Despite the push in recent years for increased gender equality in the workplace, many company boardrooms are still largely male-dominated. In June of 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed SSB 6037 into law in an effort to recognize the many qualified women in the Pacific Northwest. Developed by the Washington State Women’s Commission, the law aims... 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
A common belief is that employees are the business’s greatest asset and greatest liability. While employees are critical to business success, being an employer is becoming more complex by the day. One area of concern, which can become very expensive if not done correctly, is employee pay. Failure in properly paying your employees can potentially... 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
“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” are words that have been floating around the business community for many years, but it’s been primarily an effort of big businesses. Small companies typically have infrequent hiring needs and, therefore, feel they can have a limited impact on diverse hiring. In recent months, however, more small businesses are asking how... View Article
Is your business following the face covering mandate & COVID-19 regulations? As businesses navigate through the twists and turns presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be hard to keep up with changing rules & regulations. Along with the requirements presented in Phase II of the Safe Start Plan, Gov. Inslee issued a statewide face... View Article
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
Of all the goals and priorities you had for your business at the beginning of 2020, arranging for telecommuting of your entire workforce likely was not one of them. But as employees settle into their “home offices,” one chief concern of business owners is how to ensure employees can perform their duties effectively and efficiently... View Article
We previously posted an article about the new non-compete legislation in Washington that was expected to be signed into law. Since that original article was posted, the bill was in fact signed and Washington employers should begin preparing for the new rules to take effect on January 1, 2020. But what do employers really need... View Article