The sky is not yet falling for non-competes. Jackson Lewis principals Clifford R. Atlas, Daniel J. Doron and Erik J. Winton say the FTC's four varieties of alternatives to its own proposed rules suggests now is the time for employers to read the room and address any potential issues.

Benefits beyond the usual medical, dental and vision will continue to occupy HR ideas and initiatives in 2023. Jackson Lewis principals Joy Napier-Joyce and Melissa Ostrower note that employers will be proactive, formalizing and distributing policies focused on both retention through benefits and recession should one materialize.

OSHA enforcement and regulatory rulemaking will be big in 2023. Jackson Lewis principals and former feds Courtney M. Malveaux and Melanie L. Paul say heat illnesses, infectious disease standards, electronic recordkeeping requirements, and higher fines are just some of the action areas for which employers need to prepare.

Even though workplace conversations about mental health and wellness have become more acceptable, most employers are not therapists. Jackson Lewis principals Michael Griffin and Michael Thomas discuss how employers can establish a better baseline beyond legal obligations to reap the benefits that come from a workplace where employees are healthy, show up fully and thrive.

Employers can expect to face a rash of requests that reflects rising employee IQ regarding what can be accommodated beyond the usual disability and religious considerations. In this podcast, Jackson Lewis principals Patricia Anderson Pryor and Katharine C. Weber explore the context and challenges of this expanding accommodations environment.

The push for fuller transparency continues in 2023, with new state laws coming into effect and the possibility of federal-level activity. Jackson Lewis principals Laura A. Mitchell and Margaret J. (Peggy) Strange cover the compliance complexity of such a patchwork and address the best thing employers can do right now.

Avoiding workplace hazards in the construction industry may be next to impossible, but it's critical to ensure the health and safety of employees as well as maintaining compliance with potentially dangerous OSHA regulations.

All hotels aspire to provide their guests with top-quality service no matter the location or type of establishment. As guests resume—and ramp up—their business and personal travel post-COVID-19, all establishments must be prepared to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Ensuring grounds, sleeping rooms, bathrooms, and websites are accessible goes beyond simply maintaining legal compliance.

Maintaining a competitive edge in the brick and mortar retail space can involve taking risks—having employees use ladders in day-to-day operations is one most retailers cannot avoid. However, preventing and reducing ladder-related accidents and injuries is essential to keeping your workers and customers safe.

Employers are apt to focus on OSHA's heat-related enforcement rules when temperatures are high, but protecting workers from heat hazards is critical throughout the year when fluctuations in temperature changes are unsafe.