Due to exceptional heatwaves and wildfire smoke in the Pacific Northwest, Washington L&I has announced new emergency rules to protect workers in Washington from heat and wildfire smoke hazards. Heat Emergency Rule The heat emergency rules apply to Washington employers with employees who are expected to be outdoors and exposed to the heat. Effective July... View Article
On May 28, 2021, the Treasury Department released the “General Explanations of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2022 Revenue Proposals.” These proposals are also known as the “Green Book” for both the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. These proposals are in the very early stages, and there is no guarantee they will become law.... View Article
No matter the industry or company size, all business leaders and managers will have to have difficult employee conversations at one point or another. Whether it be for performance issues, misconduct, policy violations, or layoffs, difficult conversations come with the territory of running and managing a business. Having the right tools and knowledge is critical... View Article
While 2021 isn’t off to the start we all hoped it would, there is good news on the horizon. Health care workers and other high-risk individuals are now getting the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Most people will likely be able to receive the vaccine by the end of the second quarter 2021. While the... View Article
On January 5, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee announced the “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” Covid-19 recovery plan (the “Recovery Plan”). The plan presents a phased reopening of certain businesses and activities based on key health metrics in each Washington county. The Recovery Plan will officially go into effect on January 11, 2020, and all... View Article
On July 1, 2020, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (“L&I”) updated the criteria for an exempt employee. These workers may include executive, administrative, and professional employees, as well as outside salespeople and computer professionals. Washington’s overtime exemption rules generally require these “white-collar” employees to meet a three-part test to be exempt: the... View Article
In light of the expected (yet still alarming) rise in Washington state Covid-19 cases during this Fall season, Governor Jay Inslee announced on Sunday that new state-wide restrictions will be placed on business and other social activities to try and slow down Washington’s third wave of COVID-19 growth during the pandemic. Most of the restrictions... View Article
Business leaders have a lot on their plates, especially as organizational goals and expectations shift during these uncertain times. As a result, it can be challenging to keep up with external and internal business compliance requirements. Missed annual business requirements can bring on fines and penalties, along with increasing your business’s risk of exposure to... View Article
As civil rights protests have swept the nation, more companies are announcing initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within their walls. But in looking at the data, it is clear just how far we must go before our businesses are truly reflective of the makeup of our society at large. The benefits of diversity,... View Article