On January 5, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee announced the “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” Covid-19 recovery plan (the “Recovery Plan”). The plan presents a phased reopening of certain businesses and activities based on key health metrics in each Washington county. The Recovery Plan will officially go into effect on January 11, 2020, and all... View Article
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is having a sudden and severe impact on our region, state, and the U.S. As a result of COVID-19, many small businesses are suffering. Social distancing and state-mandated bans are causing the cancellation of events and travel plans, workplaces to shut down or limit operations, workers are sent home, and ultimately,... View Article
Washington employers are likely to need support in reviewing employee handbooks and other existing policies and implementing new or revised policies by or before January 1, 2020. We are here to help! Call or email us to find to get your questions answered and see about getting your documents reviewed and updated.
As if losing employees wasn’t distressing enough, a former Google executive’s recent criminal indictment for trade secret misappropriation has served as a reminder as to how messy things can get if proper precautions are not taken. Often times, a business’s success is largely attributed to a trade secret – whether it’s a list of valuable... View Article
A number of years ago, I asked my husband, a finance guy, to review the company’s budget for the coming year. He looked at our projected top line revenue (which was projected to be a significant increase over the prior year) and asked, “Where’s the additional revenue coming from?” My response was that I took... View Article
For many companies, a commercial lease is one of the most critical and high-value contracts into which they’ll ever enter. While the average commercial lease term is between 3 to 5 years, these leases can run up to 10 years, plus extension periods. Unlike most other contracts that a business might sign, a commercial lease... View Article
Although we are often distracted at this time of year by fun family gatherings, vacation time, and holiday cheer and events, businesses often take this time to ensure they are ready to start the new year strong. Below are several areas we suggest businesses evaluate as they plan for a successful year: Financial goals. Your... View Article
Beginning January 1, 2019, Washington state will join the small group of states mandating paid family and medical leave (“PFML”) for Washington state employees. Here are some of the key questions our clients are asking: What is the purpose of the law? Is our business required to collect the employer and employee premiums and implement... View Article
Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD) has finalized its second round of rulemaking regarding the State’s new Paid Family Leave Program. These rules provide additional information on employer reporting requirements, voluntary Paid Family Leave program requirements, deadlines, small business assistance, and other issues. The rules will take effect on December 3, 2018. Premium collection will begin... View Article