While you’re battling workplace chaos caused by COVID-19, the last thing on your mind may be the state of your company’s virtual workplace culture. It may seem trivial when you are trying to keep folks on payroll, help those with sick family members or kids out of school, and manage a virtual workforce. However, if... View Article
If an employee is out on leave, do you have to reinstate them when the leave is over? It depends.
The term audit typically carries a heavy, negative connotation. And it makes sense — especially for business owners. Being subject to an audit means taking your time and attention away from your daily operations and the things that matter most to you. However, it is possible to make an audit less painful and to take... View Article
On June 11, 2019, the Workplace Fairness Act was signed into law in Oregon, limiting employers’ use of confidentiality/nondisclosure/non-disparagement agreements with employees that relate to harassment (including sexual harassment), discrimination and/or sexual assault. Here are the changes Oregon employers and businesses with employees in Oregon need to know about: These types of agreements will only... View Article
Update: Governor Inslee signed this legislation on May 9, 2019, making it law. Changes will go into effect on January 1, 2020. Washington’s State’s Governor Jay Inslee is very likely to sign a new bill regulating non-competition agreements. The new law places restrictions on which workers can be subject to non-competition agreements and specific terms.... View Article
Tax season is upon us. Americans and their advisors are trying to sort out the nuances of the recent federal changes including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 that applies to this year’s filings. However, the TCJA isn’t the only regulation complicating filings for businesses this year. New IRS rules regarding audits... 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
This Thursday, June 7, 2018, an amendment to Washington’s Equal Pay Act goes into effect. This amendment attempts to limit gender discrimination in the workplace by prohibiting discrimination in compensation of “similarly employed” workers of different genders. Under the act, employees are “similarly employed” when: they work for the same company the job done requires... View Article
All Fridays are special, but Friday, May 25, 2018 is even more special because the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) goes into effect. If you are tempted to stop reading because HEY! this is the US not the EU, hang in there, because if your company handles data belonging to people in the... View Article