Articles by Richard D. Alaniz

Whether an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection of your workplace is triggered by a workplace injury, a formal complaint, or a programmed wall-to-wall inspection, being prepared beforehand will help limit exposure and help defend against any citations that may be issued.

Today's employers have an increasingly regulated and overly litigious landscape to navigate in managing their workplace. The continued growth of federal, state, and even local regulatory protections for employees, coupled with an overabundance of lawyers, has made virtually every workplace decision a potential lawsuit.

Over the past several years, we have seen nationwide efforts, often precipitated by unions, to increase the minimum wage at the local level to $15 as a means of addressing economic inequality. The movement, called the "Fight for $15," has seen some success in several states as well as in numerous cities.

Issues surrounding immigration have been a focal point for employers since the 1986 passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). The effects of that law and its requirements have made the hiring process a source of major concern for many employers.

Under the administration of Donald J. Trump, employers may be able to anticipate many changes in the regulatory and legal environment. In particular, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which had been very pro-union under the Obama adminstration, may shift its focus.

Do you hire other companies to complete jobs in your workplace? Did you realize that you could be liable for labor violations that the company commits while working there? There are two pending and one recently decided case that will alter how franchisees, general and sub-contractors, and other companies operate. These cases will impact whether employers are responsible as joint employers for violations that other companies may commit.

During the presidential campaign, Donald J. Trump made maternity leave a signature issue. Now that he is in the White House, Trump appears intent on pushing for paid leave for new parents who don’t receive time off from their employers.