 1 designating English as the official language of the United States. The new E.O. rescinds E.O. 13166, which former President Bill Clinton signed to improve government services for people with limited English proficiency. The new E.O. does not instruct federal agencies to take any action other than rescinding E.O. 13166 and related...
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Category: Agency Enforcement

White House Restricts the Power of Independent Agencies

President Trump signed an executive order February 18 that will sharply limit the autonomy of independent federal agencies, such as the NLRB. The E.O., entitled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies,” seeks to control independent agencies by: Subjecting their regulatory activity and strategic plans to review by the White House Office of Management and Budget; Establishing performance standards for independent agency heads;...
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Category: Data and Statistics

Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries 2023 Indicates Significant Decrease in Workplace Homicides

The number of workplace homicides dropped significantly in 2023 compared with 2022, while the number of suicides occurring in U.S. workplaces increased, according to the government’s most recent survey of workplace fatalities. Overall, workplace homicides and suicides accounted for 14% of total fatal occupational injuries in 2023, down from 14.4% in 2022, according to data from the national Census of...
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Category: Discrimination and Harassment

New EEOC Fact Sheet Highlights Compliance Risks Related to Wearable Technologies in the Workplace

Wearable technologies in the workplace are the subject of a fact sheet released by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on December 19, 2024. Examples of wearable devices include smart watches that track employees’ activities or monitor their condition, proximity sensors that warn wearers of nearby hazards, smart glasses and helmets that measure the brain’s electrical activity, and GPS devices that...
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Category: DOL

DOL Appears To Abandon Its Attempt To Overhaul the Registered Apprenticeship Program

The Biden Administration appears to be giving up on its attempt to overhaul the regulations governing registered apprenticeship programs. The Labor Department published its proposed rule on January 17, 2024, and in June sent a draft of the final regulations to the White House Office of Management and Budget for approval. On November 27, 2024, OMB posted on its website that the...
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Category: Policies and Practices

CWC’s Guide To Implementing a Compliant Reduction-In-Force

In light of several recent headlines announcing significant layoffs, the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), our affiliated nonprofit membership association, has updated its guide on conducting reductions-in-force (RIFs). CWC’s guide, entitled “Guide To Implementing a Compliant Reduction-In-Force,” reviews the major areas of risk that can arise for an employer in connection with a RIF. Four areas stand out as the most concerning...
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Category: Policies and Practices

CFPB Warns That Certain Workplace Monitoring Technologies May Trigger Fair Credit Reporting Act

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued guidance warning that employers who use specific types of workplace monitoring technologies may inadvertently be risking liability under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Some workplace technology providers may satisfy the definition of a “consumer reporting agency” under the FCRA, according to CFPB’s Circular 2024-06—entitled Background Dossiers and Algorithmic Scores for Hiring, Promotion, and...
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Category: Policies and Practices

CWC’s Guide to Political Discourse in the Workplace

With election season in full swing, employers may wish to review our updated Guide to Political Discourse in the Workplace. CWC’s Guide reviews the major areas of risk related to workplace policies on political discourse. The guide reviews the requirements of the National Labor Relations Act, which protects political speech related to employment issues; and federal non-discrimination laws, which allow employers to...
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Category: Discrimination and Harassment

CWC’s Harassment Prevention Primer and Checklist

The Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), our affiliated nonprofit membership association, is pleased to present an updated version of its primer on preventing workplace harassment. The primer explains the definition of sexual harassment and describes various scenarios under which an employer may be held liable for actions by an employee’s supervisor or co-worker, or by a customer or vendor. It...
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Category: Government Contracts

CWC’s Updated Primer on the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act

In light of data showing increasing drug use among full-time employees in recent years, CWC thought it would be prudent to remind our members that the 1988 Drug-Free Workplace Act (DFWA) obligates covered federal contractors to provide a drug-free workplace. Therefore, we updated our DFWA primer to explain the DFWA’s coverage, contractors’ obligations, and penalties for noncompliance. The DFWA applies...

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