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In this episode of our Safety Perspectives From Region 6 podcast series, shareholders John Surma (Houston) and Frank Davis (Dallas) discuss the new “walkaround” rule that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued. John and Frank specifically cover the history and purpose of the rule, including whether third parties, such as unions and union representatives, can have access to the workplace during inspections. In addition, Frank and John discuss potential challenges and practical considerations for employers in light of the new rule.

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In this podcast, Meagan Dziura, a member of Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group, covers alternatives for employees not selected in the H-1B lottery, given the stagnant number of USCIS selections made for H-1B visas despite an increased demand over the past few years. Meagan discusses potential options for visa applications, including specialty occupation and treaty visas, such as the H-1B1 and E-3 visas, as well as the TN professional and O-1 extraordinary ability visas. Meagan also explores opportunities for applicants in a dependent status, including spousal visas and other employment authorization documents.

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In this podcast, Karen Tynan, who is the West Coast chair of Ogletree Deakins’ Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group, is joined by former San Francisco Chief of Police Greg Suhr to discuss Senate Bill 553, which requires virtually all California employers to adopt comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans by July 1, 2024. Karen and Greg cover topics ranging from risk assessment to active shooter and active aggressor training. They also provide practical tips to assist employers with developing policies to mitigate risk and keep their employees and workplaces safe.

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In this podcast, John Surma (shareholder, Houston) and Jeff Leslie (of counsel, Dallas) review the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) from the law’s origin and purpose to OSHA standards and citations—and the impact on employers. Jeff and John, both of whom are members of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group, also discuss the differences between state and federal OSHA plans, accident reporting, inspections, employee interviews, and other enforcement mechanisms.

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In this podcast, Kevin Bland (shareholder, Orange County) sits down with Karen Tynan (shareholder and West Coast chair of Ogletree’s Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group) to discuss serious accident-related citations, how to prevent them, and how to address issues that arise when they do occur. The speakers also cover the nuances of navigating “struck by heavy equipment” cases occurring in multi-employer worksites and/or with third parties.

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In this episode of our Safety Perspectives From Region 6 podcast series, shareholders John Surma (Houston) and Frank Davis (Dallas) continue their discussion on OSHA workplace investigations from the opening conference to the close of the inspection. Frank and John focus on how to manage the walk-around process, including staffing and preparing employee representatives for the walk-around, minimizing distractions during  interviews with compliance officers, handling documentation requests and collection, and more.

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In this episode of our new Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Patty Shapiro (San Diego) and Eric Lee (New York) discuss the recent trend in East Asia to use digital nomad visas, which allow individuals to work remotely in a country for foreign employers. These nomad visa programs were specifically designed to permit eligible foreign nationals to live in a country while working remotely for a foreign employer—while also avoiding the typical hurdles and headaches involved with work authorization and taxes. Eric and Patty cover the various digital nomad visa programs in East Asia, the eligibility requirements of these programs (such as income thresholds, health insurance coverage, and criminal history certificates), the duration of visa application processes, and the approaches various Asian countries have towards the use of these visas.

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In this installment of Ogletree Deakins’ Cross-Border Catch-Up series, Patty Shapiro (San Diego) and Eric Lee (New York) discuss recent legislative updates from Singapore, which may have implications on employer handbooks or policies. Patty and Eric cover three major updates: government paid paternity leave benefits, unpaid and infant care leave for working parents, and the new workplace fairness legislation in Singapore. The speakers also comment on the protected characteristics under Singapore’s new discrimination law, which include age, nationality, sex, marital status. pregnancy status, caregiving responsibilities, race, religion, language, and disability and mental health conditions—making Singapore one of the first countries to provide protection on the status of mental health.

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In this episode of the Safety Perspectives From Region 6 podcast series, shareholders John Surma (Houston) and Frank Davis (Dallas) discuss workplace investigations and the importance of having a plan for when an OSHA compliance officer arrives at your door to conduct an inspection. Frank and John address the significance of building the right internal team for these workplace investigations, tips for listening and responding to the compliance officer’s questions appropriately, and how cooperating and extending professional courtesy can make for a smoother inspection process.

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In this episode of our Multistate Monday podcast series, Lucas Asper (co-chair of the firm’s Multistate Advice and Counseling Practice Group), Stacy Bunck, and John Stretton review issues related to dating in the workplace and best practices for implementing harassment and non-fraternization policies. Lucas (shareholder, Greenville), Stacy (shareholder, Kansas City), and John (shareholder, Stamford) discuss real-life examples from their litigation experiences and how these situations have informed their recommendations regarding go-to policy provisions (including offering employees multiple harassment reporting channels) and  best practices on training programs . The speakers also discuss “love contracts,” which require employees to disclose relationships with co-workers and to acknowledge employer policies.