In this first episode of our Dirty Steel-Toe Boots podcast series for the year, Tampa shareholders Phillip Russell and Dee Anna Hays discuss anticipated changes and developments within the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) during President Trump’s second term. Dee Anna and Phillip address the status of the proposed heat illness standard and walkaround rule, expected changes in OSHA leadership, and the potential impact that the incoming administration’s policies, regulatory adjustments, and enforcement strategies may have on workplace safety and health.

In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Patty Shapiro (shareholder, San Diego) and Kate Thompson (associate, Stamford) discuss recent updates to employment laws in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Kate kicks off the episode by highlighting amendments to Norway’s Working Environment Act, which went into effect on July 1, 2024. These amendments enhance employee rights and require detailed employment contracts. Patty and Kate also review changes to Denmark’s Posting of Workers Act and the Immigration Act, which will impact foreign service providers. These changes require new documentation uploads to the Danish register by 2025 and 2026. The episode concludes with a discussion about Sweden, where the new EU Blue Card Directive, effective January 1, 2025, aims to attract highly qualified workers by offering flexible employment and residency options.

In this podcast, shareholders Karen Tynan (Sacramento) and Charles Thompson (San Francisco) discuss California Code of Civil Procedure Section 527.8, which allows employers and unions to obtain temporary restraining orders (TROs) in response to credible threats of violence in the workplace. Charles, who co-chairs the firm’s Leaves of Absence/Reasonable Accommodation Practice Group, and Karen, who co-chairs the Workplace Violence Prevention Practice Group, review the nuances involved in securing TROs and share best practices to help prepare employers for situations where a TRO may be necessary. The episode concludes with practical tips for actions employers can take after the new law goes into effect on January 1, 2025.

In this installment of Ogletree Deakins’ Safety Basics podcast series, John Surma (Houston) is joined by Jeff Leslie (Dallas) and Ryan Swink (Houston) to discuss OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard. The speakers cover the criteria for what constitutes a hazardous chemical and outline the five key elements of the Hazard Communication Standard: (1) identification, (2) labeling, (3) safety data sheets, (4) employee training, and (5) program implementation. They also provide insights on how employers can achieve compliance with OSHA regulations.

In this podcast, Karen Tynan, the West Coast chair of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group, and Noel Hernandez from the firm’s Las Vegas office discuss Nevada’s newly adopted heat illness regulation. The regulation, which went into effect on November 15, 2024, applies to employers with more than ten employees and requires them to provide employee training and conduct a written job hazard analysis. Noel and Karen review the regulation’s trigger temperature and outline the responsibilities of employers, which include providing drinking water, scheduled rest breaks, and cooling measures. They also share valuable insights for Nevada employers affected by the new regulation.

In this podcast Jim McGrew, Ogletree’s chief client services officer and Dr. Martin Römermann a shareholder in the Berlin office, discuss some of the top issues (e.g. employer of records, data protection and formal requirements) U.S. employers face when conducting business in Germany.

In this roundtable discussion, members of the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group discuss a wide range of topics, including setting up a new cybersecurity plan and practicing it within an organization with buy-in from various departments (IT, HR, etc.), appointing a cybersecurity or data protection officer, deciding whether that officer should be from outside the organization, and instituting role-based training to help employees recognize threats (such as the recent proliferation of phishing threats). Simon McMenemy (managing partner, London) and Ben Perry (of counsel, Nashville), who are co-chairs of the practice group, are joined by Tracey Kinslow (of counsel, Nashville), Nicola McCrudden (of counsel, London), Erin Schachter (associate, Montréal), and Lauren Watson (associate, Raleigh). The speakers cover developments in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

In this podcast, Ogletree Deakins attorneys Sam Sedaei and Ben Perry delve into Illinois’s newly enacted artificial intelligence (AI) law, HB 3773. Sam, a member of the firm’s Technology Practice Group who focuses on the use of technology in the workplace, and Ben, who is co-chair of the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group, discuss the AI law’s implications for employment practices, including the law’s broad definition of AI and its goal to prevent discriminatory effects in employment decision-making. The conversation also explores the challenges faced by employers in complying with the new regulations and the broader trend of state-level AI legislation in the absence of comprehensive federal guidelines.

In this installment of our Safety Perspectives From the Dallas Region podcast series, shareholders John Surma (Houston) and Frank Davis (Dallas) discuss OSHA’s recordkeeping rules. Frank and John cover the forms that employers are required to complete and maintain, including OSHA Form 300, Form 300A, and Form 301. They also emphasize the importance of knowing and understanding your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, as well as the obligations electronic reporting and the potential consequences of noncompliance.

In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Shirin Aboujawde (New York) and Patty Shapiro (San Diego), both of whom are members of Ogletree Deakins’ Cross-Border Practice Group, discuss Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs). SOFAs are treaties that allow members of the U.S. armed forces and their dependents, as well as government contractors to operate in foreign countries with specific exemptions, such as special immigration status and tax exemptions. Shireen explains the intricacies of SOFAs, their application, and the importance of careful due diligence. The episode provides valuable insights for employers navigating the complexities of SOFA status for their employees abroad.

In this installment of our Safety Perspectives From the Dallas Region podcast series, shareholders Frank Davis (Dallas) and John Surma (Houston) discuss the implications of a recent federal court ruling that extends the Supreme Court’s June 2024 decision in SEC v. Jarkesy, barring the use of administrative law judges (ALJs) in certain matters before the SEC. In November 2024, a federal district court judge in Texas expanded the bar to include ALJs at the U.S. Department of Labor—a decision that could potentially affect OSHA’s adjudication procedures. John and Frank’s discussion highlights the uncertainty and backlog this situation could create within the federal court system. They also examine the future of administrative law proceedings—particularly for employers facing OSHA actions.