WorkSmarts Virtual Seminar: May 2026
Join us virtually on May 14, 2026, as we tackle two of the hottest topics in the labor and employment world. We take a closer look at the current trends seen in OSHA and workplace safety regulatory enforcement matters. In addition, our team will cover how to determine who is really an employee at your company, and avoid common misclassification pitfalls.
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 11:30 AM-2:00 PM
(UTC-05:00) Central Time (US & Canada) [Change Time Zone]
Agenda
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| 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Entering into the second year of the Trump Administration, OSHA has continued to prioritize some enforcement areas (e.g., LOTO, trenching, warehousing) while de-emphasizing other areas. The agency also continues to demonstrate flexibility for smaller employers, stemming from dramatic changes to the agency’s penalty policy outlined in July 2025, a shift the agency signaled was for the purpose of improving compliance. This presentation will explore current OSHA enforcement trends and priorities and provide an outlook for 2026. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | The line between independent contractor and employee has never been more blurred—or more heavily litigated. As lawsuits surge across industries and legal standards continue to diverge, misclassification has become a high-stakes issue with significant financial and regulatory consequences. Whether you represent employers, advise on compliance, or oversee workforce strategy, this session will provide guidance and insight to help you navigate risk and make informed decisions in a rapidly shifting legal landscape. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
OSHA and Workplace Safety 2026 Outlook and Current Enforcement Trends Entering into the second year of the Trump Administration, OSHA has continued to prioritize some enforcement areas (e.g., LOTO, trenching, warehousing) while de-emphasizing other areas. The agency also continues to demonstrate flexibility for smaller employers, stemming from dramatic changes to the agency’s penalty policy outlined in July 2025, a shift the agency signaled was for the purpose of improving compliance. This presentation will explore current OSHA enforcement trends and priorities and provide an outlook for 2026. |
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM |
Navigating the Misclassification Minefield: Who Is Really an Employee? The line between independent contractor and employee has never been more blurred—or more heavily litigated. As lawsuits surge across industries and legal standards continue to diverge, misclassification has become a high-stakes issue with significant financial and regulatory consequences. Whether you represent employers, advise on compliance, or oversee workforce strategy, this session will provide guidance and insight to help you navigate risk and make informed decisions in a rapidly shifting legal landscape. Esther Feuer |
HRCI and SHRM will be submitted for this session. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits are pending in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas (Once Kansas is approved, it will be a qualified jurisdiction for New York credit), Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. CLE credit application and approval processes vary per state and may not be available after certain state deadlines. Please email education@spencerfane.com if you have questions about credits.