What Employers Need to Know About OSHA Complaints (Litigators Lounge, Episode 14)
When is a hot office more than just an annoyance? In this lively episode of Litigators Lounge, hosts Jackie Voronov and Shylie Bannon kick back with lychee martinis and dive into a surprisingly misunderstood topic: OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration). This episode provides a comprehensive guide for employers, covering everything from the unexpected ways employees are using OSHA complaints to air grievances (spoiler: it’s not just about hard hats anymore) to what actually happens during an unannounced inspection.
Jackie, who Shylie dubs “the OSHA Maven,” explains the real scope of OSHA’s reach, even in white-collar settings, and outlines practical strategies for employers to stay prepared without panicking. The hosts also discuss broader trends, like the effects of staffing shortages and administrative shake-ups on federal enforcement, and why getting too comfortable could be a costly mistake.
Whether you’ve never encountered an OSHA visit or experienced one three years ago that didn’t fully close (yes, it does happen), this episode provides employers with the wit, wisdom, and direct communication they require.
Cheers to staying both compliant and cool under pressure.
Litigators Lounge is underwritten and presented by Hall Booth Smith. The show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction to Litigators Lounge
00:20 Hosts’ Catch-Up and Banter
01:11 Today’s Topic: OSHA and Workplace Safety
03:43 Deep Dive into OSHA Regulations
08:23 OSHA Inspections and Employer Protocols
17:39 Impact of Administrative Changes on OSHA
27:14 Supreme Court Cases and Legal Implications
29:02 Conclusion and Farewell
Jackie Voronov, Partner, Hall Booth Smith
Jackie Voronov is a Partner in Hall Booth Smith’s office in Paramus, New Jersey, and she represents management in a wide variety of employment matters and litigates employment claims before administrative agencies and state and federal courts. Her clients include major hotels, retailers, shipping companies, assisted living facilities and nursing homes, manufacturers, and national fast-food franchisees.
Jackie’s litigation experience includes the defense of employers in single and multi-plaintiff actions on claims of wrongful discharge, sexual harassment, race, national origin, gender, disability and age discrimination, breach of contract, family medical leave, failure to accommodate, retaliation, wage/hour laws, and related tort claims. Jackie also works with her clients to prepare various employment agreements (including non-compete, confidentiality, independent contractor, and separation agreements). She has extensive experience before various administrative tribunals, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the State Division of Human Rights (SDHR), the Division of Civil Rights (DCR), and other state, federal, and local agencies.
In addition, Jackie frequently conducts management training for employers on a wide variety of employment law topics, such as:
- EEO/anti-harassment
- employee recruiting and hiring practices
- family and medical leave
- reasonable accommodations for disabilities and religion
- preventing and investigating harassment, discrimination, and whistleblower claims
- wage and hour compliance
- discipline and termination of employees
- privacy in the workplace
Jackie is regularly invited to speak nationally on best practices and other employment-related issues. Before joining Hall Booth Smith, she worked for one of the country’s largest law firms, where she defended employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters, including wage and hour class actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), claims related to the New York State Human Rights Law (NSHRL), the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), and Title VII.
Jackie was selected for inclusion as a New Jersey Rising Star by Super Lawyers® for six consecutive years (2010-2016), which honors the top 2.5% of young lawyers in New Jersey.
Shylie Bannon, Partner, Hall Booth Smith
Shylie Bannon is a Partner in Hall Booth Smith’s Jacksonville, Florida, office. She also serves as Hiring Partner for the region of Florida, where she oversees associate attorney hiring endeavors. Prior to joining Hall Booth Smith, Shylie was a partner in both a multi-state, multi-specialty firm and a boutique practice.
At Hall Booth Smith, Shylie continues to represent physicians, mid-level providers, and health care providers in high-exposure medical negligence claims and in administrative proceedings before the Florida Department of Health. She also represents national retailers in high-exposure premises liability, negligent security, and transportation litigation with our National Trial Counsel team.
In addition to litigating matters involving personal injury and negligence, Shylie also represents management in all aspects of employment-related litigation arising from allegations of sex, disability, race, and pregnancy discrimination; whistleblower actions; and alleged violations of the National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards. She does so in administrative proceedings before both the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as in all of the state and federal courts in Florida. She also provides employment-related counsel to clients, helping them avoid employment-related litigation through the implementation of best employment, investigation, and risk management practices.
Shylie earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, cum laude, and graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History.
Shylie volunteers with the Guardian Ad Litem program and supports child welfare advocacy efforts in Northeast Florida. She is also a Member of the Board for the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida.
About Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Established in 1989, Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is a full-service law firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with regional offices strategically located throughout Georgia and the United States. Experienced across a wide range of legal disciplines, HBS prides itself on providing knowledgeable, proactive, client-specific counsel to individuals, domestic and international corporations, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
HBS possesses the legal knowledge, skill, and experience to meet their clients’ needs wherever they do business. HBS maintains the highest commitment to ethically and professionally serving their clients by providing the highest quality legal representation.
They deliver quality legal services in a variety of service areas. Experience across legal disciplines combined with a focus on the unique business or personal requirements of the client is the hallmark of the firm. Their clients receive the attention, expertise, and cost-effectiveness of a smaller law firm with the full service and strong regional presence typical of a larger one.
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Disclaimer
Litigators Lounge is a production brought to you by Hall Booth Smith, PC. This podcast is published for the purposes of providing general information and education on topics that include those related to the law and legal issues, but the contents of the podcast do not constitute legal advice. Listening to this podcast or utilizing the information contained in it in any way does not constitute nor does it create an attorney-client relationship between you and Hall Booth Smith or its lawyers. The contents of this podcast should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a professional attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
