The controversial federal E-Verify system may already be required for landscape contractors in your state. If not, it may be coming soon. E-Verify is a federal, web-based electronic system that verifies the eligibility of an employee to work in the United States. Operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the system verifies the identity and employment eligibility of employees... read more
In the early 2000s, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed a list of seven target industries on which to concentrate its compliance and enforcement efforts. At the top of that list were landscape contractors. OSHA chose these seven target industries based upon their high incidence of severe work-related injuries and workdays lost due to those injuries. Industry... read more
President Trump has made immigration enforcement the centerpiece of his administration. This enforcement thrust has increased the pressure on the landscape contracting industry to be vigilant in following federal rules regarding employee work authorization documentation. The landscape contracting industry has one of the highest proportions of unauthorized foreign workers in its workforce at 21 percent in 2014, according to the... read more
On May 20, 2019, the EPA published notice in the Federal Register canceling the registrations of twelve neonicotinoid-containing pesticides (neonics). read more
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an interim decision on the herbicide glyphosate. They have received pushback from environmental groups. read more
For those of you who have seen the Bill Murray classic movie, “Groundhog Day,” the H-2B saga seems reminiscent. As part of the deal to end the partial shutdown of the federal government, H-2B advocates in Washington secured language in the bipartisan compromise appropriations bill to allow the secretary of homeland security, in consultation with the secretary of labor, to... read more
