Planning for next year is daunting. Each year, we know it’s time to create that budget, think about what we’ll do differently, and make sure we’ve got the processes and people lined up to do what needs to be done. But planning doesn’t have to be all at once. Some things have a year-end deadline,... View Article
As of July 5, 2017, Washington State became the latest to join a small group of states mandating paid family and medical leave for residents. The effect this will have on employers and employees alike is bound to be great, and it is important to understand the impact of the new regulations. Below we will... View Article
House Bill 1506 bans pay disparities based on gender and prohibits assigning or directing an employee into a less favorable career track based on gender and failing to provide information about promotions. The bill would also prohibit employers from requiring employees to keep compensation information confidential or retaliate against an employee for comparing or discussing... View Article
In recent months, I’ve come across a number of business owners who are “not getting any younger” and are contemplating their transition out of their business. Many don’t have that one person identified as the next in line for the business. Maybe the owner has no children or the children aren’t interested in the business,... View Article
On June 7, Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta announced the withdrawal of the DOL’s prior Administrator Interpretations (“AIs”) clarifying the department’s position on the broad definition of joint employment and independent contractor misclassification. By withdrawing the AI’s, Acosta does not change the legal obligation of employers under the law. Instead, it rescinds the DOL’s prior guidance... View Article
Many of us, when starting our businesses, were testing the waters. Rather than taking the plunge, we put a toe in. “Will this work?” was the baseline. We might even have had a sense of what the answer to that question looked like — what was the “success” that would drive us to keep it... View Article
Update: US Department of Labor recently updated the criteria related to the “primary beneficiary test”. We have made an updated blog post reflecting that change that you can read by clicking here. Summer is upon us, and this means many workplaces will see an infusion of interns looking to boost their resume and gain valuable on-the-job... View Article
We’re good at goal setting, especially around sales. Each year, we determine what our annual sales growth should be and break it down by month and quarter based on cyclicality and recent trends. It all looks pretty on paper. Then, as we go through the year, the stars don’t always align and we miss our... View Article
The Seattle Office of Labor Standards posted the final administrative rules for Seattle’s Secure Scheduling Ordinance (SMC 14.22) which goes into effect on July 1, 2017. Until December 31, this will be considered a “soft launch” focused on education and “support” for employers, meaning no penalties or fines will be assessed on employers. Joint employers are... View Article