NOTE: This rule is currently in litigation and has not taken effect. We will continue to monitor and update this post. Employers should be aware of the continuing trends toward employee rights and be prepared for this kind of rule from states and the federal government. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has rolled out... View Article
On July 18, 2023, Oregon joined the growing number of states in signing into law comprehensive data privacy legislation. Effective July 1, 2024, the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (the OCPA or the Act) will create meaningful privacy protections for Oregon consumers and new data protection obligations for businesses operating in Oregon.
How is the Changing Perception of Cannabis Impacting Employment Practices? As legalized cannabis becomes more prevalent and widely accepted, so too have the attitudes and perspectives on cannabis usage evolved, including a shift in the current employment-related cannabis testing practices. Despite being a legal substance in Washington State, many employers still routinely choose to require... View Article
Starting January 1, 2024, Washington State is set to introduce a series of wage adjustments that will impact businesses of all sizes. In 2020, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries updated the rules for exempt workers by creating an eight-year implementation schedule that incrementally raises the multiplier until it reaches 2.5 times in 2028. Though the pace of the increase is based on the size of the employer, small enterprises to large corporations alike will feel the effects of these changes.
On August 2, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued the Stericycle, Inc. decision, creating a new standard for scrutinizing employer “work rules”. Work rules can consist of company handbooks, policies, and procedures. This decision specifically addresses employer work rules that could reasonably be construed as restricting employees’ rights to engage in activities protected under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), like unionization or openly discussing wages or benefits. Employers should carefully review their handbooks, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with this decision and prepare for potential challenges.
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is a federal law enacted as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 meant to reduce financial crime in small businesses across the United States. Specifically, the CTA requires that smaller, otherwise unregulated, companies file a report with the US Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network within their new Beneficial Ownership Secure System (BOSS), which the network may share with other government agencies and financial institutions who request it. The Act will come into effect on January 1st, 2024, for newly formed companies and on January 1st, 2025, for already existing companies.
Over the last two decades, obesity levels in the United States have been on the rise along with a growing concern of discrimination based on weight in the workplace. As a result, states and local governments are starting to take action. In Washington, it is therefore illegal for employers to refuse to hire qualified potential employees because the employer perceives them to be obese.
Equinox Business Law believes leading successful entrepreneurship and small business is akin to nurturing a well-rounded self. Just as individuals require a harmonious balance of mind, body, and spirit, businesses also thrive on holistic attention. Following articles on spirit and mind, Equinox now delves into the tangible core of businesses: their body. Think of your business as a living entity with physical assets forming its muscles, bones, and organs. Facilities, inventory, intellectual property, and talented personnel all contribute to its strength. This synergy drives operations, protected by risk-mitigation strategies and contracts, acting as the business's immune system. Nurturing your business's health, much like caring for your own well-being, involves leveraging legal infrastructure tools: contracts, insurance and legal entities. Embrace this holistic perspective, and take advantage of Equinox's complimentary Business Health Assessment to chart a fortified path forward.
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.