Tag

Labor Regulations

All articles tagged with #labor regulations

climate-change2 years ago•9 min saved

"Skyrocketing Temperatures Drain U.S. Economy of Billions in Productivity"

Rising temperatures due to climate change are impacting workers across various industries in the United States, leading to decreased productivity and economic losses. Extreme heat is affecting not only traditional sectors like agriculture and construction but also industries such as factories, warehouses, restaurants, airlines, telecommunications, delivery services, and energy companies. Studies show that as temperatures rise, absenteeism increases, work hours decrease, and productivity slumps. The cost of heat-related labor losses in 2021 alone was estimated at over 2.5 billion hours and $100 billion. However, there are currently no national regulations to protect workers from extreme heat, and efforts to establish such protections face opposition from business groups.

via The New York Times|

#climate-change #heatwaves #labor-regulations

climate-change2 years ago•8 min saved

"Skyrocketing Temperatures Drain U.S. Economy of Billions in Productivity"

Rising temperatures due to climate change are impacting workers across various industries, leading to decreased productivity and economic losses. Extreme heat is affecting not only traditional sectors like agriculture and construction but also industries such as factories, warehouses, restaurants, airlines, telecommunications, delivery services, and energy companies. Studies show that heat exposure increases absenteeism, reduces work hours, and lowers productivity, with losses projected to reach $500 billion annually by 2050. The effects are disproportionately felt by workers in poor counties, who can lose up to 5% of their pay per hot day. Despite the significant economic costs, there are currently no national regulations in the US to protect workers from extreme heat, although some states have implemented labor protections.

via Yahoo News|

#climate-change #climate-impact #heatwaves

labor-rights2 years ago•4 min saved

Texas Law Eliminates Water Breaks for Construction Workers Amidst Heat Wave

A new law in Texas, set to go into effect in September, will eliminate local requirements for rest breaks, including water breaks, for workers in cities like Austin and Dallas. The law is part of a broader effort by the Republican-dominated State Legislature to exert control over Democratic-led major cities. Critics argue that the law, known as the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, transfers power from local communities to politicians in Austin and undermines worker safety. Supporters claim it will streamline regulations and prevent conflicting rules across different localities. The law has raised concerns about worker safety, particularly in the face of extreme heatwaves, and has prompted calls for national legislation or administrative rules requiring water breaks on a federal level.

via The New York Times|

#labor-regulations #labor-rights #local-control

business2 years ago•1 min saved

Mexico mandates remote work standards for employers.

Mexico's Labor Department has issued new regulations mandating employers to pay for internet and provide ergonomic chairs for employees working from home. The new rules also mandate a "right to disconnect" for employees who work at least 40% of their time from remote locations. Remote workers cannot be paid less than those who go to an office, and they must have set work hours. The new rules apply only to those who work remotely at least 40% of the week.

via Fox News|

#business #employer-responsibilities #labor-regulations

environment2 years ago•8 min saved

California's overtime law endangers use of goats for wildfire prevention.

New state labor regulations in California could raise the monthly salary of goat herders from about $3,730 to $14,000, threatening to put goat-grazing companies out of business. Companies typically put about one herder in charge of 400 goats, and many of the herders in California are from Peru and live in employer-provided trailers near grazing sites. Labor advocates say the state should investigate the working and living conditions of goatherders before making changes to the law, especially since the state is funding goat-grazing to reduce wildfire risk.

via KCRA Sacramento|

#california #environment #goats

environment2 years ago•4 min saved

California's overtime law endangers use of goats for wildfire prevention.

New state labor regulations in California are making it more expensive to provide goat-grazing services, and herding companies say the rules threaten to put them out of business. The changes could raise the monthly salary of herders from about $3,730 to $14,000, according to the California Farm Bureau. Companies have historically been allowed to pay goat and sheepherders a monthly minimum salary rather than an hourly minimum wage, because their jobs require them to be on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

via The Associated Press|

#california #environment #fire-prevention

politics2 years ago•5 min saved

Controversial Proposal: Loosening Child Labor Laws to Address Worker Shortage

Lawmakers in several states, largely led by Republican lawmakers, are proposing legislation to loosen child labor laws to address worker shortages, including allowing children to work in more hazardous occupations, longer hours on school nights, and serving alcohol in bars and restaurants as young as 14. Child welfare advocates worry that the measures represent a coordinated push to scale back hard-won protections for minors. The Department of Labor reported in February that child labor violations had increased by nearly 70 percent since 2018.

via PBS NewsHour|

#child-labor-laws #child-welfare-advocates #labor-regulations