The WA CARES Act makes long-term care accessible to all workers in Washington State. The program is funded through payroll taxes collected by the state. Participation in the program is mandatory for Washington workers unless they applied for an exemption by November 1, 2021. The plan benefits are anticipated to be available to workers in July 2026 and will cover long-term care services such as professional care, equipment, home safety evaluations, and compensation for family members who provide care.
Building a healthy and fit business requires attention to the spirit, mind, and body of your organization. By defining your purpose, establishing core values, implementing robust decision-making processes, and investing in your physical resources, you can create a solid foundation for long-term success. Equinox's Business Health Assessment (BHA) offers a valuable opportunity to evaluate your organization's legal infrastructure and gain insights into areas that may need improvement. We value your participation and feedback as we collectively strive to build purpose-driven organizations that thrive in today's ever-evolving business landscape. Here's to your continued success and a prosperous future ahead.
Prohibiting nondisclosure and nondisparagement provisions from employers regarding illegal acts of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and sexual assault.
Equinox Business Law Leagal Update: The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) created new privacy rights for consumers and data protection obligations for businesses operating in California. The CPRA, which went into effect on January 1, 2023, includes additional protections for consumers, employees, and small and non-profit businesses, and establishes a new government agency for data privacy enforcement. The CPRA applies to businesses with a gross annual revenue exceeding $25 million, those that buy, sell, or share personal information of more than 100,000 consumers or households per year, or those that derive 50% or more of their annual revenues from selling or sharing consumers' personal information. Businesses need to update their collection notices, privacy policies, opt-out notices, and financial incentive notices and implement proactive risk-based controls. The best way to prepare for compliance is to perform a data audit, map out data flows, construct a privacy policy, and establish good data hygiene processes.
In both medicine and business law practice, a generalist approach with a holistic perspective is crucial for achieving the best outcomes. General practitioners, whether in medicine or law, provide historical and contextual insight, holistic evaluation, comprehensive treatment or guidance, identification of unusual or hidden issues, and guidance on optimal options. This comprehensive approach ensures that all aspects of health or business are considered and addressed, leading to more effective and sustainable solutions for patients or clients.
This article we explore the difference between specialized and general expertise for entrepreneurs and focus on why a generalist approach can be more beneficial, especially for legal affairs. A generalist approach can provide several advantages, including problem-solving skills, adaptability, leadership skills, innovation, and cost-effectiveness. By leveraging a strategic general counsel approach, small businesses can benefit from the broad viewpoint of a generalist lawyer, ensuring they make the right legal decisions and avoid costly mistakes. The Equinox approach finds a balance between specialized and general expertise for entrepreneurs to help them level the playing field with megacorps who employ general counsel on the payroll.
Small businesses face numerous challenges, from competition to financial instability to legal risks. By using the power of law, small businesses can protect themselves, level the playing field, and succeed. In this blog post, we'll explore how small businesses can use the law to protect the business they love, like Elle Woods in the movie "Legally Blonde" shows us that anyone, regardless of their background or stereotypes they may face, can make a positive impact using the law.
How small businesses and entrepreneurs can affordably and effectively implement the benefits of legal infrastructure (entity structure, insurance, and contracts) for both a preventative and proactive strategic advantage for growth.
Washington State has recently amended its 2018 Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to include new amendments that improve pay transparency and provide more information to job applicants. As of January 1, 2023, Washington State employers with at least 15 employees are required to disclose the “wage scale or salary range” for each job posting to both employees... View Article
