Categories for Leadership

LEGAL UPDATE: Washington State to Raise Minimum Wage and Exempt Salary Threshold in 2024

by | November 14, 2023

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.

New ruling impacts workplace policy

LEGAL UPDATE: New Ruling Impacts Workplace Policies for All Employers

by | October 15, 2023

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.

Plan ahead for 2024

How To Seize Strategic Advantages of Legal Infrastructure in Business Planning

by | September 20, 2023

As you prepare to dive into your goal and budget planning for 2024, remember that legal planning isn't just a sideline item on your to-do list – it's a strategic cornerstone for your business's success. In a world where entrepreneurship moves at lightning speed, failing to plan can indeed be planning to fail. So, as you chart your course for the year ahead, make sure legal planning is firmly integrated into your annual strategy. It's not just about avoiding problems; it's about proactively seizing opportunities, aligning with your goals, ensuring compliance, and securing your business's long-term sustainability. Embrace legal planning as a key ingredient for your business's growth and protection in 2024.

Level Up The Body of Your Business

Level Up The Body of Your Business

by | August 24, 2023

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.

Do you have the tools to “do the right thing” and mitigate risks on the “people side” of the business? 

by | September 1, 2022

The people of your organization are one of the most important and one of the riskiest aspects of business. The laws are state specific, and they change frequently. Employers are held to a high legal standard and entrepreneurs often aren’t fully aware of the risks associated with employment compliance. It’s hard for business leaders to keep up, but it’s critical to do so. In this post, Equinox Business Law CEO and Founder, Michelle Bomberger looks at how the three key legal infrastructure tools can work to protect the business from employment risks.

business partners are like band members

3 must-have tools for mitigating risk for any business with multiple owners

by | August 10, 2022

While your competitors may have ownership issues bogging down their decision making, you will be able to grow together -- or to separate -- with confidence. Learn how to leverage the legal infrastructure tools – the Shareholder Agreement or Operating Agreement, key insurance policies, and a limited liability entity structure, to create strong relationships among owners and ensure the individual owners are protected from the activities of the company and from one another.

employee turnover

Leadership’s Role in Decreasing Employee Turnover

by | August 27, 2021

If you’ve been out and about, you’ll see “We’re Hiring” signs virtually everywhere. In the media, you’ll hear stories of increased employee turnover, and that employees are fleeing their workplaces. It seems these two data points would align – those fleeing would be filling the roles of those hiring, but that does not seem to... View Article