Beginning January 1, 2019, Washington state will join the small group of states mandating paid family and medical leave (“PFML”) for Washington state employees. Here are some of the key questions our clients are asking: What is the purpose of the law? Is our business required to collect the employer and employee premiums and implement... View Article
Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD) has finalized its second round of rulemaking regarding the State’s new Paid Family Leave Program. These rules provide additional information on employer reporting requirements, voluntary Paid Family Leave program requirements, deadlines, small business assistance, and other issues. The rules will take effect on December 3, 2018. Premium collection will begin... View Article
As business owners, we struggle with balancing what’s right for the customer and what’s right for the business. You’ve probably been approached with an upset customer reminding you that you should listen to your customer and suggesting that, if not stating outright, that “The customer is always right.” Can a business really get away with such an... View Article
On October 1, 2018, the Seattle City Council passed an ordinance that requires employers of 20 or more workers to offer employees the opportunity to use pre-tax earnings to purchase commuter benefits. The ordinance is also limited to employees who work an average of 10 or more hours per week in Seattle. According to the... View Article
This week the Washington Department of Revenue will require some out-of-state businesses (remote sellers) to collect sales tax. A remote seller who, during the current or previous year, has at least $100,000 in retail sales to Washington consumers or at least 200 separate transactions with Washington consumers is required to collect and remit sales taxes.... View Article
We seem to value “lifelong learners” in business – you see this as a desired characteristic in job postings and those who are “successful” are typically called out as such. What is a lifelong learner, though? We all learn every day from our experiences, both personal and professional, in our interactions with clients, employees and... View Article
Internships offer additional benefits to employers, namely recruiting and grooming talent for future employment in the organization. The question is: when is a company required to pay interns? There is a common misconception these individuals do not need to be compensated for their work if they are classified as interns. The misclassification of employees as... View Article
September has arrived and those with kids are getting back into the school routine. Your employee’s schedules and mindsets may have shifted to new schedules and priorities. For many, these shifts are subtle – maybe a day off or a slightly later start time – while for others the preparation for back to school creates... View Article
Those of us old enough to remember our very first Star Wars figure, were too young when they first arrived in stores to realize (or, care, really) what it took for them to become and remain a reality for the next 40 years, earning over $14 billion in revenue. Primarily due to George Lucas’ desire... View Article