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
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
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
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
The recent focus on employee retention, from what we’ve seen at Equinox, arises from two trends. First, it’s really tough to find the right people in the current market. Once you find them, it’s essential that you keep them. Second, business owners are seeking people who can take over when they retire and key employees... View Article
On election night Washington voters approved Initiative 1433, which incrementally increases the state’s current minimum wage of $9.47 to $13.50 by 2020. The first hike to $11 per hour is set to occur on January 1, 2017. In addition, the rule requires every employer to provide sick leave starting 2018 as follows: one hour of... View Article
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a temporary injunction blocking the DOL’s new overtime rule nationwide.What does this temporary injunction mean for employers? It means that, at least for now, employers are not required to comply with the new rule. However, if an employer has already put the rules into... View Article
When an employee is confronted with a medical issue, particularly a sudden condition or illness, it is a time of fear and confusion. While it certainly cannot equate to what an employee is experiencing, our clients, the employers, are also faced with navigating a difficult situation. Almost all employers know one thing for sure –... View Article