Birmingham Partner Scott Williams was featured in a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) article where he examines the lasting impact of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), highlighting how workplace safety regulations have evolved over time and continue to shape employer responsibilities and broader labor trends.

In that context, Scott shared that “OSHA’s regulatory framework, including employee complaint handling and protection against retaliation, may have also contributed to the decline of unionization in the private sector since the 1970s.” He also noted that employees are legally entitled to a safe workplace as a result of the Act.

The article emphasizes how workplace safety regulation has evolved into a defining feature of the modern employment landscape, shaping not only employer compliance obligations but also broader labor dynamics. Scott’s perspective reflects a wider industry theme: that the long-term impact of OSHA extends beyond safety outcomes alone, influencing how employers structure workplace policies, respond to employee concerns, and navigate the balance between regulatory frameworks and traditional forms of employee representation.

Read the full article here.