September has arrived and those with kids are getting back into the school routine. Your employee’s schedules and mindsets may have shifted to new schedules and priorities. For many, these shifts are subtle – maybe a day off or a slightly later start time – while for others the preparation for back to school creates... View Article
Clients often ask us should we investigate a complaint filed by an employee even if it has no validity and, if so, how should we do it. In today’s environment of increased scrutiny of sexual harassment, race, gender discrimination and other claims, every complaint should be addressed and potentially investigated. Here’s a quick summary of... View Article
As the effective date of Statewide Paid Sick and Safe time quickly approaches, I have had several clients say to me, “We are covered by Seattle Sick and Safe, so we don’t have to worry.” This isn’t true for two reasons: 1) Just because you are covered by Seattle (or another city ordinance requiring paid... View Article
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
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
When is the last time you looked at your employee handbook? When business owners ask for advise around managing employees or workforce issues, we often begin by asking , “Do you have a policy around [insert relevant issue : Time sheets? Vaping? Bringing your bunny to work]?” We frequently look to the handbook as a... 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