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Prepare for shifting independent contractor rules. The US Department of Labor just released a highly anticipated proposal that should soon make it easier for businesses to engage with independent contractors – including freelancers and gig workers – while providing clearer lines on what aspects of the working relationship can trigger employee status. Here’s everything you need to know and four steps to prepare.

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Learn more about OSHA’s Safety Champions Program. OSHA recently announced the launch of the voluntary, self-guided initiative outlining several core practices employers should incorporate into their workplace safety and health plans. Rather than another compliance checkbox, this program represents a shift away from harsh enforcement-based compliance toward encouraging proactive risk management and prevention. Here’s how to decide if your company should participate.

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Breathe a sigh of relief over the latest in the NLRB’s joint-employer saga. The National Labor Relations Board issued a new final rule on February 26 officially restoring a business-friendly joint-employer rule from President Trump’s first term, which had essentially been back in play since 2024 after a court struck down (and the agency subsequently abandoned) a controversial Biden-era rule that aimed to replace it.

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