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HR Monthly Round Up - January 2025
In this January 2025 roundup video, we’ll review the most impactful HR news.
Welcome, everyone! In the next few minutes, we’ll review the latest HR news. Let’s get started.
On January 10, the U.S. Department of Labor announced it was raising penalties for employers that don’t properly display federal labor law posters.
The penalty increase went into effect on January 15. The maximum fine is now more than $43,000. Employers should make sure they are properly displaying all required labor law postings.
Speaking of posters, recent executive orders under the new administration removed protections for gender identity discrimination and revoked a previous executive order. This, as well as a leadership change at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, will likely mean a mandatory change to the federal Know Your Rights poster. This poster must be displayed by employers with 15 or more employees as well as federal contractors. Some are wondering when a new poster will be required, however, the timing is uncertain. We'll keep watching for updates, so stay tuned.
And, finally, most employers know that employees may take time off under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act for themselves or to take care of a spouse, parent, or child. But what about siblings? Generally, siblings aren’t covered under the FMLA, but in a recent court case out of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, a judge ruled in favor of an employee taking leave to care for an adult sibling because the employee was acting in the role of a parent to the sibling. The fancy term for this is “in loco parentis.” Employers might not realize the scope of how such relationships work. This case is a good example of how one court ruled. But it doesn’t mean that employers should assume all siblings are suddenly included under the FMLA. The point is, employers need to look at all the facts involved before denying an employee’s FMLA leave.
That’s all the HR news we have time for today. Thanks for watching. See you next month!
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HR Monthly Round Up - September 2025
In this September 2025 roundup video, we’ll review the most impactful HR news.
Welcome, everyone! In the next few minutes, we’ll review the latest HR news. Let’s get started.
On September 4, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published its Spring 2025 unified agenda. The agenda offers a glimpse into what the agency is working on in terms of employment-related regulations. As expected, the agency plans to rework some regulations and get rid of others. For example, employers can anticipate hearing something soon about the independent contractor rule, as well as a proposed rule on joint employers.
However, the rule about the federal salary threshold for the white-collar exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act was moved to long-term actions. This means it’s under development, but the agency doesn’t expect to have any regulatory action for at least a year. In the meantime, the agency is applying the salary threshold set in its 2019 rule.
In other news, the Federal Trade Commission took steps on September 5 to dismiss appeals in two federal circuit courts and allow a rule banning noncompete agreements to die. If this hadn't happened, employers would have needed to notify current and former workers (except senior executives) bound by existing noncomplete agreements that their agreements wouldn't be enforced.
While the FTC rule was vacated at the federal level, employers must still comply with state laws on noncompete agreements. These laws vary. Some states prohibit noncompete agreements altogether. Others restrict them to higher-paid workers.
And finally, on September 9, bipartisan legislation was introduced in Congress to expand leave eligibility under the Family and Medical Leave Act specifically for educational support staff. Because their work schedules are limited to the school year, many educational support staff members don’t qualify for FMLA leave because they don’t meet the 1,250-hour threshold needed to qualify for FMLA leave. This keeps them from being able to take FMLA leave for themselves or to care for a family member.
While this measure is only in the beginning stages of the legislative process and might not pass, employers should be aware that Congress still has leave law changes on its radar.
That’s all the HR news we have time for today. Thanks for watching. See you next month!
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EHS Monthly Round Up - August 2025
In this August 2025 roundup video, we'll review the most impactful environmental health and safety news.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the monthly news roundup video, where we’ll review the most impactful environmental health and safety news. Let’s take a look at what’s happened over the past month!
OSHA extended the comment period for multiple proposed rules it published on July 1. Stakeholders now have an extra 60 days, until November 1, to comment. Impacted rules include those for respiratory protection, construction illumination, COVID-19, and the General Duty Clause.
OSHA is expanding its Voluntary Protection Programs to help employers develop strong safety programs and lower injury rates. To participate, employers must submit an application to OSHA and undergo an onsite evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals.
Following a series of recent trench collapses, OSHA urges employers to take steps to protect workers. Trench collapses can be prevented by sloping or benching trench walls at an angle, shoring trench walls with supports, and shielding walls with trench boxes. More information can be found on OSHA’s website.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration launched a webpage for its new Compliance Assistance in Safety and Health, or CASH, program. The agency anticipates a surge in domestic mining productivity and seeks to proactively provide miners and mine operators with compliance assistance materials.
Turning to environmental news, EPA proposes challenges to California’s Clean Truck Check program. The program aims to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter for heavy-duty vehicles. EPA supports the regulation as it applies to California-registered vehicles but disapproves the regulation as it applies to out of state and out of country vehicles. Stakeholders have until September 25 to comment on the proposal.
On August 14, EPA released the July 2025 nonconfidential TSCA Inventory of chemical substances manufactured, processed, or imported in the U.S. The Inventory contains over 86 thousand chemicals, nearly half of which are in active use. The next inventory update is planned for late 2026.
