This Week's Labor, Employment Law and OSHA Legal Developments:
- Administration is resubmitting Scott Mugno for OSHA leader and shooting for a January 11 Committee hearing.
- The vital US Labor Department Solicitor position was finally filled when Kate O'Scannlain was approved by the Senate. The solicitor's outsized importance is often disguised behind the scenes.
- Peter Robb, the NLRB's new general counsel set records with swift action to undue Obama-era NLRB changes – the NLRB GC can reshape the Agency.
- After the slew of major NLRB decisions the last week of 2017 (LINK), expect few more major changes until a 5th NLRB member is approved.
- US Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the 2013 Cole Guidance Memorandum and now allows US prosecutors to go after Marijuana use in states with medical or recreational marijuana laws. It's not likely such prosecutions will occur and the move adds to the confusion of employer's responsibilities involving medial and recreational marijuana use. LINK to January 4 and 5 FP Articles.
- OSHA penalties for other-than-serious, serious and failure to abate violations increased to $12,934 per violation. The penalty for willful and repeat violations increased to $129,336. The new penalty increase will apply to any citations issued through the remainder of 2018. To learn more, click here.
California, Maryland, Minnesota, South Carolina, Utah Washington and Wyoming have not adopted OSHA's Electronic Injury Reporting regulations, and employers in those states are not yet required to electronically submit their Form 300As.
State Law Developments of Note:
- Check the host of New York employment laws that took effect this month.
- California, not surprisingly, has a horde of new employment laws taking effect this month including Ban the Box rules, prohibitions on salary history inquiries and expansion of parental leave, but some of the most complex involve employer obligations under the Immigration Worker Protection Act.
Practical Observation of the Week:
The pending fire sale of the once omnipotent Weinstein Company is a stark reminder of how a crisis or catastrophe can destroy a company, and the need for your own "what-if" risk planning.
Podcasts that I've recently enjoyed:
- The Tim Ferris Show – Discipline Equals Freedom – Jocko Wilink, October 27, 2017.
- The Tim Ferris Show – The Most Curious Man in Hollywood – Brian Glazer. November 12, 2017.
- Harvard Business School Cold Calls: How to Monitize Happiness, January 3, 2018
Books that I'm Currently Enjoying:
- Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Middle East, Michael B. Oren
- Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World, Niall Ferguson
Books that I'm Looking Forward to Reading:
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity, David Allen
Books that I've recently enjoyed and would recommend:
- Persepolis Rising, James S.A. Corey – the 7th book in the Sci-fi "Expanse" series is impressive. Corey hasn't lost his energy and creativity even after seven volumes.
- Artemis, Andy Weir. Not nearly as good as his debut book, The Martian, but Weir again educates us on the technical details of how we'd explore space through a snarky, sometimes annoying protagonist.
- The Butchering Art, Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine, Lindsey Fitzharris. Fascinating and readable, but not for the weak stomach.
Movies or TV that Recently Wowed Me:
- Darkest Hour – Gary Oldman truly becomes Churchill; perfect pacing; cinematography, lighting and score are superb. Riveting.
- Get Out – as good as promised; much more than a comedy; a really well written suspenseful horror film from Jordan Peel.
- The Night Manager – different from the book but brilliant BBC effort.
It's the award Season – Check the Twitter feed @NextBestPicture and podcast and site that my son contributes to, for Movie news - thus, Movies or TV that I "need " to see:
Wine, Beer, Scotch or Bourbon that has Recently Impressed Me:
- Lagavulin Islay Single Malt – 16 years
- Aultmore Foggie Moss Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskey – 18 years
People who recently impressed me:
Jeff Trump, owner of the upscale restaurant, Brooklyn Café in Sandy Springs, who catered and entertained my mom and friends at her Assisted Living facility – and refused to let me pay because he values our family. Hospitality defined.
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