Human Resources

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has summarized and provided a useful analysis for employers on a recent court decision that will directly impact workplace harassment by non-employees in a manufacturing environment. Read the client bulletin to learn how the new standard will alter employer liability. 10/9/2025

HR Dive has released its list of the must-attend HR conferences for 2026, highlighting events that will cover policy updates, compliance challenges, workforce development and the growing impact of artificial intelligence. From SHRM’s Annual Conference in Orlando to specialized gatherings like LEAP HR for manufacturing, logistics and healthcare, the lineup offers HR professionals opportunities to learn, network and share best practices across industries.

These conferences will feature keynotes, workshops, case studies and expos designed to help HR leaders adapt to rapid changes while strengthening workplace culture and strategy. 10/2/2025

President Donald Trump has directed immigration officials to tighten visa vetting procedures, signaling a broader crackdown on legal immigration. While student visas—especially for STEM fields—remain largely unaffected, increased scrutiny and longer processing times are expected across categories. International students, who contribute more than $43 billion annually to the U.S. economy and fill critical workforce gaps, may face delays and added documentation requirements.

Despite the tougher stance, experts predict continued strong demand for U.S. education and employment opportunities, especially in the tech and manufacturing sectors. 9/25/2025

A new Gallup poll shows a modest increase in Americans’ trust in businesses, particularly in how they use emerging technologies like AI. While concerns remain about job impacts and responsible use, the data suggest growing public confidence in the private sector—especially compared with trust in government institutions. 9/25/2025

In the ongoing debate over health care cost drivers, providers are drawing increased scrutiny. The Wall Street Journal editorial board spotlighted how the 340B drug discount program, designed to support low-income patients, has been stretched well beyond its intent—with hospitals able to claim discounts on prescriptions written by outside physicians and filled at contract pharmacies. Hospitals and pharmacies even hire firms to comb patient records and maximize these discounts.

Also this week, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich authored a column pointing to the 340B program as a key area for reform to ensure savings flow to patients, not hospital bottom lines. 9/25/2025

As employee expression spills into every corner of the workplace, employers must find effective ways to respond. OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips provides this client bulletin outlining strategies for navigating these issues. 9/17/2025

The Congressional Budget Office recently released a study on the growth of federal government spending on drugs purchased via the 340B program. The program, originally targeted to support rural hospitals, has been expanded to the largest health care systems. The result: significant additional costs to the American taxpayer and increases in the overall cost of health care.

Specifically, the CBO’s analysis found that spending on drugs purchased through the 340B program grew by an average of 19 percent annually, exceeding the spending growth seen market-wide for prescription drug spending. Additionally, the analysis described how the Affordable Care Act both directly and indirectly expanded participation in the 340B program by expanding eligibility to more hospitals. 9/10/2025

With the high-profile federal immigration raid of a manufacturing facility in Georgia, employers may want to consider steps to safeguard against immigration infractions. The Associated Press reports most of the workers in Georgia were South Korean engineers and installers performing authorized work at the plant.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published guidance on whether employers should use the E-Verify system for new hires. The employment law firm also provides guidance on State Department–tightened rules for visa applicant interviews. 9/10/2025

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that employers may remove union flyers from break rooms if doing so is part of consistently enforced housekeeping and solicitation policies. The decision in Apple Inc. v. NLRB overturned a prior board ruling and also found no violation in a manager’s brief discussion with an employee about unionization.

While the ruling applies directly in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, it signals how courts may view neutral workplace policies in union settings. OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips recommends that manufacturers review their solicitation and housekeeping rules to ensure they are applied evenly and documented clearly. 9/3/2025

In a decision that could significantly reshape how the federal government handles EEO-1 Reports for federal contractors, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit recently ruled that certain employer EEO-1 reports must be disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips breaks down what this means for businesses and how employers can respond. 8/26/2025

From the rise of AI to competition for trade skills and talent, HR departments in manufacturing are undergoing rapid changes. With Deloitte highlighting in their 2025 Manufacturing Outlook that while U.S. manufacturing is experiencing increased investment and growth, they are faced with new challenges when it comes to replacing, training, and retaining skilled labor.

HR experts at ADP have highlighted the top eight HR trends to watch in manufacturing. 7/22/2025

With the rise of data centers in Ohio and around the world, more and more businesses are implementing cloud-based infrastructure. However, every new technology comes with inherent risks.

OMA Connections Partner BSI Consulting unpacks what we can learn from recent cloud breaches and what manufacturers should keep in mind when implementing and scaling cloud infrastructure. 7/17/2025

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) last week began quietly rolling back over 60 initiatives, including overtime and minimum wage exemptions and cuts in affirmative action and workplace safety oversight.

OMA Connection Partner Fisher Phillips has created a breakdown of which rules are on the chopping block, which are being scaled back, and what employers need to know moving forward. 6/25/2025

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced that it will no longer enforce the 2024 Biden-era rule that tightened independent contractor classifications, signaling a return to the more flexible “economic realities” standard.

While the rule remains in effect for private lawsuits, DOL enforcement now aligns with the Trump administration’s approach. Manufacturers may benefit from this shift but must still contend with differing state laws, ongoing litigation, and the potential for future policy reversals.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has outlined the four things manufacturers need to know in the wake of this rule. 6/25/2025

Recently, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals clarified the scope of protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding workplace accommodations.

The ruling clarified that under the ADA, employees with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodations, even if they can perform their essential job functions without them.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has created a snapshot guide on what manufacturers need to know and consider in the wake of this ruling. 6/19/2025

With immigration enforcement across the country increasing pressure across all industries, OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has created a detailed playbook for employers to minimize the chances of an audit or raid and what to consider should immigration officials arrive at your workplace. 6/12/2025

The U.S. Supreme Court this week unanimously ruled in favor of an Ohio woman who claimed she was unlawfully passed over for a promotion based on her sexuality in favor of a lesbian woman.

The court reversed the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, which had dismissed the woman’s claim, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson writing that the Supreme Court’s case law “makes clear that the standard for proving disparate treatment under Title VII does not vary based on whether or not the plaintiff is a member of a majority group.”

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has created a breakdown of the five ways this changes discrimination claims for employers. 6/5/2025

Last week, the Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee saw substantial debate surrounding House Bill 225, which would phase out Ohio’s subminimum wage, a policy that allows certain employers to legally pay workers with disabilities less than the standard minimum wage under federal 14(c) certificates.

The bill aims to ensure all workers, regardless of disability, receive equal pay for equal work over a five-year transition period. For businesses currently using subminimum wage programs, the bill could mean higher payroll expenses and a need for additional state-supported accommodations or operational adjustments. 5/20/2025

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) this week opened the EEO-1 portal for reporting, marking June 24 as the deadline for submission.

Private employers with at least 100 employees and federal contractors with at least 50 employees are required to sort and report data by employee job category, as well as sex and race/ethnicity to the EEOC.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has created a breakdown of everything you and your company need to know to meet the June 24 deadline. 5/20/2025

Ohio has become the first state to allow employers not to display labor and civil rights posters within their businesses.

Senate Bill 33, which was signed by Governor Mike DeWine last week, removes the requirement for physical postings of such information, which traditionally inform employees of their rights under labor laws and civil rights statutes.

Employers are still required by federal law to post information about Ohio’s minimum wage, prevailing wage, overtime rules, civil rights protections, workers’ compensation, and public employment risk reduction laws but will be allowed to post that information online rather than in physical form.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has created a breakdown of Senate Bill 33 and what employers need to know before the bill becomes law on June 20. 5/7/2025