And finally, EPA proposes to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding and repeal greenhouse gas emissions for new motor vehicles and vehicle engines. The agency will accept comments on the proposal through September 15.
Thanks for tuning in to the monthly news roundup. We’ll see you next month!
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Transportation Monthly Round Up - March 2025
In this March 2025 round up video, we'll review the most impactful transportation news.
In this March 2025 round up, we will discuss CVSA International Roadcheck, the top violations of 2024, and Wisconsin’s ELD mandate. Let’s get started.
The CVSA International Roadcheck event this year, running from May 13-15, 2025, will focus on tires and false records of duty status (RODS). Inspectors will look for low tread depth, audible air leaks, flat tires, belt material, tread or sidewall separation, bulges, improper tire repairs, and items lodged between dual tires.
While checking RODS for compliance, inspectors will look for electronic logging device tampering, ghost drivers, improper use of personal conveyance and other exceptions (like adverse driving conditions), and recording off-duty time while performing work.
Carriers must make sure their drivers are ready to pass these inspections, both during Roadcheck and all year long.
There were nearly 3 million roadside inspections in 2024, which provide a great roadmap for the top violations to avoid in 2025. The top five driver violations cited during roadside inspections were 1) Speeding, 2) Driving without a valid medical certificate, 3) False logs, 4) No logs, and 5) Failure to obey traffic control device.
In addition, the top five vehicle violations were 1) Required lamps not operable or obscured, 2) No proof of annual inspection, 3) No/defective lighting/reflective lights, 4) Tire flat or leaking, and 5) Fire extinguisher violation.
With this information, carriers can take steps to prevent similar violations from impacting their fleets.
On April 1st, Wisconsin became the last state to require electronic logging device (ELD) use for intrastate carriers and drivers.
As of that date, the driver of a vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), registered weight, or actual gross weight of 26,001 or more pounds, must use an ELD. A driver operating a vehicle of any size transporting placardable hazmat must also use an ELD.
That’s it for this month’s round up. Stay safe, and thanks for watching.
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EHS Monthly Round Up - May 2024
In this monthly roundup video, we'll review the most impactful environmental, health, and safety news.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the monthly news roundup video, where we’ll go over the most impactful environmental, health, and safety news. Please view the content links in the transcript for more information about the topics I’ll be covering today. Let’s get started!
Our top story is OSHA’s HazCom final rule. It was released May 20 and includes updates to definitions, hazard classifications, labeling, safety data sheets, training, and trade secrets. While the rule takes effect July 19, there are staggered compliance dates for chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers. These range from July 2026 to January 2028.
OSHA’s National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction took place the week of May 6. This event brings awareness to fall hazards and encourages employers to focus on these and other workplace hazards through toolbox talks and safety-related activities.
As part of its Safe and Sound campaign, OSHA encourages managers and workers to participate in its Safety Shuffle Challenge. Managers and workers temporarily swap jobs to better identify, understand, and mitigate workplace hazards.
A new National Safety Council whitepaper details the benefits of location geofencing technology. Geofencing technology creates virtual boundaries around specific areas, such as machine operating zones. When workers or equipment cross these boundaries, the system triggers alerts or actions such as disabling machinery.
Thanks for tuning in to the monthly news roundup. We’ll see you next month!
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Transportation Monthly Round Up - February 2025
In this February 2025 round up video, we will review the most impactful transportation and safety news.
In this February 2025 round up, we will discuss a freeze on new regulations, changes coming to CDL driver medical certifications, and entry-level driver training. Let's get started.
The Trump administration has issued a freeze on new regulations. An executive order says agencies like the Department of Transportation cannot propose or issue any new rules or even guidance until newly appointed agency leaders have had a chance to review them.
As a result, the FMCSA has already withdrawn a couple of proposals that were awaiting White House approval, including a proposal to update the entry-level driver training rules and another that would have amended the safety regulations to account for the use of automated driving systems.
We reported on this last month but want to ensure that our listeners understand the current landscape.
Within four months, commercial driver’s license (CDL) and permit (CLP) holders won't have to submit each medical certificate to their state driver licensing agency (SDLA). No later than June 23, 2025, all SDLAs are supposed to get automatic updates from the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME).
After the transition, carriers will still need to place motor vehicle records (MVRs) in the driver qualification (DQ) file within the required timeframe (to be determined by FMCSA but less than 15 days).
June 23rd and later carriers will no longer need to note that the certified medical examiner (CME) was on the Registry. Based on testing so far, updates should appear on the CDL record within 48 hours of the exam, depending on when examiners enter the results.
February 7th marks three years since the implementation of the entry-level driver training (ELDT) regulations. Currently, there are just under 40,000 training providers listed on the ELDT Training Provider Registry (TPR). That’s an increase of just over 15 percent since this time last year.
Concerns about this increase in training providers has prompted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to begin taking steps to ensure all providers on the TPR are meeting the regulation’s requirements.
That’s it for this month’s round up. Stay safe, and thanks for watching.
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Copyright 2026 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.