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In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Skye Hao (Atlanta) and Goli Rahimi (Chicago) discuss high-level considerations and workstyle reform laws for overtime work in Japan. Goli and Skye cover limitations on overtime work, such as Article 36 written agreements, time-tracking obligations, exemptions for certain employees, and penalties for non-compliance.

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In this installment of our Safety Basics podcast series, shareholders Frank Davis (Dallas) and John Surma (Houston) discuss reporting work-related incidents resulting in fatalities, hospitalizations, amputations, and loss of an eye to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). John and Frank cover two main aspects of OSHA reporting requirements: (1) the triggering event and (2) the timeframe. In addition, they discuss various reporting methods, as well as employer responsibilities and good faith efforts when dealing with these reportable events.

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In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Skye Hao (associate, Atlanta) is joined by Carlos Colón-Machargo (of counsel, Atlanta) to discuss employee leave benefits in China, including care leaves for families. Skye and Carlos address employees’ paid annual leave entitlements based on their years worked in the workforce, additional types of paid leave that employers might use to attract talent or to standardize global leave policies, carry-over rules for accrued but unused statutory annual leave, leave for 11 national holidays, and the benefits and drawbacks of providing various types of leaves such as sick, maternity, parental, and caregiver leaves.

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In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Shirin Aboujawde (New York) and Patty Shapiro (San Diego) discuss the role of treaties in cross-border employment. Shirin and Patty cover tax, immigration, and other logistical treaties, specifically tax residency issues for temporary workers; permanent establishment considerations; business registration and corporate tax obligations; document authentication, verification, and submission requirements; as well as other global workforce matters that may be impacted by treaty terms and conditions.

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In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Carlos Colón-Machargo (Atlanta) sits down with Shirin Aboujawde (New York) to discuss the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) requirement that Filipino law imposes on employers that employ remote workers who are Philippines citizens. Carlos and Shirin specifically cover the various stages of the OEC approval process, from submitting an employee offer letter to fulfilling education, training, and medical examination requirements. The speakers also discuss potential travel restrictions and detentions of Filipino national employees in the absence of having a valid OEC, and what steps employers can take when facing these cross-border challenges.

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In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Carlos Colón-Machargo (Atlanta) discusses vacation and sick leave requirements in Puerto Rico, including the difference in benefits for employees hired after the 2017 statutory reform. Carlos also covers how the number of hours worked and years of service affect accrual levels; entitlements regarding payouts, penalties, and carryover for unused vacation time; special sick leave allotments available for employees with certain covered illnesses, and more.

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In this podcast, Kevin Bland (a shareholder in Ogletree’s Orange County office) and Karen Tynan (the West Coast chair of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group and a shareholder in the Sacramento office) discuss compliance challenges and enforcement trends unique to California’s agriculture industry. Karen, who is also a co-chair of the firm’s Workplace Violence Prevention Practice Group, and Kevin review some of the most frequently cited standards in the industry, including heat illness, Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) regulations, lockout/tagout, guarding, field sanitation, and training. They also provide practical tips related to training seasonal workers and wildfire smoke hazards.

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In this installment of our Safety Perspectives From the Dallas Region podcast series, John Surma (shareholder, Houston) is joined by special guest Melissa Bailey (shareholder, Washington, D.C.) to discuss the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed rule on heat illness—“Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.” Melissa and John explain how the rulemaking process works and discuss potential challenges if the rule becomes final. They also review key aspects of the rule, including temperature levels that trigger coverage under the standard, acclimatization protocols, mandatory rest breaks, and employee training.

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In this installment of our Safety Basics podcast series, shareholders John Surma (Houston) and Phillip Russell (Tampa) discuss the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s General Duty Clause, which allows employers to be cited for conditions that create a hazard to health or a safety risk for employees if the hazard is “recognized.” Phillip and John review the four elements of a violation, how a hazard is defined under the General Duty Clause, limitations on who is subject to the General Duty Clause and how the Occupational Safety and Health Administration applies the standard, how employers can abate a recognized hazard (including economic feasibility), and practical tips to handle and/or prevent citations.

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In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Komlavi Atsou (shareholder, Cleveland) and Patty Shapiro (associate, San Diego), discuss the use of arbitration clauses in employment agreements in Nigeria. Komlavi shares that Nigeria’s Arbitration and Mediation Act permits arbitration as long as the agreement to arbitrate is in writing, and that there is greater flexibility for the use of arbitration clauses in separation agreements than in other types of employment agreements. The speakers also cover choice of law provisions, which are subject to a balancing test that takes into consideration the country with maximum contact to the employment relationship.