Tag Archives: workplace safety

Wait for It!…Wait for It! (But Don’t Expect to Get Paid for It.)

Ver la versión en español aquí Yesterday, employers gained an important victory in the ongoing wave of litigation over what time is or is not considered compensable work time under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers are not required to pay employees for the time spent waiting to clear … Continue Reading

MEDICAL MARIJUANA SEMINAR: The Dope on Amendment 2’s Effect on Florida’s Workplaces

On November 4, Florida voters will go the polls to vote on a constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of medical marijuana. If the amendment passes, how will that impact Florida workplaces? Please join us for breakfast in our Miami office on November 10th. We will address important FAQs about how medical marijuana may affect … Continue Reading

A Supervisor’s Knowledge and Liability Under OSHA

You know it is the height of summer when we start posting about ditch digging and OSHA violations. Although not the sexiest of topics, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Florida, recently decided an issue for the first time: Can a supervisor’s knowledge of his own violation of an OSHA safety … Continue Reading

Failure to Notify Carrier of Workers’ Comp Injury Could Foreclose Employer’s Defenses in Subsequent Law Suit

A recent case from Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, Ocean Reef Club, Inc. v. Wilczewski, highlights the importance of employers reporting workplace injuries and illnesses to their workers’ compensation carrier.  Although the Third District Court of Appeal has jurisdiction over only Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, employers throughout the State should take notice. The plaintiffs in … Continue Reading

Can You Hear Us Now? – Federal Government Restricts Cell Phone Use by Commercial Drivers

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a new rule limiting the use of hand-held mobile telephones by drivers of commercial motor vehicles. A commercial motor vehicle is defined as a self-propelled or towed vehicle used on the highways to transport person or property in interestate commerce; and that either: Has a gross vehicle weight/gross … Continue Reading

Violence or the Threat of Violence in the Workplace, Whether by an Employee or Outsider, May Trigger an OSHA Inspection

On September 8, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a Directive with general enforcement policies and procedures for field offices when conducting inspections relating to workplace violence.  The Directive focuses not only on the steps to be taken in response to an incident of workplace violence but the factors OSHA will consider when … Continue Reading

What Do OSHA and Oprah Have in Common?

For years, Oprah Winfrey has asked guests to sign a pledge promising not to text while driving.  The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has taken up the calling.  OSHA has dedicated an entire portion of its website to Distracted Driving and is encouraging employers to help solve the problem of texting while driving.  According … Continue Reading

Court Says Woman Who Quit Her Job is Entitled to Unemployment Benefits

A Florida appellate court, in Rivera v. Fla. Unemployment Appeals Commission and Pollo Operations, Inc., has directed Florida’s unemployment agency to give unemployment benefits to a woman who voluntarily quit her job.  The woman, Nail Rivera, worked at Pollo Tropical restaurant for nine years when she complained that an assistant manager touched her buttocks.  Ms. Rivera … Continue Reading
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